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A new family trail is being created at Leysin Bike Park
Published on 04.06.2026
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In the Alpes Vaudoises, the Leysin Bike Park is continuing to expand in the Joux d’Aï area. Designed as an accessible yet fun blue run, this new 6km route is intended to allow both families and more experienced riders to enjoy a mountain biking experience suited to different levels. The team led by Brice Cantenot, manager of the Leysin Bike Park, has been working for several weeks on this new route, which will link the summit of La Berneuse to Leysin.
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A two-stage opening
- The first section, from the top of the ski lifts to the Joux d’Aï area, will open in mid-June, weather permitting.
- The second section, the Berneuse area, will open between mid-July and the end of July.
A family-friendly mountain bike trail suitable for riders of all abilities
This new blue trail forms part of the development of Leysin’s mountain biking master plan for 2027. The aim is to provide a wider and more accessible range of options in the Alpes Vaudoises, whilst retaining the Bike Park’s sporting identity.
This is our first proper family run. We want it to be suitable not only for families with a basic level of technical ability, but also for regular riders. The run is still an intermediate blue run – you need to have mastered the basics: braking, body position and the fundamental techniques for riding down safely.
BBrice Cantenot, responsable du Leysin Bike Park
A new green run, designed for beginners and suitable for handcycles, will be added to the family-friendly facilities in 2027.
Building a mountain bike trail in a sensitive environment
The site is situated on particularly challenging terrain, amidst the limestone lapiaz typical of the Alpes Vaudoises. It is a spectacular setting, but a demanding one for the construction teams.
Like many soft mobility and outdoor leisure projects in Switzerland, the creation of this new mountain bike trail required several years of preparation in order to address the numerous constraints and strike the best balance between tourism, agriculture and the environment:
“To reach this stage of construction, we’ve gone through seven years of procedures: drawing up the Master Plan, discussions with local stakeholders, environmental studies, securing funding and planning permission – all of which mean we have to work in a certain way. We have to cover our machinery every evening, refuel with the covers in place, and respect protected areas. We also have an environmental monitoring programme for the site to minimise our impact on the ground as much as possible.”
The mountain bike route is gradually coming into view © Eddie Viennet
Finding the right balance between accessibility and enjoyment
In practice, the main challenge is to create a track that can cater to riders of different abilities on the same route.
“The trickiest thing about an intermediate run like this is finding the right balance. When you add a jump section, you need to ensure that beginners can ride it without fear, with a simple, safe option. But you also need to provide faster or more challenging options for experienced riders. That’s really the challenge: accommodating different skill levels on the same run.”
Each section of the course is therefore designed to allow for a natural progression, whilst retaining the fun atmosphere that is characteristic of Leysin Bike Park. In the run-up to the full opening, the teams are continuing their work in an atmosphere of enthusiasm and dedication.
“The teams are really motivated, whether it’s the operators on the spider crane, the crews on the smaller machines, or those working by hand. This allows us to make progress on the major tasks in the morning, then finish off the details together in the afternoon.”
From the steepest terrain right down to the mud, we find a team that remains determined come what may! © Charlotte Falcy
