Mountain Biking in Tignes
- emma615
- Jul 8
- 3 min read
Mountain biking in Tignes is nothing short of exceptional. From expert and advanced to beginner-friendly and easy, there is a great choice of trails for everyone to enjoy. With its high altitude and dramatic scenery the resort offers an unforgettable riding experience for all levels.
Tignes Bike Park
The Tignes Bike Park is open from June to August and offers 220km of trails thanks to the mountain bike lifts. As with skiing the trails are graded according to level of difficulty (green, blue, red, black and double black, with green being the easiest). They are suitable for beginners as well as experienced downhillers. The Powerade MTB Airbag is the dedicated freestyle zone of Tignes. If you're into jumping, wheelies, endos and bunnyhops, this is the place to be and perhaps even learn a trick or two!
In the Tignes area, the following lifts are open to mountain bikes:
Tovière gondola: access allowed to all
Palafour chairlift: access authorised for child bikers from 1.10 metres
Tufs chairlift: access authorised for child bikers from 1.10 metres
Fresse chairlift : access authorised for child bikers from 1.10 metres
For information and opening times please see the following link:
Rental and lessons
You can rent your mountain bike and the necessary equipment in resort. If you wish to be accompanied by a professional, several mountain bike schools are able to offer you an instructor who will teach you the right reflexes to adopt and help you to perfect your technique. We can put you in touch with our partners in resort to arrange lessons for you. We can recommend the following rental companies:
Equipment and Safety
Helmets are compulsory for mountain biking in Tignes and you will also need elbow and knee pads. You can either bring your own or hire them from one of the rental shops listed above. It sounds obvious but don't forget to take with you water, snacks, sunscreen, mobile phone and cash (in case your phone runs out of battery). If you aren't travelling with a professional or as part of a group lesson it's also important to take a basic repair kit.
The Cross-Country, Enduro and downhill trails are meant to be ridden with mountain bikes only. For safety reasons, all other kinds of bikes are forbidden, as well as all motorized vehicles. Refer to the signs and keep to the defined tracks without cutting corners and the bends of the track. Mountain biking is forbidden in the Vanoise national Park. Be mindful that pedestrians have priority on the all mountain and cross-country trails and ride slowly if you come across herds. In the same way that the ski patrols work in the ski area in winter, Bike Patrol swaps skis for Kona mountain bikes to patrol the Bike Park. They are there to welcome, advise and direct you, preparing and marking the Bike Park tracks as well as maintaining them. If you have any problems, questions or just need advice, Tignes' Bike Patrols are around all summer to help you take full advantage of the Bike Park.
Top 5 trails
Smoothie – green run ideal for beginners and families, takes you from the top of Palafour chair lift back down into Tignes. No steep parts, jumps or technical sections
Gunpowder Trail – blue leading from the top of Toviere gondola or Tufs chairlift all the way down into Val Claret. Fun, long and flowing with a few jumps but not too steep. Longest and main trail on the Toviere side of the bike park
Blue Lagoon – fast, flowing blue run that leads from the top of the Borsat chair lift, can turn left halfway down onto Tarantaise Airline and a few other trails into Le Lac
Funky Tufs – an alternative more challenging decent near Gunpower, graded red, it is long and fast and includes a free ride zone. Accessible by Toviere gondola and Tufs chairlift then initially following the Gunpowder trail
Kamasutrail – the longest of the black trails at 3km with a drop of 340m, definitely one for advanced riders including steep sections, loose terrain, jumps and technical features. Accessible via the Toviere gondola then follow the Gypsy red train back into the centre of the resort.
Summary:
Tignes is more than just a ski resort—it’s a mountain biking haven that offers thrilling descents, stunning alpine views, and world-class facilities. Whether you’re a seasoned rider or a beginner, this destination promises an unforgettable adventure on two wheels. From cross-country, enduro, or full-on downhill riding, Tignes has something for everyone!
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