Méribel lies in the Allues valley, at the centre of the 3 Valleys area in the Tarentaise (Savoie, French Alps). In summer the resort opens its lifts to bikes and becomes one of the largest mountain bike playgrounds in the French Alps. Down in the valley, the spa village of Brides-les-Bains (around 600 m) is linked to it by the Olympe gondola, which makes it a convenient base if you would rather stay lower down.

Méribel bike park

The bike park offers close to 200 km of waymarked, lift-served trails covering downhill, enduro, e-MTB and cross-country, graded from green to double black:

  • Getting started: wide, flowing green runs, then blue forest trails with small features, suitable for your first days on a downhill bike.
  • Moving up: longer, more committing red runs with jumps and berms.
  • Experts: the G Force, a double black that hosted the Downhill World Cup in 2017, forgives no mistakes.

Enduro riders mix technical climbs with long natural descents, and the bike lift pass includes the links to the other 3 Valleys resorts (Courchevel, Les Menuires, Saint-Martin-de-Belleville).

From Méribel down to Brides-les-Bains

Several enduro routes drop from the resort all the way to Brides-les-Bains, including the Villarlurin trail, which is roughly 20 km long. They call for solid technique: tight switchbacks, natural singletrack and a lot of descent. The Olympe gondola, built for the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics, takes you back up, but it only runs on some days, so check its timetable before you set off.

E-MTB and the Col de la Loze

Waymarked e-MTB routes bring the high mountains within reach of less trained riders. The best known climbs to the Col de la Loze, above 2,200 m, between Méribel and Courchevel. The last kilometres of its road are reserved for cyclists, and the Tour de France climbed it in 2020, 2023 and 2025.

Practical information

  • Season: the lifts open to bikes in July and August. Exact dates change every year.
  • On site: rental of every type of bike (downhill, enduro, electric), instructors for guided rides at all levels, and bike-wash stations.
  • Kit: a full-face helmet and body protection are strongly recommended in the bike park. Good brakes are essential for the long descents to Brides.

Useful links