The Vosges are an XXL playground for mountain biking: deep forests, panoramic ridges, flow and technical singletracks, more than 2,000 km of waymarked routes in the department.
1. Tour of the Hohneck (expert)
55 km, 1,800 m of climbing, 6 to 7h. La Bresse, Schlucht, Hohneck, Rainkopf, Col du Bramont, return. For confirmed riders, a legendary day.
2. Four-lakes loop (intermediate)
38 km, 1,000 m of climbing, 4h. Corbeaux, Lispach, Blanchemer, Retournemer. Mix of forest tracks and flowing singletracks.
3. Enduro La Bresse-Ventron (expert)
Shuttles or e-MTBs, 4 to 5 committed descents in a day. Training spot for local competitors.
4. Vagney-Gérardmer via the ridges (intermediate)
45 km, 1,200 m of climbing. Build it as you wish via the greenway then climb up to the pastures.
5. Family discovery loop (easy)
12 km, 200 m of climbing. Around the Lispach peat bog and Lac de Retournemer on wide tracks. Ideal with kids aged 10 and over.
Rental and repair
Several rental shops in the village, day rental (€30 to €45) or weekly. Double that for e-MTBs. Express repair workshops in several shops.
Safety
- Helmet essential
- Always carry inner tube, pump, multi-tool
- Tell someone your route on longer loops
- Check the weather, summer ridge storms can be violent
Book your chalet in La Bresse with bike garage to leave and come back ready to ride.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need an e-MTB to ride in the Vosges?
No, the Vosges stay accessible on a muscle-powered MTB if you're fit. An e-MTB does open up longer loops and chained cols though.
Are the loops waymarked?
Yes. The Vosges department has more than 2,000 km of waymarked MTB trails, with colour coding by difficulty. GPS apps (Komoot, MTB Vosges) round it out.
Where can you rent a bike in La Bresse?
Several shops rent bikes in the village, daily (€30 to €45) or by the week. E-MTBs roughly double that. Express repair workshops also available.
When is the best period?
May to October. June-September for dry trails and long days. Avoid heavy rain periods as some technical sections become dangerous.