There is mountain biking to suit all experience levels in the Hautes-Pyrénées, from riding gravel roads between villages to descending high-mountain singletrack.
Here we describe some of the terrain that you are likely to encounter.
Getting started
There are a number of rides around Lourdes suitable for relaxed biking, particularly with families. The old tramway - the Voie Verte - is flat and ashphalted for the 17 km to Pierrefitte-Nestalas, before climbing the final 10 km to Cauterets by trail. There are some good woodland trails too, branching off along the Gave de Pau.
The Lac de Lourdes forms an enjoyable 6km circuit, on quiet roads and footpaths, with the option of then navigating the Bois de Lourdes or following the 40km Henry IV trail to Pau.
Rural tracks
The local towns, villages and hamlets are linked by quiet winding roads, woodland trails and farm tracks with bike routes set out on communal maps. These rides are not too technical and are great for keeping fit whilst enjoying the spectacular mountain backdrop.
In the foothills, you will find steep and challenging climbs on the narrow roads that link the network of hamlets. From the top, you can then find a track and enjoy the exhilarating descent!
Mountain Bike Networks
The Fédération Française de Cyclisme approves and labels national mountain bike networks and we are privileged to have 2 sites close by. Haute Bigorre VTT (no.56) is based in the Campan valley and Pays des Vallées des Gaves (no. 26) around Lourdes and the Val d'Azun.
| Vallées des Gaves |
17 |
18 |
23 |
13 |
1,066 km
|
| Haute Bigorre |
3 |
11 |
5 |
4 |
356 km
|
The colours follow a similar grading to ski pistes:
| GREEN |
Easy width and surface, climbing < 150m |
| BLUE |
Not difficult but some harder passages, climbing < 300m
|
| RED |
Difficult, physically and technically, climbing < 450m |
| BLACK |
Very difficult, for riders in good form. |
Ski Lifts & Downhilling
Many lift operators are catching onto the idea of running the lifts in the summer for bikers.
Our nearest option, just 8 km away, is the Pic du Jer. This is served by a funicular that takes riders from Lourdes to the Pic at 948m. The ride down is fairly steep ride with some dedicated downhill sections in the forest.
Cauterets have now opened the gondola to the Crêtes du Lys to bikes, and a further chairift takes riders to 2,305m. This opens up an exciting and varied vertical descent of 1,500 metres back to the town. Riders encounter alpine slopes, a bike park, gravel switchbacks and woodland singletrack.
For the ultimate ascent though, the Pic du Midi cable car is now available to bikers. At 2,877m there is an incredible panoramic view.. and its a long long way down!
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