Les Portes du Soleil, France/Switzerland
Starting with one of the best – Portes du Soleil is the biggest mountain bike park in Europe spanning 600 km of slopes and home to 4 internationally renowned bike parks. With 22 mountain lifts and the same pass to access the entire park, you’ll not be short of fun in this thrill-seeking Alpine resort.
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Bike Park Les Gets is one park in the area which is sure to keep the kids entertained, with trails dedicated to beginners and plenty for the more experienced rider to have a go at. There’s a mini jump park for little legs, 2 pump tracks and a dedicated kid’s zone. There’s not one, not two but SIX specialised stores to rent bikes from so even if you turn up unprepared after the chaos of travelling with children, you’ll be sure to find everything you need.
BikePark of Avoriaz 1800 may also be suited to families who are keen to get into downhill biking as it’s the ideal place to start and progress in the sport. There’s even a picnic area with self-service barbecues so you can spend the day on the trails without travelling far.
Bike Park Wales, Wales UK
An inclusive bike park based in North Wales suited to all abilities makes this bike park a great family-friendly option. With a huge network of over 40 all-weather trails, there’ll be plenty of choices and little chance of getting bored.
For little legs, the vehicular uplift in the form of a fleet of minibuses will be most welcome as you’re transported to the top of the 491-metre mountain, Mynnd Gethin. From here, you can spend the day working your way down to the Woodland Cafe for lunch or racing back down in time for the next uplift.
For those young ones looking to learn the perfect technique, beginner coaching is available and includes a host, induction, hire and uplift access.
BIKE REPUBLIC SÖLDEN, Austria
BIKE REPUBLIC in Sölden is a great location for families, based out of the Ötztal valley of Tyrol. This bike park welcomes everyone, from 3-year-olds on balance bikes to experienced freeriders. There are pump tracks to practice bike handling, a friendly cycle trail, a kids’ park and even an outdoor swimming pool.
When you enter BIKE REPUBLIC, you become a citizen of their trails and collect stamps representing visas. For every 6, 12, 18 or 28 visas collected, you can receive goodies! Something to seriously motivate the kids.
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Improve the kids’ confidence on the bikes and when they get tired, there are plenty of other activities in the local area to stay occupied. Sample local ice cream or visit the Bird of Prey Park.
Antur Stiniog, Wales UK
A not-for-profit social enterprise funded by Sports Wales whose vision is to develop the outdoor sector in the local area. This bike park is one to support and one to feel good about, with a pump track for all ages and a selection of bike trails.
With a dedicated uplift-only service, there are no hard climbs to the top of the runs. There’s also a dedicated Kids Club with the ultimate goal of developing a World-Class Mountain Biker from the area.
Whinlatter Forest Park, England UK
Based in the English Lake District, Whinlatter is home to the longest purpose-built mountain bike trails in the area. With a visitor centre, bike hire, great family-friendly walks, rare wildlife and adventure play areas, the bike park is the perfect place to base your family-friendly biking holiday.
Cyclewise have a trailhead location in Whinlatter, offering bike hire for all ages, including hardtails, full-suspension mountain bikes and electric bikes. Or you could even take your own bike to be fixed by the experts in-house. Cyclewise also offers mountain-bike coaching for those young ones who need a bit of confidence building or want to improve their skills.
Whatever it is you’re after for your family day out on the trails, these bike parks are sure to inspire confidence and provide a thrill for all ages
