Mountain Biking Lenzerheide: Trail Guide to Bike Kingdom Arosa-Lenzerheide
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A first-person guide to Switzerland's largest connected bike area — the world-famous Bike Kingdom, the untamed Scalottas enduro side, and the legendary Furcletta traverse to Arosa.
I'm not a bike park rider. I don't seek out shaped kickers, manicured berms, or progression lines. What I want is natural terrain — rocks embedded in the trail, roots that catch you out, singletrack that reads like a conversation with the mountain rather than a script written for it.
So I'll admit: when Bike Kingdom Lenzerheide kept coming up as a Gravity Card destination, I wasn't particularly excited. I'd seen the UCI World Cup footage, the jump lines, the five-lane park descents. I assumed I'd spend a day there, tick a box in my systematic tour of Gravity Card destinations across Europe, and move on.
What actually happened was that I found one of the best natural-terrain days I've had on a bike in years — and it wasn't on the bike park side at all.
The Scalottas area, on the opposite side of the valley from the famous Rothorn lifts, turned out to be the surprise of the trip. Long, stony, open alpine terrain. Real enduro descending with real climbing. Trails named Top Fops, Tgantieni, Scalottas — trails that work you properly and reward you generously. I rode there on 31 May 2026, with the Rothornbahn II still closed for the season (it opens 27 June), which meant the full potential of the place was still locked away. And I'm already planning to go back in July.
If you're a natural terrain rider trying to figure out whether Bike Kingdom deserves a spot in your season — it does. But you need to know which side of the valley to prioritise. That's what this guide is for.
Bike Kingdom Arosa-Lenzerheide at a Glance
The Bike Kingdom is the official brand name for what is genuinely Switzerland's largest connected bike area, linking three distinct regions — Lenzerheide, Arosa, and Chur — through a network of mountain railways, bus connections, and dedicated trail infrastructure. The headline numbers are worth stating upfront:
| Stat | Details |
|---|---|
| Total trail network | 900+ km including all tour trails |
| Bike Kingdom Park | 5 dedicated freeride lines |
| Mountain railways (bike-capable) | 12 across the three regions |
| Altitude range | ~900 m (Chur valley) to ~2,865 m (Rothorn summit) |
| UCI World Cup history | Hosted since 2015; 10th anniversary edition: 19–21 June 2026 |
| Trailforks region | Arosa Lenzerheide |
| Main website | bikekingdom.ch |
The region divides neatly into two characters:
Lenzerheide valley (east side): The Rothornbahn lifts, the famous Bike Kingdom Park, the UCI World Cup downhill course. Machine-built, well-maintained, lift-optimised. Great for park riders and those who want repeated, consequence-managed laps.
Scalottas / west side: The Piz Scalottas massif accessed from the valley. Natural alpine singletrack with actual climbing involved, exposed terrain, long descents, and the genuine feel of an enduro mountain rather than a resort.
Arosa connection: Accessible either by trail (the epic Furcletta Tour) or by the Urdenbahn cable car link. The Arosa side adds Weisshorn trails, the Älplisee Trail, and its own lift network. The Bike Kingdom effectively functions as a week-long destination because you can ride somewhere genuinely different every day.
Lifts and Tickets
The Main Lifts
| Lift | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rothornbahn I | Lenzerheide valley → lower Rothorn zone | Primary access to Bike Kingdom Park; open from early June |
| Rothornbahn II | Lenzerheide → Rothorn summit (2,865 m) | Opens 27 June 2026 — closed when I visited 31 May |
| Scalottas chairlift | Valley → Scalottas area | Access to the natural enduro side |
| Hörnli Express | Arosa | Main Arosa uplift; links to Älplisee and Dark Side of the Moon |
| Urdenbahn | Arosa–Lenzerheide connector | The high-altitude link between the two villages |
| Weisshorn gondola | Arosa | Upper Arosa access |
Season note: When I visited on 31 May 2026, the Rothornbahn II — which serves the upper Rothorn area and opens up the highest terrain including the Dark Side of the Moon trail and the full Älplisee descent — was not yet running. It opens 27 June 2026. If you're planning a trip before that date, factor this in: significant terrain is inaccessible, and the park itself operates at reduced capacity. The full Bike Kingdom experience requires the Rothornbahn II to be running.
Ticket Options
| Ticket Type | Notes |
|---|---|
| 1–7 Day Ticket | Available online (6% cheaper) or at Rothorn valley station |
| Biketicket 2 RIDE | Combined lift + trail touring ticket for exploring the wider network |
| Season Pass | Available for frequent visitors |
| Gravity Card | See below |
Gravity Card: Bike Kingdom Park Lenzerheide is part of the pan-European Gravity Card — the single season pass covering 32 bike parks across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Italy. In 2026, the Gravity Card costs €680 adults / €510 youth / €340 children, valid 4 April to 8 November 2026.
The Gravity Card covers all lifts in Arosa and Lenzerheide (note: the Alpenbikepark Chur is excluded). For anyone doing a broader European season across multiple Gravity Card destinations, Lenzerheide is one of the premium stops on the network. The card is available online at gravity-card.com or at the Rothorn valley station ticket office. Always check current pricing at bikekingdom.ch/en/Resort-Lifts/Tickets-rates.
Trail Tables
Bike Kingdom Park (Lenzerheide — Rothorn Side)
The park's five lines are structured as a progression pyramid from beginner flow to World Cup downhill. They share the same lift infrastructure and start area below the Rothorn.
| Line | Difficulty | Character | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| FLOWline | Blue | Machine-groomed flow, jumps optional | Family-friendly; great for warming up or developing jump technique |
| PRIMEline | Red | Flow + natural sections, medium jumps | Most popular line; good balance of speed and technicality |
| SHOREline | Red | Wooden features, shore elements | Technical elevated features; distinctive character |
| STYLEline | Black | Big jumps, freeride features | Serious air time; for confident jumpers |
| STRAIGHTline | Black (UCI) | World Cup downhill course | Fastest, most demanding; the line used for UCI World Cup racing |
The park terrain is machine-built and consistent. Jumps are rollable on the lower lines. The STRAIGHTline is the UCI World Cup course — the same course that Loic Bruni, Greg Minnaar, and the current generation of gravity racing legends have battled down since 2015.
Honest perspective: If you're a natural-terrain rider, the park will feel engineered. Everything has a purpose and a designed outcome. That's not a criticism — it's simply what a properly built freeride park is. The infrastructure is world-class, the trail maintenance is excellent, and for progression riders or bike park fans, this is one of the best venues in the Alps. Come back on the same line multiple times and you'll get faster each lap. That's what a bike park is for.
Late Shred: The Bike Kingdom Park runs evening sessions until 8:00 pm — something surprisingly rare in Alpine bike parks. If you spend your morning on natural trails and head to the park mid-afternoon, you can still get a solid session of laps well into the evening with noticeably reduced crowds. It also means you don't have to rush: a midday break for food, rest, and then late laps in the golden hour is a genuinely excellent way to structure a Bike Kingdom day.
Also on the Rothorn side:
| Trail | Difficulty | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Dark Side of the Moon | Red | Starts at ~2,835 m; rocky high-alpine terrain with embedded stone, rolling into sculpted descending. One of the most dramatic trail openings in the Alps — genuinely moonscape above the treeline. Requires Rothornbahn II (opens 27 June). |
| Mottoexpress Trail | Red | Natural singletrack between lift zones; rocks and flow mixed |
| Handicap Trail | Black | Technical natural descent named for the game it plays with you: your "handicap" is how many times you need to put a foot down. Rooty, demanding, and significantly harder when wet. The standard advice from those who have ridden it is straightforward: don't do the Handicap Trail in the wet. |
Scalottas / Enduro Side (Piz Scalottas — West Valley)
This is the section that most surprised me and the one I'd steer any natural-terrain rider toward first. The Scalottas side is accessed by chairlift from the valley floor and climbs into open alpine terrain that feels completely different from the park — wilder, longer, less engineered, more demanding of your full attention.
| Trail | Trailforks Difficulty | Distance (approx.) | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top Fops | Red | ~3 km | Open rocky singletrack descending through alpine meadows; long and sustained; excellent natural line-reading terrain |
| Tgantieni | Other/Uplift connection | ~1 km | The connector between zones; short push/pedal section linking trail segments |
| Scalottas | Blue/Red | ~2 km | The signature trail of the area; machine-groomed sections but with natural alpine feel; flows through high-altitude meadows with embedded rock |
| Alp Lavoz Trail | Red | ~3 km | A longer natural descent from the Scalottas zone toward the valley |
What makes this side special: The Scalottas area involves real climbing. You can't just lap it on lifts and expect to always go downhill — some traversals require pedalling across exposed ridgelines or pushing short sections between trail segments. This is an enduro mountain, not a resort. That's exactly what I came for.
The terrain character is open and stony, reminiscent of the higher-altitude sections at places like Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis or the upper zones of the Drei Länder Enduro Trails, but with even more dramatic exposure and a longer sustained descent profile. When I was up there in late May, the trails were settled and in good shape. I'd expect them to be fully prime from late June through August.
E-bike note: The traversal climbs and access pedalling on the Scalottas side are non-trivial. An e-MTB transforms these connections from a slog into genuine exploration. I was on my Amflow PL and it made a substantial difference. If you're on an acoustic bike, be honest with yourself about fitness — the Scalottas loops require meaningful climbing effort between descents.
Arosa Side — Älplisee, Dark Side, and Weisshorn Area
Arosa is the northern terminus of the Bike Kingdom and serves as the endpoint of the famous Furcletta traverse. The Arosa side has its own character — more flowing, slightly more remote feeling, with one of the most dramatic trail openings in the region.
| Trail | Difficulty | Distance | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Side of the Moon | Red | ~3 km | Begins at nearly 2,835 m in what genuinely looks like a lunar landscape — bare rock, scree, embedded boulders — before flowing into sculpted turns lower down. One of the most visually arresting trails in Switzerland. Accessible after riding up the Hörnli Express from Arosa. |
| Älplisee Trail | Red | ~5 km | The connector from the Rothorn upper area back down to Arosa via the Älplisee mountain lake. Sustained, scenic, natural. Forms the return leg of the Rothorn–Arosa enduro loop. |
| Schwellisee Trail | Red | ~5 km | Natural tech trail starting from a breathtaking ridgeline above the Hörnli Express. The trail winds through open alpine meadow, includes a short climb or push, then delivers progressively rockier, chunkier terrain — saving its trickiest corners for last, before easing off toward the Schwellisee lake in Inner Arosa. One of the best natural-terrain trails on the Arosa side. Accessible whenever the Hörnli Express is running — no Rothornbahn II needed. |
| Hörnli Trail (black section) | Black | ~5 km | Rocky, concentrated, and requiring full attention throughout. Accessed from the Hörnli Express at ~2,500 m. "You can't afford to look away from the trail for a second." Small technical challenges appear every few metres. Not for beginners despite the accessible approach. Views over the Arosa valley during descent are exceptional. |
| Weisshorn Trail | Red | ~4 km | Natural descent from the Weisshorn summit area into Arosa; open upper sections transitioning to forest lower down |
| Hauptji Trail | Blue/Red | ~3 km | Fast flow sections with natural terrain mixed in |
| Urdenfürggli Twister | Red | ~3.5 km | Technical natural descent linking the Urdenbahn area back toward either Arosa or Lenzerheide |
Tour Route 602 — Runda Lai: The Bike Kingdom waymarks a network of numbered enduro tour routes, and the 602 "Runda Lai" is one of the standout options from the Rothorn area. The route starts at the Rothorn summit station and takes you through a mixture of path sections and natural trail terrain across to the Parpan side, finishing with the Parpan Trail — a narrow, technical singletrack that riders consistently single out as the highlight of the full loop. Note that one connecting lift on the 602 is sometimes out of service; check the lift status before committing to the full route or be prepared to take the alternative 634 connection midway.
The Urdenbahn connector: The Urdenbahn is the high-altitude cable car that physically links Arosa and Lenzerheide, running between approximately 2,500–2,700 m. It's what makes the Bike Kingdom genuinely a single connected network rather than two separate destinations. Note: the Urdenbahn doesn't run continuously during the bike season — check the daily schedule at the ticket office or the bikekingdom.ch lift status page before building your route around it.
Trail Highlights in Detail
Top Fops — The Natural Terrain Crown of the Scalottas Side
Top Fops is the trail I kept coming back to mentally after the day ended. It's listed as red on Trailforks, approximately 3 km, with around 14 minutes average ride time — but those numbers don't capture what the trail actually feels like. It opens onto an exposed alpine meadow traverse that makes you feel properly in the mountains. The riding surface is a mix of loose stone, embedded rock, and natural turns, with no artificial shaping. You're reading terrain, not following groomed lines.
The descent isn't particularly steep by enduro standards — this isn't Val di Sole territory — but it's sustained and technically engaging throughout. Wet conditions would make the stone sections significantly more demanding; on a dry day in May it was grippy and fast. Tyre choice matters here: something with proper natural terrain traction at the front (I was on Continental Kryptotal and wouldn't change it) makes a real difference on the diagonal stone sections.
This is the trail I'm coming back for in July. It's the kind of trail that rewards multiple runs because you find better lines each time.
Tgantieni — The Connector That Earns Its Views
Tgantieni appears on Trailforks as a connection/access element rather than a pure descent, and that's accurate — it functions as the link between zone transitions on the Scalottas side. What makes it worthwhile is the perspective it gives you: the traversal takes you across an open ridge with views down both valleys simultaneously, and the short push section earns you a genuine sense of where you are on the mountain.
If you're doing a full Scalottas loop, Tgantieni is the bit in the middle that gives you that "this is what mountains are for" moment.
Scalottas Trail — Flow With Alpine Bones
The Scalottas trail itself — as distinct from the area — is listed as blue on Trailforks, approximately 2 km, machine-groomed in sections. But "machine groomed" in this context means worked trail surface over genuinely alpine terrain: exposed rock underneath, sudden gradient changes, and the open sky of a high-altitude meadow surrounding you on all sides.
It's accessible for intermediate riders — a confident blue rider can handle it — but the alpine context means small errors have more consequence than they would in a forest trail. Keep your speed honest on the upper sections until you've read the terrain once.
Dark Side of the Moon — Visual Peak of the Kingdom
I didn't ride Dark Side of the Moon on my May visit — it requires the Rothornbahn II, which opens 27 June — but every piece of footage I've seen and every rider I've spoken to agrees: this is the iconic trail of the Bike Kingdom. Starting at 2,835 m, the upper section is bare rock, scree fields, and embedded boulders in a genuinely moonscape environment above the treeline. There is nothing green up there — just grey stone and sky.
The trail then flows down into sculpted turns as it loses altitude, transitioning from the raw high-alpine into more trail-like terrain. It forms the beginning of the Älplisee ride, which ultimately brings you back to Arosa. Plan a full half-day for the Rothornbahn II → Dark Side → Älplisee → Arosa → Urdenbahn back to Lenzerheide loop.
The Furcletta Tour — Lenzerheide to Arosa the Hard Way
The Furcletta Tour is the adventure route of the Bike Kingdom: a multi-stage traverse from Lenzerheide across the Furcletta mountain pass to Arosa that involves real hike-a-bike and commits you to a full day in the mountains. It's the kind of route that separates those who bike through the Alps from those who bike in the Alps.
From the Rothorn valley station in Lenzerheide, you ascend toward Alp Sanaspans and then branch off toward Culmet/Furcletta. There is approximately 1.5 hours of pushing and carrying your bike on the upper section. The highest point at Culmet gives you 360-degree views before a short descent to the Furcletta col. From Furcletta, 14 km of flowing, partially rocky singletrack — the Welschtobel valley — takes you all the way down to Isla in Arosa, from where you climb the road to Arosa and the Hörnli Express valley station.
The total traverse is a long day — 6–8 hours including pushing sections. An e-MTB does NOT make the hike-a-bike sections easier (the bike is heavier), but it transforms the approach climbs and any remaining pedalled sections. Acoustic enduro bikes are entirely appropriate; leave the downhill sled at home.
Do this if: You want the defining day of a Bike Kingdom trip; you're comfortable with multi-hour mountain days; you have the fitness and navigation confidence for exposed alpine terrain.
Don't do this if: You're primarily here for park laps; you're on a full-suspension DH bike; it's the first day after arriving at altitude.
Schwellisee Trail — Natural Tech Heaven on the Arosa Side
If you ride the Bike Kingdom without doing the Schwellisee Trail, you've left one of the best natural-terrain experiences on the table. Starting from the Hörnli Express at around 2,000 m, the trail opens with a ridgeline traverse that gives you almost no indication of what's ahead — just sky, mountain, and exposure in every direction.
Then the trail drops. Rocky switchbacks, alpine meadow singletrack, a short climb or push mid-trail, and progressively chunkier terrain as you lose altitude. The trail character shifts as you descend: exposed and dramatic above, increasingly technical and rooty lower down. It saves its best moves for last, with some genuinely tricky corners near the end before easing off toward the Schwellisee lake itself. The trail ends in Inner Arosa, from where the Hörnli Express gets you back up for another lap.
At controlled speeds this is perfectly manageable for a solid intermediate rider — the difficulty is consistent rather than suddenly brutal. But it's the kind of trail that rewards patience: those tricky final corners will catch you out if you arrive with arms pumped from the upper sections. Stop, check the corner, then commit.
Crucially, this trail doesn't need the Rothornbahn II. It runs from the Hörnli Express in Arosa, which operates from the start of the Bike Kingdom season. If you're visiting before 27 June and want a natural tech trail to remember, the Schwellisee is your answer.
Skill Level Overview
| Rider Type | Best Zones | Expected Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Complete beginner / children | FLOWline (park); valley trail links near Lenzerheide village | Limited options; the Bike Kingdom is not primarily a beginner destination |
| Intermediate / confident blue-red | Scalottas Trail, PRIMEline, Mottoexpress, Weisshorn Trail lower sections | Good range of accessible trails; watch for alpine consequences |
| Advanced / red-black | Top Fops, Dark Side of the Moon, STYLEline, Älplisee Trail, Alp Lavoz | Core audience for the region; multiple days of excellent terrain |
| Expert / black+ | STRAIGHTline (UCI), SHOREline, high-alpine natural lines | World-class park features; physically demanding natural alpine terrain |
Overall difficulty rating: The Bike Kingdom is primarily a red-black destination. The majority of its best trails sit in the red difficulty band with meaningful consequences — rocks, roots, exposure, and the occasional unsignposted line choice that makes the difference between a great run and a long walk. Come prepared. The alpine environment also means weather can change rapidly, and trails at 2,500 m that are bone-dry at 10:00 can be wet and slippery by 14:00 after an afternoon storm.
On the Ground
Campervan & Parking
🚐 [To be added: Campervan spots and overnight parking Lenzerheide]
The Lenzerheide valley has limited wild camping options due to Swiss nature protection rules, but there are designated campervan areas in and around the village. Check with the local tourist office (arosalenzerheide.swiss) for current parking regulations and overnight permissions.
Food & Coffee
The Bike Kingdom has mountain huts at various points on the network. From the transcripts and rider reports, a few spots come up consistently:
- Hörnli area (Arosa side): A reliable lunch stop mid-tour on the Arosa–Lenzerheide crossing. Rösti is the local recommendation. The terrace views over Arosa are worth building a break around.
- Valley stations: Both the Lenzerheide Rothorn valley station and the Arosa Hörnli Express valley station have cafés/restaurants. Good for post-ride recovery.
- In Lenzerheide village: Several options along the main street for post-ride food. Swiss prices apply — a main course in a mountain hut runs roughly CHF 18–26.
☕ [To be added: Specific café recommendations Lenzerheide village]
Bike Shop & Rental
🔧 [To be added: Bike shop and rental recommendations Lenzerheide]
Bike rental is available through several providers in Lenzerheide and Arosa. The Bike Kingdom website (bikekingdom.ch/en/Services/Bike-Shops-Rental) lists partner shops. One rental shop mentioned in rider reviews — Aktiv Sport (roughly pronounced "ak-teev sport") in the village — was cited for good service and reasonable prices.
Bike wash: The Hörnli Express valley station in Arosa has a dedicated bike wash station — useful after a day on the Schwellisee Trail, Älplisee, or Hörnli Trail before loading your bike for the drive home.
Setup note: E-MTBs are accepted on all mountain railways in the Bike Kingdom with the same procedures as standard bikes. No special reservation required.
Shuttles
🚐 [To be added: Shuttle service options Lenzerheide]
The primary uplift is via mountain railway rather than road shuttle. The PostBus network connects Lenzerheide and Arosa for point-to-point riding; bike reservations on the Chur–Lenzerheide PostBus line are compulsory and can be made via the SBB app.
Season and Conditions
| Period | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Early June (before 27 June) | Partial | Rothornbahn I and Scalottas side open; Rothornbahn II closed; bike park partially accessible |
| 27 June 2026 onwards | Full season | Rothornbahn II opens; full Rothorn summit area accessible; Dark Side of the Moon and Älplisee Trail available |
| July–August | Peak | Best conditions; all lifts running; longest daylight; Late Shred evening sessions available |
| September | Excellent | Quieter crowds; stable weather common; full programme running |
| October | Late season | Some high lifts may close; lower elevation trails excellent; Urdenbahn schedule reduced |
| Early November | Season end | Bike Kingdom Park typically closes around 8 November (Gravity Card validity ends 8 November 2026) |
My personal recommendation: Visit from late June through September for the full experience. If you're coming specifically for the Scalottas side and natural trails, late June and early July are excellent — trails have had time to dry and settle after snowmelt, and you'll have the upper terrain without the peak August crowds.
The UCI World Cup: The WHOOP UCI MTB World Cup 2026 takes place 19–21 June in Lenzerheide. If you want to spectate some of the best downhill and XCO racing on the planet in a genuinely beautiful alpine setting, this is your window. But if you're coming to ride, plan your dates around it or embrace the festival atmosphere — the event transforms Lenzerheide into a full bike festival with team paddock access, expo, and evening events.
Getting There
By Car
| From | Drive Time | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich | ~1 hour 30 min | ~90 km via A3/A13 to Chur, then cantonal road to Lenzerheide |
| Munich | ~2 hours 50 min | ~230 km via A8/A96 to Lindau, then through Switzerland via Chur |
| Stuttgart | ~3 hours 30 min | ~280 km via A81 to Singen, then via Schaffhausen and Chur |
| Vienna | ~5 hours | ~430 km via A12 Inntal then through Switzerland |
From Chur, Lenzerheide is a 30-minute drive up the cantonal road through the Lenzer Heide valley. Arosa is accessed separately from Chur via a different mountain road (about 40 minutes from Chur). If you're planning to ride both areas across multiple days, basing yourself in Lenzerheide and riding to Arosa by trail or Urdenbahn is the most efficient approach.
Parking in Lenzerheide village is available near the Rothornbahn valley station. Swiss road rules apply throughout; note that the mountain roads use passing bays rather than full two-lane width in places.
By Train and Public Transport
The train-accessible approach from major cities:
| From | Route | Journey Time |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich HB | Train to Chur + PostBus line 182 to Lenzerheide | ~2 hours total |
| Munich | Train to Zurich then as above, or direct bus ~5+ hours | ~4–6 hours |
| Basel | Train to Chur + PostBus | ~2.5 hours |
| Vienna | Train via Innsbruck or Zurich | ~6–7 hours |
The PostBus from Chur to Lenzerheide runs regularly and takes bikes — but reservations for bike spaces on PostBus are compulsory and fill up quickly on peak days. Book via the SBB app well in advance. This is not optional — showing up at the bus stop with a bike without a reservation risks being turned away.
Train riders arriving at Chur station will find the PostBus stop for Lenzerheide directly outside. Arosa has its own narrow-gauge railway — the Arosabahn — running from Chur main station directly to Arosa village (about 1 hour), making it equally accessible by train.
Practical Information
| Info | Details |
|---|---|
| Region | Graubünden (Grisons), Switzerland |
| Villages | Lenzerheide, Arosa, Chur (all part of Bike Kingdom) |
| Altitude | 1,470 m (Lenzerheide village) to 2,865 m (Rothorn summit) |
| Currency | Swiss Franc (CHF). Cards widely accepted; carry some cash for huts. |
| Language | German (Swiss German dialect) in Lenzerheide; Romansh speakers in some areas |
| Mobile coverage | Generally good; some gaps on high terrain above 2,500 m |
| Emergency (mountain) | 144 (ambulance) / 1414 (REGA mountain rescue) |
| Bike Kingdom App | Available for iOS and Android; detailed trail maps, tour suggestions, lift status |
| Trail map (offline) | Download via Trailforks app before your trip; trailforks.com/region/arosa-lenzerheide |
Helmet: A full-face helmet is required in the Bike Kingdom Park. For natural trails outside the park, open-face is acceptable, but given the rocky, exposed nature of the Scalottas side and upper Rothorn terrain, I'd recommend a convertible or full-face for the high-alpine sections.
Weather: Graubünden receives less rainfall than the western Alps, but afternoon thunderstorms are common in July and August, often building quickly after 14:00. Granite and alpine limestone become extremely slippery when wet. Start early, check the forecast, and don't be the person who rides Dark Side of the Moon in a downpour.
My Setup for This Trip
Before I get into the recommendations, here's what I was riding on 31 May 2026:
- Bike: Amflow PL E-MTB
- Fork: 170mm Öhlins RFX 38
- Shock: EXT Coil
- Tyres: Continental Kryptotal front and rear
The 170mm travel is more than strictly necessary for the Scalottas side — but when you're on embedded stone at altitude and landing off a natural step-down you didn't fully read coming in, the extra travel margin is not a luxury. The Kryptotal front tyre was the right call for the stone sections: it found traction on dry alpine rock that a faster-rolling tyre would have skipped across.
The e-MTB motor made the Scalottas traversals — particularly the push across to connect between trail zones — far more manageable. On an acoustic enduro bike this is totally rideable, but plan for more time and more effort. I'd say the Scalottas side is the most e-bike-appropriate terrain I've ridden in any Gravity Card destination, purely because the cross-valley connections are real climbing.
FAQ
Is Bike Kingdom Lenzerheide worth it for natural trail riders who don't care about bike parks?
Yes — but with a qualifier. The bike park itself may not be your thing, and that's fine. The Scalottas side, the Furcletta Tour, the Dark Side of the Moon trail, and the Arosa connection offer genuine natural alpine enduro terrain that has nothing to do with shaped kickers or progression lines. Give yourself at least three days to separate the park from the natural trail experience.
When does Rothornbahn II open in 2026?
27 June 2026. Before that date, the upper Rothorn summit area — including the Dark Side of the Moon trail and the full Älplisee descent — is not accessible by lift. The lower Rothorn zone and the Scalottas side remain open.
Is an e-MTB practical at Bike Kingdom?
Very practical. All lifts accept e-MTBs with standard bike procedures. The Scalottas traversals and cross-valley connections genuinely benefit from electric assist. The motor is not needed on pure descents, obviously, but it earns its weight on the approach sections.
How many days do I need?
A minimum of three days to get a real feel for the region. Five to seven days allows you to explore the different districts properly — the Bike Kingdom specifically recommends not repeating the same area on consecutive days, and after riding here, I understand why. The variety is the point.
What difficulty level is most of the riding?
Predominantly red, with the best trails sitting at the challenging end of that band. Riders who are solid on red trails in other alpine destinations should expect similar or slightly higher demands here due to the alpine exposure, stone terrain, and occasional lift gaps that require pedalling. There is blue-level terrain, but it's not the focus of the destination.
Can I ride from Lenzerheide to Arosa in a single day?
Yes — either via the Urdenbahn cable car connection (fast, lift-assisted) or via the Furcletta Tour (full adventure day, hike-a-bike required, 6–8 hours). Both are genuinely worth doing for different reasons. Do the Urdenbahn if time is short; do the Furcletta if you want the defining mountain experience of the Bike Kingdom.
What about the UCI World Cup 2026?
WHOOP UCI MTB World Cup Lenzerheide: 19–21 June 2026. Short track and XCO on 19–20 June, downhill on 21 June. The event is free for spectators and takes place on the same trails you can ride the rest of the week. This is the 10th anniversary "Anniversary Edition X" — it will be a significant event.
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Final Take
Bike Kingdom Arosa-Lenzerheide is one of those destinations that rewards the rider who looks past the headline product. The headline product — the UCI World Cup park, the five freeride lines, the progressive jump sequence — is excellent at what it does. But the Bike Kingdom is genuinely larger than its park.
The Scalottas side is where I found my day. Long stony descents across open alpine terrain, real climbing between trail segments, and the particular satisfaction of reading natural terrain at altitude without anyone having pre-groomed the answers for you. Top Fops is the kind of trail I'd travel a long way to ride. As it turns out, I only had to travel from Munich.
I'm going back in July. Rothornbahn II will be open. Dark Side of the Moon is on the list. And I want to do the Furcletta Tour properly — the version where you earn every metre of the Welschtobel descent with the corresponding metres of hike-a-bike.
If you're a natural terrain rider who has been sleeping on Lenzerheide because you assumed it was just a bike park with Swiss prices: wake up. Go to the Scalottas side first. Thank me later.
Visited: 31 May 2026. Part of the Gravity Card Gebiete Entdecker Tour. Return visit planned: July 2026.
Current ticket prices and lift operating hours at bikekingdom.ch/en/Resort-Lifts/Tickets-rates. Trail data: trailforks.com/region/arosa-lenzerheide.