Orcières Bike Park is the dedicated lift-accessed mountain biking facility at Orcières Merlette resort in the Hautes-Alpes. Redesigned with professional trail builders between 2022 and 2023, the park now offers 80+ km of marked trails from a base of 1,838m, reaching a summit of 2,725m for genuine high-alpine riding conditions.
Orcières Bike Park Trail Network Explained
The Orcières Bike Park operates across two mountain sectors linked by the main gondola system. The lower sector (1,838m–2,200m) contains the majority of green and blue trails, designed for progression and skill development. The upper sector (2,200m–2,725m) holds the park’s most challenging red and black descents.
All trails are one-way and clearly marked with colour-coded signs at every junction. Trail maps are available at the gondola station and on the Orcières Merlette resort app (iOS and Android).
Total trail count: 12 marked bike park trails plus access to 4 additional XC routes not requiring uplift.
Trail Grades at Orcières Bike Park
Green (Easy): 2 trails. Maximum gradient 15%, no technical features. Ideal for complete beginners and children’s first bike park experience. Trail length 2–3 km each.
Blue (Intermediate): 4 trails. Includes bermed corners, small natural drops (under 30cm), and compressed sections. Suitable for riders comfortable on blue ski runs who want to develop bike park skills. Trail length 4–9 km.
Red (Advanced): 4 trails. Technical features including natural rock gardens, roots sections, steeper gradient sections, and medium drops (30–60cm). Suitable for confident trail riders with bike park experience. Trail length 5–11 km.
Black (Expert): 2 trails. Large natural drops, mandatory technical features, steep and loose sections. Not suitable for riders without significant bike park experience. Helmet and full protective gear strongly recommended.
Orcières Bike Park Lift System
Uplift at Orcières Bike Park is provided by two systems: the main 10-person gondola from the village base at 1,838m to the summit at 2,725m (journey time: 12 minutes), and a fixed-grip chairlift serving the mid-mountain sector.
Gondola operating hours during bike park season: 09:00–17:00 daily. Last uphill at 16:30. The gondola accepts bikes in standard uplift format — no additional bags, packaging, or oversized frames required.
E-bikes: The Orcières gondola can accommodate e-MTBs within standard weight limits. Battery charging points are available at the mid-mountain gondola station — a useful facility for e-bike riders taking multiple runs.
Orcières Bike Park Skills Area & Coaching
A dedicated bike skills area is located adjacent to the gondola base in the village. This free-to-use area includes: a pump track, drop progression zone (30cm, 60cm, 90cm graduated drops), a log ride, and a timing gate for self-assessment.
Coaching: The Orcières Merlette École du Ski (ski school) operates a summer mountain bike programme with qualified BESC guides. Sessions available: beginner introduction (2 hours), skills progression (half-day), and guided trail rides. Group sessions run daily during peak season; private coaching requires advance booking.
Children’s sessions: Available from age 6, using adapted bikes from the school’s fleet. Highly recommended as a first-day activity before children ride independently on the marked trails.
Orcières Bike Park Sustainability
Orcières Merlette resort operates its lift infrastructure on 100% Electricité de France renewable energy contracts. The bike park trail network was constructed using hand-built techniques in 2022–2023, with careful watershed management to minimise erosion impact.
The resort has committed to a 5-year revegetation programme on former ski run areas being converted to natural meadow, reducing the ecological footprint of the resort boundary. Riders are requested to stay on marked trails and avoid shortcuts — off-piste riding contributes to erosion and damage to protected alpine plant communities.
Hotels listed on impt.io for the Orcières area (app.impt.io/find-hotel-input) have undergone sustainability screening, allowing riders to match their accommodation choice to their environmental values.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many trails does Orcières Bike Park have?
Orcières Bike Park has 12 marked uplift-served trails plus 4 additional XC routes. Trail grades range from green (beginner) to black (expert). The total marked trail network covers 80+ km, with the main bike park trails concentrated in the lift-served zone between 1,838m and 2,725m.
Does Orcières Bike Park allow e-MTBs?
Yes. Orcières Bike Park welcomes e-MTBs. The main gondola can accommodate e-bikes within standard weight limits. Battery charging points are available at the mid-mountain gondola station. All trails are open to e-MTBs except those marked ‘MTB classique uniquement’ (traditional bike only).
What are the hours of Orcières Bike Park?
Orcières Bike Park gondola operates from 09:00 to 17:00 (last uphill 16:30) daily during the summer season. The bike skills area at the village base is open from 08:00 to 18:00 and is free of charge for all resort visitors.
Is there a bike school at Orcières Bike Park?
Yes. The Orcières Merlette mountain bike school offers beginner introductions, skills progression sessions, and guided trail rides. Children’s sessions are available from age 6. Book in advance through the resort website or directly at the bike school desk in the village.
How do I get the Orcières Bike Park trail map?
The official trail map is available free at the gondola station, from bike rental shops in the village, and as a downloadable PDF on the Orcières Merlette resort website. A digital version is included in the resort’s mobile app.
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