Vars-Risoul
Also known as: Forest Bike Park
Chabrieres and Mayt panoramas, Serre-Poncon lake views, forested twin-resort terrain.
Who in your group rides what
Whether everyone in your group gets a day at Vars-Risoul - the grades on offer, the named zones, and how mixed abilities split up.
Green, Blue, Red, Black (DH, enduro and XC graded)
Group split: beginners lap green/blue DH within one resort; advanced take red/black DH, enduro and the intermediate/advanced Vars-Risoul link; 6 lifts on one pass uplift and reconverge groups.
Beginner to expert overall; Vars 7 DH / 7 enduro / 9 XC-VTTAE; Risoul 6 DH / 6 enduro / 6 XC; fun zones and pump track/skill areas.
The riding
Larch-forest singletrack, machine-built flow, rock and open-slope sections; long descents to valley.
Forest gravity across two resorts; twin-resort link aimed at intermediate/advanced riders; long descents from 2750 m expose to fatigue and terrain.
Colour-graded signposted trails, single 'Foret Verte 360' pass; mapped on Trailforks and resort maps.
Moderate; busier at lift bases in peak summer, quieter on long enduro links.
Season & conditions
Approx 4 July to 30 August 2026; new 'Foret Verte 360' link opened 4 July 2026.
Summer (July to late August).
New for 2026: connected Vars-Risoul 'Foret Verte 360' allowing riding between resorts on one pass; long descent toward Lake Serre-Poncon.
Southern-Alps afternoon thunderstorms, heat, exposure on high Chabrieres/Mayt slopes.
Getting there & gear
Single 'Foret Verte 360' MTB lift pass; day/multi-day passes sold by resorts. No lottery.
Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.
Vars les Claux and Risoul 1850 resort bases; road via Guillestre.
6 shared lifts (Telemix Chabrieres, Mayt, Sainte-Marie chairs at Vars, plus Risoul lifts) on one pass; road access, nearest rail Montdauphin-Guillestre.
Full-face and protection for DH; carry water for long descents; coverage good in resorts, patchy in forest.
Bike rental/repair, fun/skill zones, mountain restaurants, resort services.
Vars and Risoul bike schools/rental; Guillestre/Hautes-Alpes MTB hub.
Hazards & rescue
Long, tiring descents from 2750 m; twin-resort link needs technique; speed, rock and modules; helmet compulsory.
None required; twin-resort link recommended for technically competent riders; local guiding available.
Lift stations and pisteurs; mountain rescue via 112.
This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand mountain-bike network report. Coordinates are approximate.