Creux du Van
Description
The ideal starting point for the Creux-du-Van is in Boudry, a little south-east of Neuchâtel. The approach to the rock arena is via a small road through the Gorge de l'Areuse. Climb up to the Ferme Robert inn, where you can see the rock faces for the first time. The ascent now becomes steeper and leads along a gravel path to the forest clearing at Pré au Favre. Once again you change to a small road up to the Grand-Vy inn and fight your way the last few meters along a meadow path to the rocky edge of the Creux du Van. The scenery is simply fantastic. Anywhere else in the world, such a natural spectacle would probably have been fenced off and guests would have to pay an entrance fee - but in Switzerland, this highlight is still considered an insider tip. The route leads along the edge of the cliff to Gasthof Soliat. It is advisable to cover this section on foot as it is not without danger and there are many hikers along the way. A special tip for a lunch break is this very inn, which has nothing on the menu apart from fondue and homemade sausages. After all, there's only the descent to go! You reach the start of the downhill trail via the scattered settlement of Vers chez les Pernet and follow the hiking trail markings via Prises to Gorgier. The descent is top-class singletrail fun, mostly flowing, but with the occasional tricky section. In bathing weather, Lake Neuchâtel offers the opportunity for a pleasantly cool dip. The return journey to Boudry leads along country roads past the castle of Gorgier via Bevaix to Boudry.
Tips: Lunch break at the Le Soliat inn with a fondue; swim in Lake Neuchâtel after the descent
Map & GPX-Track
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Details of the tour
37 km
1225 m
1225 m
1 day
Boudry
Boudry
1001
well suited
More information
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User comments (10)
About the author: Thomas Giger
Note: This content has been automatically translated from German. Please report any incorrect translations.
I’ve been riding to Creux du Van once a season for years. I think the long, steady climb is great (challenging). The descent with the loose rocks isn’t easy, but it’s never steep. On the official No. 56 MTB route, there are now bike crossings near the “La Grand Vy” restaurant, so you can officially ride into the nature park (with some short sections where you have to walk your bike). At km 24.5, you can turn into the forest and stay on an easy singletrack until the end of the forest (26.3 km). From there, I stay at the same elevation and ride on small roads until I reach the motocross track. There, at 29.8 km, you can ride another easy singletrack into the forest.
A5 Highway, Exit 7 Boudry; parking lot at the sports field (5 hours free). Follow Route 56 “Mountain Bike Country Switzerland” to Buvette La Baronne, then continue on the small road to Ferme du Soliat. Continue on the marked bike trail to the highest point of the rock basin, descend to Buvette La Baronne, and continue on the Ride route. At 560 meters above sea level, take the small road to the left—more or less downhill—and at the motocross park, you’ll reach the bike path back to Boudry.
We did the tour on Whit Monday.
The ascent was very doable, always a pleasant gradient. A small section was closed to both hikers and bikers, but it was easy to avoid.
Biking is prohibited at the top of the viewpoint, but this doesn't bother you at all, as you can't ride smoothly anyway due to the many people and the breathtaking view.
There are even marked bike trails down the other side.
The descent is great, a bit of loose scree, but otherwise everything is rideable. A "relaxed" 3 out of 6!
We would have liked more of the cool trail down.
Only two bikers came towards us, otherwise we were alone, awesome ;)
Many thanks dear Ride Team!
I went up extra early on a weekday in August, who was the first person I met when I arrived? The ranger. I had to carry the bike and then left again on legal roads. Next time I would hike this tour earlier, then you can get into the cauldron sooner.
Ridden X times - even with larger groups of up to 12 bikers. Never had any problems. Simply choose days when few hikers are expected. Only stay on the paths and don't bike across the pastureland. Then the ranger will also understand....
Bruno
I agree with the latest comments. Great scenic tour - the bike ban at Creux du Van is vehemently enforced by the ranger. Not even pushing is allowed! Unbelievable - as soon as you arrive as a biker, you're considered a felon...hikers, on the other hand, are allowed to do anything....
The ascent is crisp and long, but easily doable. From Soliat onwards, biking is strictly forbidden. Not even pushing is allowed. If you're lucky, the ranger won't see you. Then you might still be able to ride up. But as soon as he sees you, you will be chased away. Absolute bike ban on the Creux du Van. An extreme pity. You have to park your bike at the Resti and admire the wonderful natural spectacle on foot. The descent is then fun. In the lower part, there is a trail to the right just before the tour trail. Be sure to take it. It's a half-formed downhill. Really good fun.
Conclusion: a must for every biker. An absolute high light. However, the bike ban really puts a damper on the mood.
We were there on the Friday after Ascension Day 2018. - There were an incredible number of pedestrians up at the Creux du Van. - We were then informed by a friendly ranger that bikes were not allowed up here, as it has been the largest nature reserve in the NE since 2015. - We then shortened the ride at the top with a short push....
So: we no longer recommend doing the tour - only at the top. - There are still no clear no-bike signs - as there are lots of pedestrians, it's no fun riding around these "moving obstacles" anyway.
Did the descent today. It's easy to ride at the start, but certainly not for everyone later on. It is rideable, but when it rains the trail turns into a stream. So there were lots of stones on the trail today. Further down, it's awesome again. Can only recommend the descent. I only met 5 people on the descent.
Incredibly beautiful tour. The climb is quite long but it's worth it just for the view. The whole tour takes a good 3 hours.