Illgraben
Description
In Sierre, take the postbus via Vissoie to St-Luc and from here take the funicular up to Tignousa. Take a small road to the alp just north of the mountain station and then follow the fun singletrail to Chandolin. Now you could climb a few meters up to Pramarin under your own steam and then head downhill past the Illgraben. An easier and more rewarding option is to take the chairlift to Tsapé. Here you follow the gravel road downhill for a while, but then soon take the singletrail that rides to the edge of the Illgraben. This is the start of the long descent down to Sierre. This is considered one of the classic mountain bike routes in the region. 1300 vertical meters of trail accumulate on this route, at the end as a serpentine trail that requires good cornering technique - but many of the serpentines can be ridden without trial skills. The trail ends at the highway exit of Sierre, from here you can take the cycle path to Sierre train station.
Map & GPX-Track
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Details of the tour
23 km
260 m
2435 m
532 above sea level
2464 above sea level
1 day
Saint-Luc
Siders
1513
limited
More information
No bike schools are registered for this region. Registration as a partner takes place here.
More tours nearby
User comments (11)
About the author: Thomas Giger
Note: This content has been automatically translated from German. Please report any incorrect translations.
I recommend the tour via Cabane Illhorn and Pramarin; the passage is easily passable 3 meters above with the handlebars unwound. The trails are great, rather rutted and rooty. At 1020 turn left, straight ahead the path is very unkempt, a pity.
The infamous wooden fence before the descent to Sierre is easily passable. You ride down a marked trail running route Sierre-Zinal. At best, they had a hand in the funny fence. From Chandolin you pass a driving ban once beforehand. But somehow it doesn't look so official (?). There is no driving ban or sign at the fence itself. If you still take the chairlift to the Illpass, you probably won't see one. But I could imagine that the part between 2274 and 2049 has numerous carrying passages. We skipped the short section of hiking trail up to 1958 due to time constraints. The beginning and then the end looked rather steep. From the road quickly up to 1958 to look at the Illgraben but still recommended!
The first part of the trail from the fence is certainly not for everyone. Those who like to 'rock' at high speed over lots of roots and stones will have a great time here. Technicians or flow trail fans will not. It is not really difficult. The lower part from 1020 is less rough again. However, it is somewhat exposed in places - and apart from a few tight bends - everything is very doable.
Dangers on 23.8.23
The huge wooden palisade is still standing and there was no way through for my size L ebike, even with the handlebars turned off. Even 3 meters further up, the sawn-open passage is closed again. BUT:
Nothing too bad. At P. 1873 everything on a super flowing trail to Soussillion, then always on the hiking trail down to the main road at Pontis 1000m. A short stretch down the impressive road to P. 957 and all along the road to P. 1146 where you come to the original trail. Then serpentine down to Sierre.
Info: at Le Tsapé it's worth taking the Illpass up to Lac Noire. Nice photo spot.
The descent to P. 2049 is very tedious and can easily be reached via the forest road. Great again from 2049.
Hello Bombo, how do I find P1873? What is meant by P? Greetings Stefan
The section at Illgraben is not rideable from my point of view and I had to carry the bike down part of it. At the palisade, we twisted off the handlebars and forced the bike through (there was no ban on bikes). The descent is great and all the effort is worth it. We would definitely ride the trail again. Starting in Zinal/Sorbois, descending via Grimentz to Vissoie and looping over the Ilpass, you'll cover around 3400 Elevation loss, highly recommended. Ridden on 09.07.23
I can't really understand the cries of joy about the departure here.
I can't judge the upper part up to the forest road P. 2041, as I came from Chandolin, but after a pleasant trail past the Illgrabenblick, the trail between about 1650m and the crossroads/gravel road at P.1140 consists mainly of a rutted, steep and dusty slide. The lower part past the Saint-Antoine chapel is much nicer - a narrow, gravelly path on a steep slope with tight hairpin bends - even if you can't miss the tracks there either.
For your information: the palisade is still there, but with a removed front wheel, an all-mountain bike in size S with clipless pedals fit through without any problems ;).
Yes, great descent! I was there yesterday, after Bella Tola
Yes, there is a no cycling sign (official, not a homemade one!) between Chandolin and Ponchet as well as a monstrous wooden palisade after Ponchet. However, the latter has been sawn open 5m above the passage (dirtiest the said gap...), you can get through there without dismounting the front wheel. Be careful when descending on the back to the path: steep, slippery, and danger of falling below the path (wire rope on the path is probably not sufficient for catching a bike and/or people).
So it seems that certain people are very serious about the bike ban (and others about riding ;-) ). Everyone has to decide for themselves...
Hello Tomtom71
Did the tour today, didn't see any driving bans. The very impressive structure is still there, we didn't find a gap.
But no problem, removing the front wheel and choking through the fence on the hiking trail went well. You may have to unscrew one of the pedals, but I just about managed without removing it. :)
Have fun, David
Hello,
is the gap in the fence still there, summer 2021?
About 300 meters after Alp Ponchét, the trail is blocked by a rickety fence with palisades. The only way through is about 5 meters above the trail and only if you turn off the handlebars.
The whole first part up to Alp Ponchet is extremely difficult in places and only suitable for very good riders. We had to carry, push or even climb again and again. From Ponchet onwards, we hit the well-known trail, which is marked with a no-riding sign.