I shall be honest, I had never even heard of 🚵♀️ a pumptrack before we discovered the 🚵♀️ pumptrack in Combloux!
So, what is 🚵♀️ a pumptrack? It is a circuit, with ups and downs and turns, on which the 🚵♂️ cyclist / 🛹 skater / 🛴 scooter can keep moving simply through “pumping” (no need for pedal action, once moving). Not just for cyclists (BMX, VTT), it is also open to 🛹 skateboards, rollerblades, 🛴 scooters, 🚵♂️ draisiennes . . . You must wear a helmet, and other protective gear (gloves, knee and elbow protection) is also favourable.
For now, there are 🚵♀️ FIVE pumptracks to choose from 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc, all FREE to use: Servoz, Combloux, Megève, Saint-Gervais-les-Bains and NEW in 2019: Les Contamines-Montjoie. . . and there are two more planned: a giant one in Sallanches (next to the skatepark) and one in Plateau d’Assy.
A bit further afield, there is 🇫🇷 a pumptrack in Les Carroz, a NEW one in Morillon . . . and one in Les Saisies!
[ DISCLAIMER – pumptracks attract all age-groups, so do be vigilant with little ones ! ]
[ ⇒ for more information about 🚵♀️ BIKE PARKS au Pays du Mont-Blanc (and beyond), see separate MBFF article here ]
Colour code for listings:
Pays du Mont-Blanc
Chamonix Valley (Chamonix, Argentière, Les Houches, Servoz & environs) and Vallorcine
Passy & environs
Sallanches, Combloux, Cordon & Domancy
St Gervais, Le Fayet & environs
Megève, Praz-sur-Arly & environs
Les Contamines & environs
🇫🇷 Further France
🇨🇭 Switzerland
🇮🇹 Italy
Au Pays du Mont-Blanc & Chamonix Valley
Servoz
The 🚵♀️ pumptrack in Servoz was one of the first to open 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc (summer of 2017), and it has a very practical location, next to the playground and tennis courts.
[ good to know: visit to 🚵♀️ the pumptrack in Servoz could combine nicely with a visit to the 💦 Gorges de la Diosaz (open June to September) ]
🅿️ parking: FREE parking right next to pumptrack;
🗺 address: chemin de a Grangiat, 74310, Servoz;
Combloux
We discovered the 🚵♀️ pumptrack in Combloux a few summers ago now, as there was a super FREE initiative from Combloux Tourisme: children could borrow BMX bikes to try out for FREE! And after that, we have found ourselves back at this pumptrack regularly!
The 🚵♀️ pumptrack in Combloux is a brilliant destination for a weekend jaunt, with something for the whole family on-site:
- 🍏 several picnic tables and lot of grass;
- 🛹 a small skatepark and a parcours freestyle;
- 🏀 a terrain multi-sport (be sure to take a football or basketball to make the most of this);
- a lovely playground for little ones;
- 🥤 a snack bar (in summer);
. . . and, let’s not forget the stunning views of the 🏔 Mont-Blanc massif!
A short walk from the centre of town, you can buy any provisions that you might need for 🍏 a picnic nearby (the boulangerie La Pointe Percée is just around the corner on 16 route de l’Église, 74920, Combloux). There are also 🚾 just behind the car park and 📚 a little book hut to exchange books.
[ good to know: if you have come from afar to Combloux, you may well want to prolong your fun by visiting the TWO other playgrounds in this mountain village . . . or, in the summer months, you can visit the 💦 Plan d’Eau Biotope . . . ]
🅿️ parking: located just next to the school and Mairie / plenty of FREE parking;
address: rue de la Mairie, 74920, Combloux;
Saint-Gervais-les-Bains
Saint-Gervais-les-Bains now has 🚵♀️ a pumptrack all of its own (since summer 2018), with a green track specially reserved for little ones! It is conveniently located behind the 💦 swimming pool, in the Plaine de Pratz (same zone as the 🎾 tennis courts and ⛳️ mini-golf).
[ good to know for summer: multi-activity days are scheduled ]
NEW – as of summer 2021, there is now a skatepark with a bowl, a 4×4 football pitch and a bike park nearby !
🅿️ parking: plenty of FREE parking near tennis courts and mini-golf, then a short walk;
address: Plaine des Pratz, Saint-Gervais-Mont-Blanc;
Megève
A short distance from the Le Palais, on the Plaine des Sports, are located: 🚵♀️ Megève’s pumptrack (600m²), its 🏀 City Stade (football, basketball, handball), its 🎾 outdoor tennis courts and ⛳️ the mini-golf. This pumptrack consists of two tracks.
🅿️ parking: plenty of paying parking on-site;
address: Plaine des Sports, Megève;
Les Contamines-Montjoie (Zone de Loisirs des Loyers)
BRAND NEW for July 2019, Les Contamines-Montjoie was equipped with its own 🚵♀️ pumptrack in the Zone de Loisirs des Loyers (where there is also a playground and ice-skating rink for the winter season). There is a parcours bleu and a parcours rouge.
the 🌈 playground on-site . . .
The pumptrack and playground are located next to the lovely 🗺 Sentier de Découverte, an annotated pathway along the river, where you can learn all about the history, patrimoine and nature of the fabulous Les Contamines -Montjoie . . .
❄️ and for the winter season, ⛸ an ice-skating rink . . .
🅿️ parking: you can either park at the car park found further along the route de Notre Dame de la Gorge or in the car park next to the tourist office; from either location you have a short 5 to 10 minutes walk;
address: Zone de Loisirs des Loyers, Les Contamines-Montjoie;
🇫🇷 And a little FURTHER AFIELD 🇫🇷
Les Carroz
Les Carroz now has its own 🚵♀️ pumptrack, near the skatepark . . . and there are plenty of other super summer activities to enjoy here: 🚵♀️ a Bike Park, a new summer luge, MountainCart . . .
Morillon
New kid on the block, the 🚵♀️ pumptrack in Morillon (by Bike Solutions) opened for autumn 2019! It is located right next to the lake . . .
Les Saisies
Les Saisies has a fabulous bike park, and now also a 🚵♀️ pumptrack (by Bike Solutions)! / read more about it here;
Pump tracks sound fun.
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Pumptracks, Terry Dodsworth, are indeed FUN! Though not without risk! We’ll take you on your next visit to the Pays du Mont-Blanc!
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