Well winter may be over here in the Alps, but dust off your walking shoes and bikes, as its mountain biking and hiking that are now the activities of choice. So let us tell you when and where you can access the breathtaking summer scenery the Alps has to offer.

Portes Du Soleil
With 650km of mountain bike trails across the valley, there’s a great variety for all levels as well as well marked hiking trails. The ‘PassPortes Du Soleil’ event is the major event to mark the start of the season and is a must for any keen mountain bikers. http://www.passportesdusoleil.com/passportes-2015-edition.html

Lifts are open between these dates:
The Pleney and Morzine – 13^th June  – 4^th September
Point de Nyon –13^th July – 21^st August (Hikers only)
Les Gets – 20^th June – 6^th September
Avoriaz Prodains – 26^th to 28^th June and 4^th July to 31^st August
Chatel  -26^th June-  6^th September

Chamonix
With hiking being the resorts main focus, there is something for all levels. If you are up for the challenge, try the Tour of Mont Blanc, a 200km trip around France, Italy and Switzerland, only for accomplished hikers it takes around 8-10 days. Threes plenty of mountains biking trails too, just beware of some restrictions during the busy summer months.
Aiguille du Midi  –  1^st June – 1^st November
Vallorcine Cable Car – 27^th June – 20^th August
Grand Montets – 27^th June – 13^th September

Verbier
With the now legendary Bike Park, Verbier has plenty to offer for walkers, bikers and climbers.
Les Ruinettes – 18^th  – 22^nd May,  25^th  – 29^th May, 1^st – 3^rd June, 8^th – 12^th June, 15^th – 19^th June and 22^nd– 26^thJune
Le Chable – Les Ruinettes (Bike Park) Weekends from the 6^th to the 28^th June. It is then open through the summer, then back to weekends from 26^th & 27^th September to the 25^th October.

Alpe D’Huez
With 100km of mountain biking terrain, and some lifts that are free for pedestrians (Mont de Lans) the great views from the resorts glacier are definitely worth a visit.
4^th July -23^rd August

Les Deux Alpes
The resort has recently updated their summer activities, with a new bike park, 100km of tracks and 5 cross country routes, in addition to vast hiking routes for all levels.
20^th June – 29^th August

Kitzbuhel
1000km of hiking trails and 800km of cycling and biking trails Kitzbuhel sets a high bar for other resorts. They even have their own mountain bike festival (20-28^th June) called Kits Alp Bike celebrating 20 years this year. (http://www.kitzalpbike.com/en/)
Hahnenkamm Cable Car 13^th June -26^th October, plus  Every Friday, night rides from 26^th June to 18^th September.
Kitzbüheler Horn Cable Car – 9^th May – 4^th of October
Horn Cable Car to the summit – 16^th May – 4^th of October

Mayrhofen
Not as well known for its biking the Zillertal valley has plenty on offer, from hidden lakes and wildflowers for hikers and plenty of mountain biking with 800km of trails available.
Ahornbahn – 23^th May – 18^th October
Horbergbahn – 4^th July to 06^th September

If you have more dates or events to add, for any other popular resorts, please let us know and we’ll add them to this list.

The Ski-Lifts Team

Here at Ski-Lifts we don’t try to hide the fact that we love Morzine – it’s where it all started for us after all and we know a lot about the place.

Most people who are familiar with the town, will know it for skiing or snowboarding, or for downhill mountain biking in the summer months and it goes without saying that it is one of the best destinations in the world for both of those. But one thing that puzzles us is why more people don’t take advantage of the town and what it has to offer, outside of the two peak seasons?

For one thing, if you were to travel here outside of these peak periods, you can get cheaper flights and much cheaper accommodation, as demand is lower. Yet the weather can still be fantastic especially through May, June and September and if you are here to enjoy the mountains you don’t have to go far to pretty much experience them all to yourself. Plus there are always a few shops, restaurants and bars open all year, because unlike many other ski resorts, Morzine is a village where people live – not a purpose built resort.

Obviously, one downside could be that the lifts aren’t open on the mountain, so to get up there and enjoy them then you’ve got to use your own steam – but that’s all part of the fun and sense of achievement! Plus, pretty much any other activity on offer through the main summer season that doesn’t require the lifts, is still available in these quieter times and can actually be better.

For example, if you are into road biking, then getting out and tackling some the famous climbs, such as the Col de Joux Plane (one of the most famous climbs of the Tour De France), or the climbs up to Avoriaz, can actually be more enjoyable outside of the main summer months as the temperatures are more comfortable and the roads have less traffic.

In the last couple of years, Morzine has become well known as a base for triathlon training because it has something to offer for all three disciplines. The cycling we’ve mentioned, there’s plenty of nice trails to get out for a run and for the swimming there is an Olympic size pool and Lake Montriond. It’s why some of the biggest names in world triathlon are now using this as their base.

And if you prefer your biking of the off-road variety, then you can take on the numerous cross-country trails around and not have to contend with other riders getting in your way.

Finally, you can’t forget one of the oldest ways to enjoy the mountains, which is getting out and hiking – whether it’s in the forest on the lower slopes, or up in the high mountain pastures, the spring and end of summer months are arguably the most pleasant time to really get out there and experience it.

It goes without saying of course, that should you take our advice and come and visit Morzine outside of the peak seasons, we’re still running our airport transfers, so it couldn’t be easier.