Red Cliffs From Crestline

You can enter Red Cliffs from Crestline at two locations, about 200 yards from each other.

Entrance from Crestline going up.

Entrance from Crestline going down.

Looking down Red Cliffs where it starts to get curvier.
Occasionally, someone has the brilliant idea to put some speed bumps on the trail, don’t ask me why. These are 2 of 5 new hiccups on the trail looking down the trail (opposite direction) after you have made the first climb up. You can ride your BH47 in these areas and these are easily flameable. From the top of the funicular follow the signs to the Hôtel Weisshorn. It’s not a particularly exciting climb up the firetrack, but the views up towards the Weisshorn and Bishorn are staggering. Once you reach the hotel, climb up to your left and on to the balcony trail heading towards Zinal. The hotel has shopping mall also, where you can get traditional items, hand crafts and trendy boutique for kids. Big-mountain singletracks don’t get any more epic than this, with the rocky terrain and huge glaciers beyond feeling more like the Himalayas. Continue along this line until you see a small track on your right zigzagging through the meadows and on to a firetrack. After a couple of corners take a right turn, following signs for Saint-Luc. This lovely rolling singletrack is so thick with deep red pine needles that it’s like riding along a big soft ginger beard. When you reach the small chalets take a left and drop down through the forest to La Combaz before cruising back along the road into Saint-Luc.

Lift dates
The funicular at Saint-Luc is open from the end of May (€10 lift up plus €4 for mountain bike) and the area also features a bike park, while the other resorts in the valley usually open from July onwards.

Where to stay
The Hôtel Beausite has clean, comfortable rooms, helpful staff and great views over the valley for around €170 a night. Another good (and more affordable) option is the Camping d’Anniviers in the town of Vissoie lower down the valley, where you can get a pitch for your tent for around €10. From here you can take a bus or drive up to Saint-Luc, which takes around 15 minutes.

Eating and drinking
A popular venue is the Fougère bar and pizzeria not far from the funicular. The food is simple and tasty, plus it’s also a clean, friendly but basic B&B. Doubles from €96, hotelrestaurantlafougere.com

The exit from Red Cliffs is where the name comes from.