Mountain biking in Andorra, three bike parks and over 600 km of trails

In summer, once the snow has gone, Andorra’s ski areas turn into something else. The lifts keep running, but now they carry bikes, and the pistes fill with downhill, enduro and cross-country lines. Andorra Turisme counts more than 600 km of mountain bike routes in the country, and its bike parks have trails designed by names such as Cédric García.

Pal Arinsal Bike Park, the world-class one

This is the big draw, and the one I’d pick if downhill is your thing. It sits in the Pal sector of Pal Arinsal in La Massana, and its website promises up to 60 km of trails with more than 1,000 m of descent, for every level. Some lines, such as the DH World Cup track, are UCI-approved, and in July 2026 it hosted a round of the Mountain Bike World Cup.

You go up on the gondola from La Massana to La Caubella, or drive via the CG-4 and CS-420, and the Cubil chairlift reaches 2,350 m, the park’s highest point. Beginners have the blue Blavet trail, and children the Bike World, with areas for first pedal strokes, an obstacle course to start riding downhill and a woodland trail with the resort’s mascots. There’s a school with private and small-group lessons.

In 2026 it opened daily from 20 June to 13 September, and at weekends from 19 September to 12 October. In winter, conditions permitting, the lower area runs as the Winter Bike Park, with prices published in September of €31 for adults and €26 for children.

Naturland, for beginners and families

The Naturland Bike Center at Naturland in Sant Julià de Lòria has more than 70 km of marked routes and about fifteen trails, with a pump track, jumping zone and skills zone. If you want a challenge, the Gravity route is a 12 km loop with 515 m of climbing and the Pic Negre 13 km with more than 600 m, in about three hours.

The one I’d recommend first time out is Greenland, an easy 5 km descent from the 2000 level to the 1600, with a lift to take you back up. There’s also a kids’ zone for ages 3 to 6 and, at the 2000 level, a shop run by Forestal, the Andorran downhill bike brand, which hires out mountain bikes and e-bikes.

What if you’ve never ridden a bike park?

Then an e-bike is your friend. Grandvalira E-bike Trails has more than 100 km of circuits spread between Canillo, Soldeu, El Tarter, Grau Roig and Pas de la Casa, colour-coded like ski runs. Green and blue routes of up to 18 km are for beginners; reds of up to 13 km for riders with some experience; and blacks, purples and yellows for experts. There are charging points along the way.

Away from the resorts, Andorra Turisme has route sheets for mountain bike rides in every parish, from low-difficulty routes aimed at children to ones marked experts only. In Arinsal, the Les Berques circuit brings together BMX, dirt jump, pump track, trials and cross-country, free and open to all, and there’s another circuit at Engolasters with skills areas and boardwalks.

Hire, shops and guides

You don’t need to bring your own bike. There’s hire at several shops in La Massana by the Bike Park, at the Naturland shop and at specialist shops in Andorra la Vella, Escaldes-Engordany and Sant Julià, with e-bikes, enduro bikes and children’s bikes, plus workshops if something breaks. Many cyclist-friendly hotels lock bikes away overnight and serve breakfast early.

If you’d rather ride with a guide, Andorra Turisme lists companies such as MTB Aventures, Andorra Bike Tracks and VSL Sports. And for a wet afternoon, the Bici Lab in Andorra la Vella has a downhill simulator.

What I’d bear in mind

Check the dates before you travel, because Pal Arinsal Bike Park closes its 2026 season on 12 October and on 29 September hadn’t published 2027 yet. I couldn’t find summer prices in open pages, but there is one perk, the Andorra Pass, Nord Pass and Extraescolar ski season tickets include year-round access.

And one point that matters in a sport with crashes. Andorra doesn’t accept the GHIC, so read the small print and make sure your policy covers mountain biking, ideally with helicopter rescue. If tarmac is more your thing, the climbs are in road cycling in Andorra.