Bike Kingdom Opening
Lenzerheide Bergbahnen will start weekend and holiday operations on Thursday, 18 May 2023. The opening step includes the Rothorn 1 gondola lift and the Bike Kingdom Park as well as other facilities on the Heidbüel/Scalottas side of the valley. Summer 2023 promises a varied season in the Bike Kingdom Lenzerheide with novelties and events - and the big highlight, the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup from 9 to 11 June 2023.
After six UCI Mountain Bike World Cups in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2022 as well as the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in 2018, the Bike Kingdom Park, the heart of the Bike Kingdom at the Rothorn valley station in Lenzerheide, has long since ceased to be an insider tip. On the contrary: the bike park has been continuously expanded over the past ten years of its existence and has enjoyed steadily increasing popularity. This year, just in time for the Ascension weekend, the Bike Kingdom Park will once again open its doors to all loyal and new bike park fans.
Planned opening steps
Lenzerheide Bergbahnen AG (LBB AG) communicates the start of operation of the following facilities on Thursday, 18 May 2023:
- Rothorn 1 gondola lift
- Tgantieni chairlift
- Heidbüel panorama lift
- Pradaschier chairlift
The detailed operating times can be found on the websites bikekingdom.ch/operating-times (focus on mountain biking) and arosalenzerheide.swiss/operating-times-summer (mountain railways in general). In addition to the Bike Kingdom Park, the Autschliweg, the theme and family trail from Scharmoin to Lenzerheide, and the Pradaschier adventure mountain with toboggan run and zipline are also open. The Pradaschier and Acla Grischuna mountain restaurants, the Portal restaurant and the zBar at the Rothorn valley station are also open from Ascension Day. As planned, operation of the Scalottas chairlift will start somewhat later, on 3 June 2023, as the overhaul work due to a rope and gearbox replacement will take longer than in other years.
Tickets and transport restrictions
In addition to the planned opening steps, LBB AG informs about changes in the daily and multi-day tickets as well as transport restrictions. The price per day is now cheaper the more days in a row are purchased. The cheapest fare is still guaranteed with a purchase via the online ticket shop - preferably as early as possible. The range has also been simplified: day and multi-day tickets are now valid not only in Arosa and Lenzerheide, but also in Chur. In addition, the extended operation of the Rothorn 1 gondola until 8 p.m. is included from 8 July to 13 August 2023. With regard to transport restrictions, there is no longer an obligation to remove the battery for e-bikes. However, there is a restriction to a maximum of 25kg per bike on the Hörnli Express and on the second section Brambrüesch. Furthermore, the bikes must be able to be loaded themselves.
Season outlook 2023
The Bike Kingdom would not be a bike kingdom without top-class events. Accordingly, the calendar of events will also show its best side in the coming season: Right at the beginning of the season, the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup from 9 to 11 June 2023 is the big highlight on the programme. This is followed by the Bike Kingdom Kids Cup, once in Chur and twice in Lenzerheide, on 24/25 June 2023, 19/20 August 2023 and 16/17 September 2023, and continues with the Bike Kingdom Hunt Arosa (14-16 July 2023), the "smallest bike festival" in Lenzerheide (4/5 August 2023) and the Family Bike Vibes Arosa (4-6 August 2023). The SPAR Swiss Epic Graubünden, the five-day mountain bike stage race that leads through the Grisons Alps, will be similarly international as the World Cup at the beginning of the season. Lenzerheide as host town will kick off the event on 15/16 August 2023. But that's not all: from 18 to 20 August 2024, the Bike Kingdom Feast will go into its 4th round, from 24 to 27 August 2023, the Grischa Trail Ride will take place and to round off the season, the Bike Kingdom Testride from 8 to 10 September 2023 is the last traditional event on the programme. Bike park fans can also look forward to various constructional innovations such as the renewal of the FLOWline or other track adjustments in the park. And of course there is always something going on in the Bike Kingdom Park - Adiletten Rave, Whip Off, Jump Sessions, Braap Off and much more.
All information is available here