Cycling along the Annecy Rail Trail to Albertville

The Annecy Rail Trail is a great option if you are after a ride with little climbing. If you are traveling with younger children it is also a good route which is totally off the road and away from cars. The trail is well signposted and easy to find just continue on the cycle path which runs alongside Lake Annecy. These cycling greenways are very popular and as such there are always plans for expansions. In this case, the plan is to extend the cycle path to loop entirely around Lake Annecy and remove the need to ride on the road and mix with motorized traffic.

If you are up for a longer ride you can choose to continue on past the end of the Annecy rail trail and ride all the way to Albertville. You will be on a road for the last few km/mi leading you into the village but in the main, it is fairly quiet. There is good signage at the end of the Greenway which points out the way into Albertville itself. Albertville also provides you with a good place to stop and have lunch.

Suggested route

If you are riding in summer you will be thankful for this section of shaded cycleway.

Food and water

You can refuel with food and water at several villages along this route.

If you are riding the whole way to Albertville we recommend stopping for lunch.

As you get closer to Annecy itself you will also find street vendors selling cold drinks and ice cream.

Highlights

• The Annecy Rail Trail is totally separated from traffic almost all the way to Albertville.

• Enjoy the stunning views of the lake, countryside and Mont Blanc – all with no climbing!

• Riding through the disused rail tunnel as you pedal out of Annecy is a real buzz.

If you choose to ride the whole way to Albertville you will be on the roads for the last section of the ride.

Plan your holiday in Annecy

To discover more about the Annecy region read our Practical Guide. In it we have outlined important information such as how to travel to Annecy, where to base yourself and other activities which you can enjoy whilst on holiday there.

Discover More Cycling Routes in Annecy

We have put together a list of cycling routes near Annecy to help with your planning. Each route includes the ability to download files to a range of devices and includes other helpful information. You will find all of the routes listed start and finish in Annecy, so a pleasant spin down along the lake awaits you at the finish.

Author

Stephen

Stephen is an avid cycling enthusiast who enjoys various forms of cycling, including road cycling, cycle touring, mountain biking, and gravel riding. For more than a decade, he has been travelling to France for cycling holidays and has recently settled in the French Pyrenees. Having extensive experience in travelling with his bike, Stephen has learned how to navigate the logistics of transporting bikes via planes, trains, cars, and shipping methods.