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Trail Conditions
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- Prevalent Mud
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- Variable
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Trail Flow (Ridden Direction)
Trailforks scans users activity logs to determine the most popular direction each trail is ridden. A good flowing trail network will have most trails flowing in a single direction according to their intension.
The colour categories are based on what percentage of users are riding a trail in its intended direction.
The colour categories are based on what percentage of users are riding a trail in its intended direction.
- > 96%
- > 90%
- > 80%
- > 70%
- > 50%
- < 50%
- bi-directional trail
- no data
Trail Last Used
Trailforks scans activity logs to determine the last time a trail was ridden.
- < 2 days
- < 1 week
- < 2 weeks
- < 1 month
- < 6 months
- > 6 months
Trail Ridden Direction
The intended direction a trail should be ridden.
- Downhill Only
- Downhill Primary
- Both Directions
- Uphill Primary
- Uphill Only
- One Direction
Contribute Details
Colors indicate trail is missing specified detail.
- Description
- Photos
- Description & Photos
- Videos
Trail Popularity ?
Trailforks scans activity logs to determine which trails are ridden the most in the last 9 months.
Trails are compared with nearby trails in the same city region with a possible 25 colour shades.
Think of this as a heatmap, more activities = more kinetic energy = warmer colors.
- most popular
- popular
- less popular
- not popular
ATV/ORV/OHV Filter
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Radar Time
Activity Recordings
Trailforks uses anonymized public activity data.
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Activity Recordings
Trailforks uses anonymized public activity data.
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Winter Trails
Warning
A routing network for winter maps does not exist. Selecting trails using the winter trails layer has been disabled.
Missing Trails
Most Popular
Least Popular
Trails are colored based on popularity. The more popular a trail is, the more red. Less popular trails trend towards green.
Jump Magnitude Heatmap
Heatmap of where users jump on trails. Zoom in to see individual jumps, click circles to view jump details.
BC Backroad Status
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Service Road Atlas is a free to use, community-driven service for viewing and creating reports on the numerous back-country service roads around B.C. and Alberta.
Slope Aspect
Direction the slope faces
Trails Deemphasized
Trails are shown in grey.
Only show trails with no bike usage.
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SaveAshburton trails and routes are listed on Trailforks with interactive trail maps, difficulty ratings, photos, and user-reported trail conditions. Supported activity types include Mountain Biking, E-Biking, Hiking, Trail Running, Winter Fat Biking, Gravel Biking and Adaptive Biking. Trails here are often faint trail. Scenery includes lakes, alpine terrain and creeks. Common trail features include bridges, berms and creek crossings. Many trails are family friendly. Popular destinations include Ashburton Lakes and Ashburton.
This is an auto-generated description of Ashburton.
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Trail info last updated
Activities Click to view
- Mountain Bike
14 trails
- E-Bike
13 trails
- Gravel Bike
5 trails
- Adaptive Bike
5 trails
- Winter Fat Bike
6 trails
- Hike
12 trails
- Trail Running
12 trails
Region Details
- 2
- 2
- 4
- 5
- 1
Region Status
Open as of Jul 22, 2026Local Trail Association
Stats
- Avg Trail Rating
- Trails (view details)
- 14
- Trails Mountain Bike
- 14
- Trails E-Bike
- 13
- Trails Gravel Bike
- 5
- Trails Adaptive Bike
- 5
- Trails Winter Fat Bike
- 6
- Trails Horse
- 1
- Trails Hike
- 12
- Trails Trail Running
- 12
- Trails Dirtbike/Moto
- 2
- Total Distance
- 47 miles
- Total Descent
- 3,188 ft
- Total Vertical
- 3,621 ft
- Highest Trailhead
- 3,684 ft
- Reports
- 54
- Photos
- 84
- Completed Counter
- 1,058
Sub Regions
-
Ashburton
- 2
- 1
- 1
-
Ashburton Lakes
- 3
- 4
- 1
Popular Ashburton Mountain Biking Trails
• 95 ★ 3.4 • 992 ft • 7 ft • 159 •
Boards n Boulders is a small technical off-shoot on the River Trail Loop. It has small rock gardens, bridges and a seesaw. The bridges were rebuilt in 2018 after the originals were starting to rot. The rock gardens were also changed...
• 90 ★ 4.7 • 7 miles • 333 ft • 157 •
The MTB Loop is a 11.5km purpose built mountain bike loop on the north side of the Ashburton River. It is used as a race track by the local club and also hosts a 6 hour race annually.
• 35 ★ 3.0 • 5 miles • 63 ft • 74 •
The Lake Hood Track is a dual-directional shared use track that goes from under the bridge on SH1 out to Lake Hood. You can also ride around the lake before returning to town. The track is shared with walkers and is wide enough to pass...
• 50 ★ 4.0 • 10 miles • 27 ft • 52 •
The Ashburton/Hakatere River Trail is an easy walk or cycle which follows the Ashburton River from the Ashburton Township to the sea coast at Hakatere. The Trail has an air of tranquility and beauty once the township is left behind, as...
• 75 ★ 0.0 • 4,642 ft • 0 ft • 50 •
This track removes the push or ride directly down the fence line with a series of switchbacks up the Terrace, it is part of the Te Araroa Walkway and links to Mystery lake and also out to Paddle Stream from the Lake Clearwater huts.
• 70 ★ 4.0 • 2 miles • 3 ft • 40 •
The Lake Hood Walkway/Cycleway is a community funded sealed walking and biking track that goes along the east side of the lake. It is usually used by bikers that want to bike around the lake to avoid the gravel road.
• 85 ★ 0.0 • 1 mile • 3 ft • 35 •
Used to be a narrow single track but was widened to 1m in 2021. An easy climb and mellow decent.
• 65 ★ 0.0 • 1,119 ft • 0 ft • 30 •
Link from Te Araroa to the Lake Clearwater circuit
Ashburton Mountain Bike Routes
13 miles • 431 ft • 3 • Out & Back •
The Lake Hood track takes you all the way to the Lake from town. From there you can ride along the paved...
Photos of Ashburton Mountain Bike
Videos of Ashburton Mountain Bike
Recent Trail Reports
| status | trail | date | condition | info | user |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boards n Bolders | Jul 23, 2026 @ 4:41pm (Pacific/Auckland) Jul 22, 2026 | Unknown | cmcalpine1169 | ||
| Ashburton MTB Loop | Jul 22, 2026 @ 10:55am (Pacific/Auckland) Jul 21, 2026 | Ideal | cmcalpine1169 | ||
| River Walkway Skills Park Link | Jul 22, 2026 @ 10:55am (Pacific/Auckland) Jul 21, 2026 | Ideal | cmcalpine1169 | ||
| Steves Single Track | Dec 28, 2025 @ 10:24am (Pacific/Auckland) Dec 27, 2025 | Ideal | DMB99 | ||
| Mystery Lake Ascent | Oct 3, 2025 @ 7:45pm (Pacific/Auckland) Oct 2, 2025 | Variable | AlexeyDubovskoy | ||
| Mt Guy Terrace Climb | Oct 3, 2025 @ 7:32pm (Pacific/Auckland) Oct 2, 2025 | Variable | AlexeyDubovskoy | ||
| Lake Hood Trail | Jun 2, 2023 @ 4:35pm Jun 2, 2023 | Ideal | sparkynzl | ||
| Lake Clearwater Western Link Track | Nov 10, 2022 @ 7:40am Nov 10, 2022 | Ideal | Cbeckett401 | ||
| Below Dogs Range | Nov 10, 2022 @ 7:40am Nov 10, 2022 | Ideal | Cbeckett401 | ||
| Lake Hood Walkway/Cycleway | Mar 26, 2022 @ 1:56pm Mar 26, 2022 | Ideal | Derick-Selman |
Activity Feed
| username | action | type | title | date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MarliGFLznH | ridden | trail | activity #107575319 | Nov 10, 2026 @ 8:08pm 2 days |
| MosesTc0BNg | wishlist | trail | activity #105911242 | Oct 14, 2026 @ 11:15pm Oct 14, 2026 |
| cmcalpine1169 | add | report | activity #99797149 | Jul 22, 2026 @ 9:41pm Jul 22, 2026 |
| cmcalpine1169 | add | report | activity #99720401 and 3 more | Jul 21, 2026 @ 7:14pm Jul 21, 2026 |
| TaylahBiwyzb | wishlist | trail | activity #92302539 | Apr 9, 2026 @ 10:14pm Apr 9, 2026 |
Recent Comments
| username | type | title | comment | date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| trail | Thoroughly enjoyed this downhill. The ruts... | Jan 7, 2026 @ 12:49am Jan 7, 2026 | ||
| trail | I think that we should split the trail at the... | Jul 10, 2025 @ 3:25am Jul 10, 2025 | ||
| trail | Rideable all the way but pretty muddy in... | Jul 24, 2024 @ 12:01am Jul 24, 2024 | ||
| trail | First section of downhill awkward with deep... | Nov 18, 2023 @ 9:10pm Nov 18, 2023 | ||
| trail | Boggy in places, 4wd's have cut up where it... | Nov 18, 2023 @ 9:05pm Nov 18, 2023 |
Local Badges
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Epic Mountain Bike Climb 2k2 awarded -
Climbing 10k Badge1 awarded -
Mountain Biking 100k Badge0 awarded -
Epic Ride Descent 2k2 awarded -
Descent 10k Badge1 awarded -
Descent 100k Badge0 awarded
Bike & Skill Parks
| name | type | city | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACL Skills Park | skill park | Ashburton | |
| Lake Hood Pump Track | skill park | Ashburton |
Activity Type Stats
| activitytype | trails | distance | descent | descent distance | total vertical | rating | global rank | state rank | photos | reports | routes | activity logs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Bike | 14 | 47 miles | 3,189 ft | 15 miles | 3,622 ft | #3,648 | #62 | 84 | 54 | 1 | 3,710 | |
| E-Bike | 13 | 43 miles | 3,012 ft | 12 miles | 3,622 ft | #2,841 | #41 | 52 | 397 | |||
| Gravel Bike | 5 | 24 miles | 574 ft | 7 miles | 394 ft | #1,756 | #46 | 28 | 5 | |||
| Adaptive Bike | 5 | 24 miles | 574 ft | 7 miles | 394 ft | #1,832 | #40 | 33 | ||||
| Winter Fat Bike | 6 | 11 miles | 751 ft | 4 miles | 2,690 ft | #1,347 | #34 | 35 | ||||
| Horse | 1 | 5 miles | 75 ft | 1 mile | 141 ft | 12 | ||||||
| Hike | 12 | 47 miles | 3,130 ft | 15 miles | 3,622 ft | #4,343 | #56 | 43 | 129 | |||
| Trail Running | 12 | 47 miles | 3,130 ft | 15 miles | 3,622 ft | #3,729 | #48 | 43 | 245 | |||
| Dirtbike/Moto | 2 | 11 miles | 413 ft | 2 miles | 2,822 ft | 12 | 4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
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What are the best places to ride in Ashburton?
Ashburton has 2 areas to explore for mountain biking. The top rated areas are:
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What are the highest rated mountain biking trails in Ashburton?
The highest rated mountain biking trails in Ashburton are:
- Ashburton MTB Loop (4.2/5)
- Ashburton/Hakatere River Trail (4/5)
- Lake Hood Walkway/Cycleway (4/5)
- Lake Hood Trail (3.8/5)
- Paddle Hill Creek (3.8/5)
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Where can I park to ride in Ashburton?
There are 4 parking locations listed in Ashburton. The most popular parking spots are: View all parking and trailhead locations on the map to plan your visit.
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What is the longest trail in Ashburton?
The longest trail in Ashburton is Ashburton/Hakatere River Trail at 16.8 km. View all trails sorted by distance.
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What are the best & highest rated hiking trails in Ashburton?
The best hiking trails in Ashburton are: View all hiking trails sorted by popularity score.
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What are the best & highest rated trail running trails in Ashburton?
The best trail running trails in Ashburton are: View all trail running trails sorted by popularity score.
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How many trails are in Ashburton?
Ashburton has a total of 14 trails. Browse top mountain biking trails in Ashburton to find detailed information including difficulty ratings, distances, and trail conditions.
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Which trail has the most elevation gain in Ashburton?
The trail with the most elevation gain in Ashburton is Paddle Hill Creek with 225 m of elevation gain. View all trails sorted by elevation gain.
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Which trail has the most elevation descent in Ashburton?
The trail with the most elevation descent in Ashburton is Mystery Lake Descent with 430 m of elevation descent. View all trails sorted by elevation descent.
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What activities are most popular in Ashburton?
Ashburton supports the following activities: Mountain Biking, E-Biking, Gravel Biking, Adaptive Biking, Winter Fat Biking, Hiking, Trail Running.
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What bike services are there in Ashburton?
The following bike services are available in Ashburton:
- Club (1)
- Trail Builders (1)
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What are the steepest mountain biking trails in Ashburton?
The steepest mountain biking trail in Ashburton is Mystery Lake Ascent with an average grade of 4.3%. View all trails sorted by grade.
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Are the trails open in Ashburton?
Out of 13 trails:
- Clear / Green: 9
- Minor Issue / Yellow: 4
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Can I ride an ebike in Ashburton?
Yes, Ashburton supports e-bike riding. There are 15 trails in Ashburton that allow e-bikes. Check the e-bike trails listing for specific trail access details and any local regulations.
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What are the most popular mountain biking routes in Ashburton?
The most popular mountain biking routes in Ashburton are: View all mountain biking routes in Ashburton.
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What is the highest summit in Ashburton?
The highest summit in Ashburton is Mount Arrowsmith at 2,771 m elevation.
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What are the most popular Strava Segments in Ashburton?
The most popular Strava segments in Ashburton are:
- Bender (2,034 athletes)
- Smelly Cat (1,994 athletes)
- The Playground (1,973 athletes)
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What are some popular technical trail features in Ashburton?
There are 11 technical trail features (TTFs) in Ashburton. Some popular features include:
- Trick Jumps (Gap Jump)
- Wooden Features (Skinny)
- Rock Garden (Rock Garden)
- Rock Garden (Rock Garden)
- Neds Knee (Bridge)
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Are there accessible or adaptive trails in Ashburton?
Yes, there are 7 accessible/adaptive trails in Ashburton. View all adaptive trails in Ashburton for specific accessibility information.
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Are there local clubs or events in Ashburton?
There are 1 local clubs or associations listed in the Ashburton directory. Browse the local directory for details.
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What are the most popular mountain biking trails in Ashburton?
The most popular mountain biking trails in Ashburton are:
- Ashburton MTB Loop
- Boards n Bolders
- Ashburton/Hakatere River Trail
- Lake Hood Walkway/Cycleway
- Lake Hood Trail
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What are the best beginner ride trails in Ashburton?
The best beginner mountain biking trails in Ashburton are:
- Ashburton/Hakatere River Trail (4/5)
- Lake Hood Walkway/Cycleway (4/5)
- Lake Hood Trail (3/5)
Activities
Trails
- By jamesreidrides
MBA & contributors - Admins: rhino333, MBA
- #14681 - 6,836 views
- ashburton activity log | embed map of Ashburton mountain bike trails | ashburton mountain biking points of interest
Downloading of trail gps tracks in kml & gpx formats is enabled for Ashburton.
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