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Trail Conditions
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- Snow Groomed
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- Icy
- Prevalent Mud
- Wet
- Variable
- Ideal
- Dry
- Very Dry
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
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- 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.
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- less popular
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ATV/ORV/OHV Filter
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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
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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
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SaveMountain biking in Nelson is the stuff of legend. Showcased in many mountain bike films, Nelson trails offer everything from gentle railway grades to steep, rooty technical tracks. For the hard core freestylers there are enough stunts, ladders and big drops to keep the adrenalin pumping long after the last epic ride of the day. With the breathtaking backdrop of the Selkirk Mountains, Nelson’s rides take the West Coast style and crank it up a notch.
Trail info last updated
Activities Click to view
- Mountain Bike
268 trails
- E-Bike
254 trails
- Gravel Bike
102 trails
- Adaptive Bike
67 trails
- Winter Fat Bike
11 trails
- Hike
199 trails
- Trail Running
199 trails
- Dirtbike/Moto
58 trails
- ATV/ORV/OHV
17 trails
- Snowshoe
11 trails
- Downhill Ski
92 trails
- Backcountry Ski
20 trails
Region Details
- 83
- 2
- 29
- 62
- 74
- 17
- 1
Region Status
Open as of 1 dayLocal Trail Association
Stats
- Avg Trail Rating
- Trails (view details)
- 437
- Trails Mountain Bike
- 268
- Trails E-Bike
- 254
- Trails Gravel Bike
- 102
- Trails Adaptive Bike
- 67
- Trails Winter Fat Bike
- 11
- Trails Horse
- 2
- Trails Hike
- 199
- Trails Trail Running
- 199
- Trails Dirtbike/Moto
- 58
- Trails Observed Trials
- 1
- Trails ATV/ORV/OHV
- 17
- Trails Snowshoe
- 11
- Trails Downhill Ski
- 92
- Trails Backcountry Ski
- 20
- Trails Nordic Ski
- 3
- Total Distance
- 444 miles
- Total Descent
- 141,449 ft
- Total Vertical
- 6,052 ft
- Highest Trailhead
- 7,792 ft
- Reports
- 8,253
- Photos
- 3,660
- Completed Counter
- 111,162
Articles
Video: Remy Metailler & Alex Chapellier Ride Nelson, British Columbia
Aug 29, 2024 from pinkbike.com
Some of the best trails in Nelson.
Video: Locals Rip the MTB Oasis of Nelson, BC in 'Super Natural Mountain Life'
Nov 4, 2020 from pinkbike.com
Sky Dunn-Sarvis and Kendall Mclean hit some of Nelson's finest.
Video: A Day of Riding in Nelson, BC with Geoff Gulevich
Jun 30, 2020 from pinkbike.com
Gully gets after it on well-built flow trails deep in the Kootenays.
Video: Playing Around On Nelson's Trail Network in 'Our Backyard'
Jun 3, 2020 from pinkbike.com
Jacob Salix is back having fun on the trails after breaking his back in September.
Sub Regions
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Blewett
- 1
- 10
- 2
-
Giveout and Gold Creek
- 8
- 5
- 10
- 3
- 1
-
Morning Mountain
- 3
- 10
- 5
- 1
-
Mountain Station
- 1
- 7
- 22
- 3
-
Nelson's North Shore
- 1
- 7
- 12
- 5
-
Noakes-Haiseldean Lake Recreation Site
-
Ross-White Lady Lake Recreation Site
-
Rover Creek
- 4
- 2
-
Shannon Pass
- 1
- 1
- 2
-
Smallwood Creek
- 17
- 2
-
Svoboda Road
- 7
- 16
- 3
-
Whitewater Gravity Trails
- 2
-
Whitewater Ski Resort
- 1
- 1
- 1
Popular Nelson Mountain Biking Trails
• 100 ★ 4.7 • 1 mile • 602 ft • 3,033 •
Locals rejoice. Our first grunt-free climb ever, on an easy ascent that zippers up the face of lower Morning Mountain and started the revolution of this neglected area into a must-ride trail system.
• 100 ★ 4.8 • 3 miles • 1,267 ft • 2,695 •
Our climbing trail magnum opus. Takes the climbable nature of Bottoms Up, and adds some beauty forest, bridge crossings and more difficulty as you get higher into the ascent. May be ridden in the downhill direction, suitable for...
• 100 ★ 4.3 • 4,314 ft • 0 ft • 2,650 •
Addictive link up of berms, tabletops and gaps that sparked Nelson’s thirst for more machine built jump trails. All gaps are optional and have ride arounds.
• 100 ★ 4.9 • 748 ft • 3 ft • 2,183 •
Highly rated popular green difficulty singletrack. This mountain bike primary trail can be used downhill only. On average it takes minutes to complete this trail.
• 100 ★ 4.3 • 1,302 ft • 0 ft • 2,087 •
This is the correct location for the bottom part of Lefty
• 95 ★ 4.8 • 1 mile • 29 ft • 1,797 •
Bike park in the backcountry. The big brown brother of Lefty that may become a legend with an endless sequence of tall berms, big tables, and other unique jump features.
• 95 ★ 4.2 • 3,763 ft • 0 ft • 1,770 •
Like Bears Den, another fast trail linked with wood rollers, berms and floater airs.
• 100 ★ 4.1 • 1 mile • 58 ft • 1,581 •
A wide, machine build intermediate adaptive flow trail, providing more progression at Morning Mountain and an alternative to Lefty for jumps and features. The trail has smooth berms, and table top jumps. A crowd favourite for all...
Nelson Mountain Bike Routes
★ 4.5 • 48 miles • 10,380 ft • 19 • Loop •
Strava ended up being ~82km, and 3300m elevation. Completed Oct 1st, 2022. Started 6am, not enough light...
★ 5.0 • 101 miles • 23,336 ft • 18 •
A monstrous day in the saddle. Huge kilometers and punishing elevation gain.
9 miles • 2,538 ft • 3 •
Round 4 of the Nelson 10 Spot Enduro Series Check in begins at 10am at Morning Mountain. Entry is $10 and...
★ 5.0 • 3 miles • 1,183 ft • 20 •
NCC/Backroads Fiver group ride up on Mtn Station. Mixing it up a bit to keep things interesting.
11 miles • 2,816 ft • 10 • Loop •
Tech loop up bottoms up and very high then down bear's den, highballer, and bedframe (double black).
6 miles • 1,867 ft • 8 • Loop •
Try your luck at poker and have fun with your friends and the bike community at this casual,...
Photos of Nelson Mountain Bike
Videos of Nelson Mountain Bike
Recent Trail Reports
| status | trail | date | condition | info | user |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rise N Fry | Oct 11, 2026 @ 2:04pm (America/Vancouver) 1 day | Ideal | Danksi | ||
| Lower Expresso | Oct 7, 2026 @ 8:44pm (America/Vancouver) Oct 7, 2026 | Unknown | NelsonCyclingClub NCC | ||
| Vallelujah | Oct 7, 2026 @ 5:51pm (America/Vancouver) Oct 7, 2026 | Dry | ethanm | ||
| Climbing Trail 2 | Oct 6, 2026 @ 5:25pm (America/Vancouver) Oct 6, 2026 | Ideal | norcochick | ||
| Eli Sim | Oct 5, 2026 @ 5:17pm (America/Creston) Oct 5, 2026 | Ideal | tmowat | ||
| Anderson Creek Forest Service Road | Oct 5, 2026 @ 5:17pm (America/Creston) Oct 5, 2026 | Ideal | tmowat | ||
| Raccoon | Oct 5, 2026 @ 5:17pm (America/Creston) Oct 5, 2026 | Ideal | tmowat | ||
| Oso Express | Oct 5, 2026 @ 5:17pm (America/Creston) Oct 5, 2026 | Ideal | tmowat | ||
| Honey | Oct 5, 2026 @ 5:17pm (America/Creston) Oct 5, 2026 | Ideal | tmowat | ||
| Reservoir gate to Anderson Creek Timber FSR | Oct 5, 2026 @ 5:17pm (America/Creston) Oct 5, 2026 | Ideal | tmowat |
Activity Feed
| username | action | type | title | date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AnthonyRidesBikes | wishlist | route | activity #105756494 | Oct 12, 2026 @ 10:34am 7 hours |
| Crossjamin | add | report | activity #105714380 | Oct 11, 2026 @ 3:04pm 1 day |
| Danksi | add | report | activity #105710438 | Oct 11, 2026 @ 2:04pm 1 day |
| Joannie15 | ridden | trail | activity #105704818 | Oct 11, 2026 @ 12:50pm 1 day |
| HaukeParker | difficultyvote | trail | activity #105656692 | Oct 11, 2026 @ 1:05am 2 days |
Recent Comments
| username | type | title | comment | date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| trail | This is a beaut of an addition. Sweet Sally... | Oct 7, 2026 @ 5:56pm Oct 7, 2026 | ||
| trail | Such a fun trail. The gap extensions flow so well | Oct 3, 2026 @ 1:27pm Oct 3, 2026 | ||
| report | It has been cleared | Sep 19, 2026 @ 2:23pm Sep 19, 2026 | ||
| trail | Side hill connector to town. Not really any... | Sep 17, 2026 @ 6:55pm Sep 17, 2026 | ||
| trail | jank with no pay off | Sep 17, 2026 @ 6:28pm Sep 17, 2026 |
Local Badges
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Completionist0 awarded -
Epic Ride 50k476 awarded -
10 Expert Trails69 awarded -
Top 10 Trails18 awarded -
Completionist0 awarded -
Completionist1 awarded
Bike & Skill Parks
| name | type | city | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rosemont Bike Park | skill park | Nelson | |
| Bonnington Bike Park | skill park | Nelson |
Local Products
Activity Type Stats
| activitytype | trails | distance | descent | descent distance | total vertical | rating | global rank | state rank | photos | reports | routes | activity logs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Bike | 268 | 349 miles | 99,734 ft | 148 miles | 5,482 ft | #133 | #19 | 3,569 | 8,165 | 69 | 50,830 | |
| E-Bike | 254 | 306 miles | 96,158 ft | 141 miles | 5,449 ft | #105 | #19 | 10 | 6,050 | 10 | 3,710 | |
| Gravel Bike | 102 | 214 miles | 13,625 ft | 54 miles | 5,390 ft | #116 | #9 | 3 | 375 | 2 | 142 | |
| Adaptive Bike | 67 | 113 miles | 8,337 ft | 21 miles | 5,390 ft | #81 | #8 | 666 | 1 | |||
| Winter Fat Bike | 11 | 5 miles | 2,034 ft | 3 miles | 899 ft | #223 | #18 | 3 | 523 | 32 | ||
| Horse | 2 | 38 miles | 1,617 ft | 17 miles | 4,042 ft | 1,045 | 2 | |||||
| Hike | 199 | 307 miles | 40,886 ft | 95 miles | 6,053 ft | #272 | #21 | 50 | 5,637 | 3 | 4,736 | |
| Trail Running | 199 | 307 miles | 40,886 ft | 95 miles | 6,053 ft | #262 | #20 | 10 | 5,620 | 6 | 6,798 | |
| Dirtbike/Moto | 58 | 61 miles | 4,918 ft | 14 miles | 4,026 ft | #84 | #18 | 13 | 1,382 | 249 | ||
| Observed Trials | 1 | 2,648 ft | 20 ft | 423 ft | 249 ft | 15 | 24 | |||||
| ATV/ORV/OHV | 17 | 31 miles | 2,398 ft | 9 miles | 4,012 ft | #108 | #16 | 1,036 | 12 | |||
| Snowshoe | 11 | 5 miles | 1,053 ft | 2 miles | 3,930 ft | #169 | #16 | 11 | 1 | 183 | ||
| Downhill Ski | 92 | 38 miles | 30,735 ft | 34 miles | 2,316 ft | #119 | #11 | 2 | 61 | 3,996 | ||
| Backcountry Ski | 20 | 23 miles | 6,959 ft | 8 miles | 5,810 ft | #136 | #11 | 61 | 2,505 | |||
| Nordic Ski | 3 | 2 miles | 367 ft | 4,311 ft | 653 ft | 4 | 1,328 |
Frequently Asked Questions
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What are the best places to ride in Nelson?
Nelson has 31 areas to explore for mountain biking. The top rated areas are:
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What are the highest rated mountain biking trails in Nelson?
The highest rated mountain biking trails in Nelson are:
- Morning Sickness (4.8/5)
- Newtsac (4.8/5)
- Slabalanche (4.7/5)
- Upper Bottoms (4.7/5)
- Bear's Den (4.6/5)
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What is the best time of the year to ride in Nelson?
Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride in Nelson are:
- July (1,106 activities)
- June (935 activities)
- August (923 activities)
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Where can I park to ride in Nelson?
There are 21 parking locations listed in Nelson. 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 Nelson?
The longest trail in Nelson is Nelson Salmo Great Northern Trail (The Great Trail) at 29.4 miles. View all trails sorted by distance.
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What are the best & highest rated hiking trails in Nelson?
The best hiking trails in Nelson are:
- Pulpit Rock
- Lyon's Bluff
- Flagpole Trail (Easy Segment)
- Flagpole Trail (Easier)
- Pulpit Rock Trail (Easy Segment)
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What are the best & highest rated trail running trails in Nelson?
The best trail running trails in Nelson are:
- Toadslave
- Powerslave
- Nelson Salmo Great Northern Trail (The Great Trail)
- Powerlines Access
- West Platform Trail
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What are the best & highest rated dirtbiking trails in Nelson?
The best dirtbiking trails in Nelson are: View all dirtbiking trails sorted by popularity score.
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How many trails are in Nelson?
Nelson has a total of 437 trails. Of those, 268 are designated for mountain biking. Browse top mountain biking trails in Nelson to find detailed information including difficulty ratings, distances, and trail conditions.
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Which trail has the most elevation gain in Nelson?
The trail with the most elevation gain in Nelson is Nelson Salmo Great Northern Trail (The Great Trail) with 1,920 ft of elevation gain. View all trails sorted by elevation gain.
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Which trail has the most elevation descent in Nelson?
The trail with the most elevation descent in Nelson is Taster's Choice with 3,361 ft of elevation descent. View all trails sorted by elevation descent.
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What activities are most popular in Nelson?
Nelson supports the following activities: Mountain Biking, E-Biking, Gravel Biking, Adaptive Biking, Winter Fat Biking, Hiking, Trail Running, Dirtbiking, ATVing/Offroading, Snowshoeing, Skiing, Backcountry Skiing.
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What bike services are there in Nelson?
The following bike services are available in Nelson:
- Bike Shop (4)
- Shuttle Service (2)
- Trail Builders (2)
- Trail Association (1)
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What are the steepest mountain biking trails in Nelson?
The steepest mountain biking trail in Nelson is Lwr/Upper Hitman access trail with an average grade of 19.2%. View all trails sorted by grade.
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Are there any trails with scenic viewpoints in Nelson?
Yes, there are 11 scenic viewpoints marked along trails in Nelson. Some popular viewpoints include: Explore more points of interest to find trails with the best views.
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Are the trails open in Nelson?
The overall region status for Nelson is Clear / Green. Out of 295 trails:
- Clear / Green: 231
- Minor Issue / Yellow: 20
- Significant Issue / Amber: 41
- Closed: 3
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What are the trail conditions in Nelson?
Based on trail reports from the past week in Nelson:
- Ideal: 20 trails
- Dry: 1 trail
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Can I ride an ebike in Nelson?
Yes, Nelson supports e-bike riding. There are 245 trails in Nelson 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 Nelson?
The most popular mountain biking routes in Nelson are: View all mountain biking routes in Nelson.
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What type of bike is most common in Nelson?
Based on activity log data, the most common bike types used in Nelson are:
- AM (614 activities)
- XC (23 activities)
- DJ (12 activities)
- Gravel (11 activities)
- RD (6 activities)
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What is the highest summit in Nelson?
The highest summit in Nelson is Truce Mountain at 10,676 ft elevation.
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What are the most popular Strava Segments in Nelson?
The most popular Strava segments in Nelson are:
- lefty s1 (4,843 athletes)
- lefty s2 (4,457 athletes)
- Mr. Slave Full (3,134 athletes)
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What are some popular technical trail features in Nelson?
There are 54 technical trail features (TTFs) in Nelson. Some popular features include:
- Skinny Bridge Entrance (Skinny)
- Bridge (Bridge)
- Second jump on Tiger Beef (Jump)
- Berm jump (Jump)
- First jump on Tiger Beef (Jump)
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What trails are closed in Nelson?
There are currently 3 closed trails in Nelson. The breakdown of all trail statuses is:
- Clear / Green: 231
- Minor Issue / Yellow: 20
- Significant Issue / Amber: 41
- Closed: 3
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Are there accessible or adaptive trails in Nelson?
Yes, there are 69 accessible/adaptive trails in Nelson. View all adaptive trails in Nelson for specific accessibility information.
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Are there local clubs or events in Nelson?
There are 3 local clubs or associations listed in the Nelson directory. Browse the local directory for details.
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What are the most popular mountain biking trails in Nelson?
The most popular mountain biking trails in Nelson are: View all mountain biking trails sorted by popularity.
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What are the best beginner ride trails in Nelson?
The best beginner mountain biking trails in Nelson are:
- Little Lefty (4.9/5)
- Upper Bottoms (4.8/5)
- Bottoms Up (4.7/5)
Activities
- Nelson Mountain Biking Trails
- Nelson E-Biking Trails
- Nelson Gravel Biking Trails
- Nelson Adaptive Biking Trails
- Nelson Winter Fat Biking Trails
- Nelson Hiking Trails
- Nelson Trail Running Trails
- Nelson Dirtbiking Trails
- Nelson ATVing/Offroading Trails
- Nelson Snowshoeing Trails
- Nelson Skiing Trails
- Nelson Backcountry Skiing Trails
Trails
- By canadaka
Trailforks & contributors - Admins: barry-mclane, KCTS, NCC, FOPRTS, eastonwest
- #6023 - 157,537 views
- nelson activity log | embed map of Nelson mountain bike trails | nelson mountain biking points of interest polygons
Downloading of trail gps tracks in kml & gpx formats is enabled for Nelson.
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