Ollie's Choice route

Much better than I expected. Great fun! Perfect after days of rain because of rocky surface.

Much better than I expected. Great fun! Perfect after days of rain because of rocky surface.

Much better than I expected. Great fun! Perfect after days of rain because of rocky surface.

If you are ok with the black trails around, you'll be fine on this one too, there are only two steep chutes that were covered with loose gravel, I rather walked coz I didn't see the end of them.

It's not steep, it's just a bunch of rocks and huge roots, a few tech or just steep uphills that make it hard (pretty hard, lots of walking). One short steep dh section that I would grade as black.

Super fun. Still has that Nelson gnar factor but I feel like you’re able to actually carry speed and let loose on this one more than others

…..continued from above post. Thank you for the sign on the gate, we found how to get onto the trail.

Head back down to Brook St and turn right, about 1km up the road you’ll come to a small reserve on your left. Go through the small gate & then you’ll have to lift your bike over a fence. Then follow the gravel road (Classic Trail) up to four corners, a steep climb beside the sanctuary fence until you get up to where Coppermine Trail crosses & you can get onto the trail from there.

…..continued from above post. Thank you for the sign on the gate, we found how to get onto the trail.

Head back down to Brook St and turn right, about 1km up the road you’ll come to a small reserve on your left. Go through the small gate & then you’ll have to lift your bike over a fence. Then follow the gravel road (Classic Trail) up to four corners, a steep climb beside the sanctuary fence until you get up to where Coppermine Trail crosses & you can get onto the trail from there.

…..continued from above post. Thank you for the sign on the gate, we found how to get onto the trail.

Head back down to Brook St and turn right, about 1km up the road you’ll come to a small reserve on your left. Go through the small gate & then you’ll have to lift your bike over a fence. Then follow the gravel road (Classic Trail) up to four corners, a steep climb beside the sanctuary fence until you get up to where Coppermine Trail crosses & you can get onto the trail from there.

Currently closed for maintenance. Nothing on Nelson Mntn bike club’s website about it being closed. A disappointing start to our day.

Currently closed for maintenance. Nothing on Nelson Mntn bike club’s website about it being closed. A disappointing start to our day.

Currently closed for maintenance. Nothing on Nelson Mntn bike club’s website about it being closed. A disappointing start to our day.

Pretty much unrideable unless your name is Fabio Wibmer! a lot of pushing and walking.

As noted by other folks recently the downhill sections must have had a lot of smoothing done on them recently - I encountered two separate work crews (ridden late Jan). The downhill is now on the easy side of intermediate vs. the newly out of date older descriptions of rockier downhills and the Advanced difficulty rating given to the downhill section in the 2017 edition of the awesome Jonathan Kennett "The New Zealand Cycle Trails" book.

Even as an intermediate & safety-conscious rider, the downhill of a few years ago sounds like it was a more fun payoff for that long ride uphill. A no-suspension bike will have no problems here. Also constraining is that you'll want to manage your speed in expectation of other track users around any of the blind corners.

The main payoff for the long up is getting out of the bush and into the sub-alpine terrain which is spectacular and also the history of the trail itself.

+1 on bring plenty of water & snacks.

Some time after the downhill ends the track section (I think from Matai dam to Smiths Ford as noted by Kiwikiv) is still closed so you take the gravel road besides the river (it's not clear from the track-closure signage) looking up at that cool track that you can't do you'll later see a slip area which looks pretty hairy. Later discover for yourself the entry to the Maitai Valley Walkway with a little map-fu.

Before going check track status on trailforks and on www.heartofbiking.org.nz/coppermine-trail though I see no detour notice on there only on trailforks!

As noted by other folks recently the downhill sections must have had a lot of smoothing done on them recently - I encountered two separate work crews (ridden late Jan). The downhill is now on the easy side of intermediate vs. the newly out of date older descriptions of rockier downhills and the Advanced difficulty rating given to the downhill section in the 2017 edition of the awesome Jonathan Kennett "The New Zealand Cycle Trails" book.

Even as an intermediate & safety-conscious rider, the downhill of a few years ago sounds like it was a more fun payoff for that long ride uphill. A no-suspension bike will have no problems here. Also constraining is that you'll want to manage your speed in expectation of other track users around any of the blind corners.

The main payoff for the long up is getting out of the bush and into the sub-alpine terrain which is spectacular and also the history of the trail itself.

+1 on bring plenty of water & snacks.

Some time after the downhill ends the track section (I think from Matai dam to Smiths Ford as noted by Kiwikiv) is still closed so you take the gravel road besides the river (it's not clear from the track-closure signage) looking up at that cool track that you can't do you'll later see a slip area which looks pretty hairy. Later discover for yourself the entry to the Maitai Valley Walkway with a little map-fu.

Before going check track status on trailforks and on www.heartofbiking.org.nz/coppermine-trail though I see no detour notice on there only on trailforks!

As noted by other folks recently the downhill sections must have had a lot of smoothing done on them recently - I encountered two separate work crews (ridden late Jan). The downhill is now on the easy side of intermediate vs. the newly out of date older descriptions of rockier downhills and the Advanced difficulty rating given to the downhill section in the 2017 edition of the awesome Jonathan Kennett "The New Zealand Cycle Trails" book.

Even as an intermediate & safety-conscious rider, the downhill of a few years ago sounds like it was a more fun payoff for that long ride uphill. A no-suspension bike will have no problems here. Also constraining is that you'll want to manage your speed in expectation of other track users around any of the blind corners.

The main payoff for the long up is getting out of the bush and into the sub-alpine terrain which is spectacular and also the history of the trail itself.

+1 on bring plenty of water & snacks.

Some time after the downhill ends the track section (I think from Matai dam to Smiths Ford as noted by Kiwikiv) is still closed so you take the gravel road besides the river (it's not clear from the track-closure signage) looking up at that cool track that you can't do you'll later see a slip area which looks pretty hairy. Later discover for yourself the entry to the Maitai Valley Walkway with a little map-fu.

Before going check track status on trailforks and on www.heartofbiking.org.nz/coppermine-trail though I see no detour notice on there only on trailforks!

Definitely in my Top 10 New Zealand trails!

Great day trail, make sure you pack plenty of water and snacks!
The downhill is graded as an advanced but it's more of an intermediate, lots of fast berms!

Great day trail, make sure you pack plenty of water and snacks!
The downhill is graded as an advanced but it's more of an intermediate, lots of fast berms!

Great day trail, make sure you pack plenty of water and snacks!
The downhill is graded as an advanced but it's more of an intermediate, lots of fast berms!

Downhill has had a lot of work done on it in the last year, I found no issues with the rocks during the descent as it’s pretty much all easy berms at the top now. Definitely watch for walkers. Was very muddy partway down though due to slips (I walked the bike) when I rode this (just before Christmas 2019)

Downhill has had a lot of work done on it in the last year, I found no issues with the rocks during the descent as it’s pretty much all easy berms at the top now. Definitely watch for walkers. Was very muddy partway down though due to slips (I walked the bike) when I rode this (just before Christmas 2019)

Downhill has had a lot of work done on it in the last year, I found no issues with the rocks during the descent as it’s pretty much all easy berms at the top now. Definitely watch for walkers. Was very muddy partway down though due to slips (I walked the bike) when I rode this (just before Christmas 2019)

It wasn’t 7400 feet of climbing. I only got 3500 total up and down. They’ve redone the top 3 miles from the saddle down and it is now smooth and flowy with banked turns.

It wasn’t 7400 feet of climbing. I only got 3500 total up and down. They’ve redone the top 3 miles from the saddle down and it is now smooth and flowy with banked turns.

It wasn’t 7400 feet of climbing. I only got 3500 total up and down. They’ve redone the top 3 miles from the saddle down and it is now smooth and flowy with banked turns.

Track mostly open - detour in place from Cummins spur to third hut due to slips, also closed from Maitai dam to the Ford, but alternative route along gravel road is fine. At tantragee arboretum sign cross on the arch bridge to follow the off-road track along the river back into Nelson. Great ride, good views, allow 5 hrs inc breaks. Downhill section requires mtb skills to ride steep and rocky.

Track mostly open - detour in place from Cummins spur to third hut due to slips, also closed from Maitai dam to the Ford, but alternative route along gravel road is fine. At tantragee arboretum sign cross on the arch bridge to follow the off-road track along the river back into Nelson. Great ride, good views, allow 5 hrs inc breaks. Downhill section requires mtb skills to ride steep and rocky.

Track mostly open - detour in place from Cummins spur to third hut due to slips, also closed from Maitai dam to the Ford, but alternative route along gravel road is fine. At tantragee arboretum sign cross on the arch bridge to follow the off-road track along the river back into Nelson. Great ride, good views, allow 5 hrs inc breaks. Downhill section requires mtb skills to ride steep and rocky.

All area closed now due to fire hazard, such a pity

All area closed now due to fire hazard, such a pity

All area closed now due to fire hazard, such a pity

We rode this track today and it’s AWESOME! There is a closed section due to a slip but a diversion is in place.

We rode this track today and it’s AWESOME! There is a closed section due to a slip but a diversion is in place.

We rode this track today and it’s AWESOME! There is a closed section due to a slip but a diversion is in place.

Amazing track

Amazing track

Amazing track

Why does this profile say 2200m climb? A loop I’d closer to 1200 and max elevation is Iunder 900m !

Why does this profile say 2200m climb? A loop I’d closer to 1200 and max elevation is Iunder 900m !

Why does this profile say 2200m climb? A loop I’d closer to 1200 and max elevation is Iunder 900m !

Incredibly good!

Incredibly good!

The forest this track is in is very thick stopping light from getting in so can get pretty dark on a cloudy day. Great fun though

The forest this track is in is very thick stopping light from getting in so can get pretty dark on a cloudy day. Great fun though

Lovely gradual climb with a fast and twisty downhill section, a must when revisit Nelson again

Lovely gradual climb with a fast and twisty downhill section, a must when revisit Nelson again

Lovely gradual climb with a fast and twisty downhill section, a must when revisit Nelson again

Amazing track, a must-do for keen intermediate-advanced riders. Requires a good level of fitness. Be aware the descent is rough and rocky in places and that the trail is multi-use - expect to encounter other riders and hikers on the descent.

Amazing track, a must-do for keen intermediate-advanced riders. Requires a good level of fitness. Be aware the descent is rough and rocky in places and that the trail is multi-use - expect to encounter other riders and hikers on the descent.

Amazing track, a must-do for keen intermediate-advanced riders. Requires a good level of fitness. Be aware the descent is rough and rocky in places and that the trail is multi-use - expect to encounter other riders and hikers on the descent.