15.2 miles
Distance
2,025 ft
Climb
-2,061 ft
Descent
1,646 ft
High Point
-39 ft
Altitude change
615 ft
Altitude min
675 ft
Altitude start
636 ft
Altitude end
-41.9%
Grade max
26.4%
Grade min
7 miles
Distance climb
6 miles
Distance down
2 miles
Distance flat

Good medium distance loop

Detailed Description
Ridge Runner/ Benson Loop is a 15 mile moderately popular intermediate route located near Nanaimo British Columbia. This e-bike primary route can be used both directions and has a moderate overall physical rating. This route includes 69 trails. This route climbs 2,025 ft with a max elevation of 1,646 ft then descends -2,061 ft.

Trail Issues on Route

  • Significant Issue / Amber: 2 trails (newest: Jul 9, 2026)
  • Minor Issue / Yellow: 3 trails (newest: Jul 26, 2026)

Stats

  • Distance
    15 miles
  • Avg time
    5 hr 39 min
  • Altitude min
    615 ft
  • Altitude start
    675 ft
  • Altitude end
    636 ft
  • Climb
    2,025 ft
  • Descent
    -2,061 ft
  • Grade max
    -41.9%
  • Grade min
    26.4%
  • Distance climb
    7 miles
  • Distance down
    6 miles
  • Distance flat
    2 miles

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Trails in Route

NLR47623 ft
NLR47-22,041 ft
Gatekeeper (lower)4,291 ft
Gatekeeper2,057 ft
142 main3,130 ft
Sexy Flanders4,738 ft
NLR47-252 ft
Max Power2,910 ft
Hutz991 ft
NLR471,742 ft
Nanaimo Lakes Road620 ft
NLR45154 ft
Social Climber1,234 ft
NLR45-2-3177 ft
Voodoo Too1,096 ft
Voodoo Child1,417 ft
Voodoo2,707 ft
NLR45-2-8518 ft
Cardiac Fail121 ft
Bombs Away607 ft
Bushwacker1 mile
NLR45-2-849 ft
Fireball2,785 ft
Panarama Ridge669 ft
Logging road180 ft
Wonderwall Ridge1,946 ft
Wonderwall1,086 ft
Schadenfreude617 ft
Ripairian417 ft
Raven Too958 ft
Access Road144 ft
Raven1,932 ft
Corvus620 ft
10:504,357 ft
Black Keys3,802 ft
Spanky and our Gang1,486 ft
Ozzy's Ridge1,191 ft
Tangerine Dream823 ft
Access Road292 ft
Samba2,805 ft
Connector Trail102 ft
Bush138 ft
Black Jade1,621 ft
Coal Pile338 ft
NLR45-243 ft
Bear N Beaver3,087 ft
Voodoo46 ft
NLR45-2-316 ft
Hack N Slash2,126 ft
NLR45-2-3148 ft
Social Climber1,234 ft
NLR45154 ft

Details

  • Riding area
  • Primary Activity
    E-Bike
  • Other Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Difficulty rating
    Blue
  • Route Type
    Loop
  • eBike Allowed
  • Bike type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Physical rating
    Moderate
Avg: 2 (1 votes)
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3D
Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Snow Cover Partial
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
Trail Flow (Ridden Direction)
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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 Ridden
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
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Activity Recordings
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Activity Recordings
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Winter Trails
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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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Slope Aspect
Direction the slope faces
Flat N NE E SE S SW W NW
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    • Singletrack
    • Unpaved
    mtb
    trail: Samba
    145
    mtb
    trail: Samba
    212
    mtb
    trail: Max Power
    502
    mtb
    trail: Bushwacker
    167
    Coal Pile Upper Half - Ridge Runner, Nanaimo -...
    mtb
    Coal Pile Upper Half - Ridge Runner, Nanaimo - 2026 August
    trail: Coal Pile
    3:49 | 40 | comments: 0 | favs:
    Aug 3, 2026
    Sexy Flanders Jumps
    mtb
    Sexy Flanders Jumps
    0:13 | 51 | comments: 0 | favs:
    Jun 23, 2026

    Recent Trail Reports Along Route

    statustraildateconditiondescription
    Cardiac Fail
    Aug 23, 2026 @ 4:52pm (America/Vancouver)
    Aug 23, 2026
    Tree has been removed. All Clear
    NLR47
    Aug 2, 2026 @ 12:51pm (America/Vancouver)
    Aug 2, 2026
    Gatekeeper
    Jul 26, 2026 @ 9:38am (America/Vancouver)
    Jul 26, 2026
    Tree down about 1/3 of the way down. Also getting alittle hairy on the sides as the plants slowly try to reclaim the trail.
    Gatekeeper (lower)
    Jul 9, 2026 @ 6:43pm (America/Vancouver)
    Jul 9, 2026
    Wasps nest still there, got stung. It’s right where you stop for a branch across the trail.
    Tangerine Dream
    Jun 30, 2026 @ 12:56pm (America/Vancouver)
    Jun 30, 2026
    Wasp hive under bridge removed
    more reports »
    • By officersdrTF Pro & contributors
    • #22738 - 1,210 views

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