more stats
2.6 miles
Distance
564 ft
Climb
-569 ft
Descent
00:33:21
Avg time
-7 ft
Altitude change
482 ft
Altitude min
833 ft
Altitude max
489 ft
Altitude start
482 ft
Altitude end
-0%
Grade
-26.6%
Grade max
27%
Grade min
1 mile
Distance climb
1 mile
Distance down
2,411 ft
Distance flat
00:33:21
Avg time

The Abyss Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    The Abyss / Extension Ridge
    Nanaimo, British Columbia
  • AKA
    Extension Ridge
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Local Popularity
    80 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 60 in E-Biking
    • 75 in Trail Running
    • 80 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #27017 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #1221 in Trail Running
    • #1382 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1
  • TTFs on Trail
    Drop, Rock Face
  • Ride in Rain
    Yes

The Abyss is a Nanaimo classic that is part of the TransCanada Trail. It's mostly a cross country trail with some natural rock features. The challenging stuff comes mainly in the form of steep descents down rock faces.

Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 1 rides
  • 10 miles average
6 Months
  • 84 rides
  • 11 miles avg distance
All
  • 710 rides
  • Last: Aug 30, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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Status:
on Sep 20, 2026
Dry
Avg: 4.41 (28 votes)
Your vote: 0

view (3,935)
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      Directions to abyss trailhead (49.132720, -123.966590)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      80 more »
      mtb
      618 |
      Feb 29, 2004 @ 7:43pm
      Feb 29, 2004
      mtb
      438 |
      Sep 16, 2015 @ 11:00pm
      Sep 16, 2015
      mtb
      845 |
      Mar 29, 2011 @ 10:27pm
      Mar 29, 2011
      mtb
      62 |
      Jul 12, 2025 @ 3:36pm
      Jul 12, 2025

      Videos

      11 more »
      youtuber I’ve DREAMED of riding here for YEARS // It...
      mtb
      11:24 | 975 | Oct 9, 2019 , Nanaimo
      Abyss Circle Down to Harwood Mines Road - 2026...
      mtb
      10:34 | 105 | Aug 9, 2026 , Nanaimo
      Abyss Circle to Hootenany - Abyss, Nanaimo -...
      mtb
      4:20 | 140 | Jun 24, 2026 , Nanaimo
      Abyss Down - Abyss, Nanaimo, BC 2026 April
      mtb
      4:29 | 229 | Apr 11, 2026 , Nanaimo

      Technical Trail Features (TTF)

      Trail Lists

      Routes with this trail

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      Trail Products

      Links

      4.5 ★★★★★
      28 Ratings
      5 ★ 71%
      4 ★ 18%
      3 ★ 4%
      2 ★ 4%
      1 ★ 4%

      13 Reviews & Comments

      darklord
      definitely south to north is the more fun route..lots of rock rolls all over this area.
      A real Blue with Black options
      NAncyBxnA6M
      I am visiting here, so I only did it once. I pushed my bike more than I rode it; to me, it seemed more like a black-diamond trail beaucause there are steep slopes and several technical obstacles. Afterwards, I found it difficult to rejoin the rest of the network to continue the ride, I also pushed my bike into spicy vegetation. So nice views but difficult for an intermediate level like me!
      wa90
      Rare trail that’s excellent either way. Technical climbing and steep then some loose flow (N to S), or steady climb then steep down (S to N): choose your own adventure … or just do both.

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      Nearby Trails

      The Abyss / Extension Ridge

      • By canadakaTF Pro Trailforks & contributors
      • #1355 - 22,033 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is The Abyss located?
      The Abyss is located in The Abyss / Extension Ridge, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. It is part of the The Abyss / Extension Ridge trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 49.13272, -123.96659.
      ▼ How hard is The Abyss?
      The Abyss is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for The Abyss?
      The Abyss has 564 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 569 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 482 ft to 833 ft.
      ▼ How long is The Abyss?
      The Abyss is 2.6 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on The Abyss?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on The Abyss. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ How do I access The Abyss? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to The Abyss are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride The Abyss?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 32 minutes to ride The Abyss. The trail is 2.6 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is The Abyss?
      The Abyss is a very popular trail. There have been 3,840 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 3,935 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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