2.6 miles
Distance
1,082 ft
Climb
-472 ft
Descent
00:29:08
Avg time

Back Track Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Arapuke Forest
    Palmerston North
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue rate
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T1 Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Doubletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC, Fat, Gravel, Adaptive MTB
  • Direction
    Both Directions
    Popular direction shown
  • Climb Difficulty
    Green
  • Physical Rating
    Easy
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Family Friendly
    Yes
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1
  • TTFs on Trail
    Bridge
  • Global Ranking
    #58824 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #8283 in E-Biking
    • #36370 in Trail Running
    • #68652 in Hiking
  • Local Popularity
    65 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 60 in E-Biking
    • 5 in Trail Running
    • 95 in Hiking
  • Land Owner
    Palmerston North City Council

The old classic A two way trail open to bikers and walkers only, be aware of oncoming bikers and particularly in Summer, there are lots of walkers passing through as it is part of the Te Araroa National Walkway.

This is the main access trail for the park leading you up to Pūpū Rahi around 900m from the start.

The trail is a nice uphill climb to the Scotts Rd carpark, the surface is rocky and there are 4 creek crossings on the way up which can make your feet wet if there has been a lot of rain. The first part climbs through a gully of native bush before opening out above farmland which gives a nice view back to where you started, this is a good spot to take a breather on the seat kindly provided by the PN City Council. The second half of the track sidles around the hill steadily gaining elevation. This part of the track has a fun short downhill section before the last climb to the top. Back track is only open to bikers and walkers but it is occasionally used by farm and council vehicles.

Backtrack is an old paper road that is part of the Te Araroa Walkway which has reverted back to a nice natural 4wd drive road climb through native bush.

Access Info

Accessed by veering right after crossing black bridge at the end of Kahuterawa Rd.

Bike Park

Local Trail Association
  • trail association logo
  • Please consider joining or donating to the local trail association to support
    trail development & maintenance.
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
More Stats for Back Track mountain bike trail trail
  • Altitude change
    608 ft
  • Altitude min
    512 ft
  • Altitude max
    1,163 ft
  • Altitude start
    525 ft
  • Altitude end
    1,132 ft
  • Grade
    4.4%
  • Grade max
    -45.6%
  • Grade min
    56.1%
  • Distance climb
    2 miles
  • Distance down
    4,308 ft
  • Distance flat
    1,194 ft
  • Avg time
    00:29:08
  • Avg reverse time
    00:15:49
  • view trail stats
Status:
on Jan 3, 2023
Ideal
Avg: 3.45 (7 votes)
Your vote: 0

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  • Basemap 
  • Trail Style 
    • ?
  • Activity Type  
3D
Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Snow Cover Inadequate
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
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  • mountain biking (>6 month)
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      Directions to back-track trailhead (-40.470221, 175.612201)
      update trails status or condition

      Back Track Trail Reports

      statusdatedescription
      Jan 3, 2023 @ 5:16am
      Jan 3, 2023
      Dec 22, 2021 @ 1:43pm
      Dec 22, 2021
      		 No issues for the trip up to the end of Scotts Rd. River Ford's are low and easy to cross.
      Feb 19, 2021 @ 12:46pm
      Feb 19, 2021
      Sep 6, 2020 @ 1:42am
      Sep 6, 2020
      		 Wet and a bit muddy under forest cover but nothing too dramatic.
      Jun 28, 2020 @ 5:30pm
      Jun 28, 2020
      view all reports »

      Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail

      Past Week
      • 1 rides
      • 7 miles avg distance
      6 Months
      • 72 rides
      • 14 miles avg distance
      All
      • 933 rides
      • Last: Jan 23, 2023

      Photos

      more »
      104 |
      Aug 27, 2018 @ 3:48am
      Aug 27, 2018
      91 |
      Aug 27, 2018 @ 3:48am
      Aug 27, 2018
      70 |
      Aug 27, 2018 @ 3:47am
      Aug 27, 2018
      100 |
      Aug 27, 2018 @ 3:47am
      Aug 27, 2018

      Routes with this trail

      more »
      titledistance
      The K Loop Classic12 miles
      Family Flight6 miles
      Family Flow6 miles
      Arapuke Classic 2019 - Lap 1 race8 miles

      3 Reviews & Comments

      • + 1
      femkesvs (Dec 19, 2022 at 17:43)
      Tree down and blocking the full width of the trail about 1.5km in from the lower parking lot after the second stream crossing. It is passable by carrying and shoving your bike awkwardly through the branches but is a bit of a challenge – expect to get yourself scratched and dirty. Took us two people per bike to get them through. Other than that, great climb to the top and awesome on an e-bike.
      [Reply]
      • + 0
      dickersoncantride (Jan 6, 2022 at 11:41)
      Wide gravel trail with four (or is it five) shallow water crossings, walkers and doggos. Mostly shady. Try and avoid the native snails. Many pest traps, have encountered dead possums so watch your pup.
      [Reply]
      • + 0
      GrahamPudney (Mar 28, 2019 at 23:00)
      Good slog climb to the top.
      [Reply]





      Videos

      more »
      How To Ride An E-BIKE FAST Uphill // ARAPUKE...
      3:52 | 223 | Mar 15, 2021 , Palmerston North

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