3 miles
Distance
1,853 ft
Climb
-1,228 ft
Descent
00:26:04
Avg time

Back Track Details

  • Riding area
    Arapuke Forest
    Palmerston North
  • Difficulty rating
    Blue rate
  • Trail type
    Doubletrack
  • Bike type
    AM, XC, Fat
  • Trail Usage
    Multi-use
  • Direction
    Both Directions
    Popular direction shown
  • Climb Difficulty
    Green
  • Physical rating
    Easy
  • Family Friendly
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes
  • TTFs on trail
    Bridge
  • Global Ranking
    #27634

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.

Local Trail Association
More Stats for Back Track mountain bike trail
  • Altitude change
    625 ft
  • Altitude min
    508 ft
  • Altitude max
    1,189 ft
  • Altitude start
    513 ft
  • Altitude end
    1,138 ft
  • Grade
    4.48%
  • Grade max
    -67.393%
  • Grade min
    67.089%
  • Distance climb
    2 miles
  • Distance down
    1 miles
  • Distance flat
    439 ft
  • Avg time
    00:26:04
  • Avg reverse time
    00:09:57
  • view trail stats
Status:
on Mar 31, 2018
Variable
Avg: 3.35 (3 votes)

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Layers winter
Trail Style
  • ?
Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
Directions to back-track trailhead (-40.470221, 175.612201)
update trails status or condition

Back Track Trail Reports

datedescription
Mar 31, 2018 @ 2:58pm
Mar 31, 2018
Aug 21, 2017 @ 10:42pm
Aug 21, 2017
Note the muddy slip has been cleared and Back Track is running great all the way to the summit.
Aug 1, 2017 @ 11:49pm
Aug 1, 2017
Very muddy slip about three quarters the way up.
view all reports »

Photos

more »
23 |
Aug 12, 2017 @ 5:45pm
Aug 12, 2017
Back Track, Palmerston North
29 |
Aug 12, 2017 @ 5:44pm
Aug 12, 2017
Back Track, Palmerston North

Routes with this trail

titleratingdistance
The K Loop Classic
12 miles
Family Flight
6 miles
Family Flow
6 miles

Reviews / Comments

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Use trail reports to comment on trail conditions.


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Arapuke Forest

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