more stats
12.5 miles
Distance
2,752 ft
Climb
-1,313 ft
Descent
02:52:54
Avg time
1,439 ft
Altitude change
778 ft
Altitude min
2,389 ft
Altitude max
779 ft
Altitude start
2,218 ft
Altitude end
2.2%
Grade
-54%
Grade max
64.5%
Grade min
8 miles
Distance climb
3 miles
Distance down
4,551 ft
Distance flat
02:52:54
Avg time

Big River Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Gravel Bike
    • Adaptive Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Blacks Point
    Reefton
  • Difficulty Rating
    Access Trail or Doubletrack Rate
  • Local Popularity
    85 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 5 in Trail Running
    • 5 in Hiking
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T2 Mountain Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Dirt/Gravel Road
  • Bike Type
    XC, Gravel, Adaptive MTB
  • Direction
    Both Directions
    Popular Direction Shown
  • Climb Difficulty
    Black Diamond
  • Physical Rating
    Extreme
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • TTFs on Trail
    Bridge, Rock Garden
  • Land Owner
    Department of Conservation

Reefton - Big River is a challenging ride on a rough 4WD track. It includes mixed surfaces of gravel, mud and rock with some steep descents.

The track, twisting through regenerating beech forest, passes many mining sites before opening out to the barren Big River settlement. This track includes sections of gravel road and rougher rocky sections, as well as stream crossings which flood in heavy rain. Enjoy lunch or an overnight stay at Big River Hut. Ride out the same way or carry on along the Waiuta Track.

The road is also used by walkers and 4WD vehicles.

Do not ignore the "DANGER: DO NOT DRINK WATER OR TOUCH SOIL IN THIS AREA" signs due to contamination from the mining.

source: DOC Reefton Website
Access Info

A 4WD track starts 9 km along Soldiers Road, after the Alborns Track carpark. Soldiers Road turnoff is signposted on SH7, just south of Reefton.

Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
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6 Months
  • 0 rides
  •  
All
  • 9 rides
  • Last: Mar 13, 2026
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Big River Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Aug 22, 2026 @ 3:55pm (Pacific/Auckland)
Aug 21, 2026
 Rode it as a day ride (unloaded). Nice bush and bird life. 4WD track is in much better condition than I was expecting from other reports. Pretty...
Apr 16, 2024 @ 2:31am
Apr 16, 2024
 Straight forward 4WD track and though rough (on a loaded up hardtail) in places, all easily rideable. One fresh slip over the road near the start...
more »
Status:
on Aug 22, 2026
Variable
Avg: 3.7 (2 votes)
Your vote: 0

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Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Snow Cover Partial
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
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Flat N NE E SE S SW W NW
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        Directions to big-river trailhead (-42.145570, 171.856980)
        View on Discover Map

        Photos

        7 more »
        mtb
        156 |
        Apr 3, 2018 @ 4:37pm
        Apr 3, 2018
        mtb
        154 |
        Dec 25, 2017 @ 3:06pm
        Dec 25, 2017
        mtb
        162 |
        Dec 25, 2017 @ 3:03pm
        Dec 25, 2017
        report
        mtb
        18 |
        Aug 21, 2026 @ 8:55pm
        Aug 21, 2026

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        3.0 ★★★★★
        2 Ratings
        5 ★
        4 ★ 50%
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        2 ★ 50%
        1 ★

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        Frequently Asked Questions About Big River

        ▼ Where is Big River located?
        Big River is located in Blacks Point, Reefton, New Zealand. It is part of the Blacks Point trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates -42.14557, 171.85698.
        ▼ What is the elevation gain for Big River?
        Big River has 2,752 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 1,313 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 778 ft to 2,389 ft.
        ▼ Is Big River a point to point trail?
        Big River is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is dirt/gravel road.
        ▼ How long is Big River?
        Big River is 12.5 miles long. The trail type is dirt/gravel road.
        ▼ Are dogs allowed on Big River?
        Yes, dogs are allowed on Big River. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
        ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Big River?
        Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Big River are:
        • March (6 activities)
        • September (1 activities)
        • November (1 activities)
        Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
        ▼ How do I access Big River? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
        The closest parking and trailhead locations to Big River are: View all parking locations in the area.
        ▼ How long does it take to ride Big River?
        Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 3 hours 2 minutes to ride Big River. The trail is 12.5 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
        ▼ How busy is Big River?
        Big River is a very popular trail. There have been 115 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 110 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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