more stats
2,369 ft
Distance
30 ft
Climb
-103 ft
Descent
00:06:51
Avg time
-73 ft
Altitude change
964 ft
Altitude min
1,045 ft
Altitude max
1,045 ft
Altitude start
971 ft
Altitude end
-3.1%
Grade
-30.7%
Grade max
14.3%
Grade min
594 ft
Distance climb
1,453 ft
Distance down
220 ft
Distance flat
00:06:51
Avg time

Black Fly Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Ridge Runner
    Nanaimo, British Columbia
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Local Popularity
    65 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 5 in Trail Running
    • 55 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #93101 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #199858 in Trail Running
    • #97714 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    XC
  • Climb Difficulty
    Green
  • Physical Rating
    Easy
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1
  • Ride in Rain
    Yes
  • Year Opened
    2015

An easy intermediate trail that follows a ridge line off of the trail called "Fracture Line" no major obstacles except some tree roots and some cliff side exposure and a couple of short rock steps. This trail joins back into "Fracture Line."

This trail is unsanctioned.

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 3 rides
  • 8 miles average
6 Months
  • 42 rides
  • 9 miles avg distance
All
  • 450 rides
  • Last: Aug 22, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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Black Fly Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Jul 14, 2025 @ 8:26am
Jul 14, 2025
 Good
Jun 2, 2025 @ 12:56pm
Jun 2, 2025
 Good
May 9, 2025 @ 1:21pm
May 9, 2025
 Good, dirt bikers are wrecking it though
Oct 8, 2024 @ 1:27pm
Oct 8, 2024
 Good
Sep 4, 2024 @ 6:17pm
Sep 4, 2024
more »
Status:
on Jul 14, 2025
Dry
Avg: 3.99 (5 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
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
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  • < 2 days
  • < 1 week
  • < 2 weeks
  • < 1 month
  • < 6 months
  • > 6 months
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The intended direction a trail should be ridden.
  • Downhill Only
  • Downhill Primary
  • Both Directions
  • Uphill Primary
  • Uphill Only
  • One Direction
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  • Photos
  • Description & Photos
  • Videos
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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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        Directions to black-fly trailhead (49.102690, -123.995190)
        View on Discover Map

        Photos

        7 more »
        mtb
        54 |
        Sep 12, 2022 @ 7:34pm
        Sep 12, 2022
        mtb
        53 |
        Dec 2, 2020 @ 5:59pm
        Dec 2, 2020
        mtb
        88 |
        May 17, 2020 @ 11:34am
        May 17, 2020
        mtb
        47 |
        Feb 16, 2020 @ 2:50pm
        Feb 16, 2020

        Videos

        2 more »
        Black Fly to Grizzyle to Nimbus - Ridge...
        mtb
        12:35 | 108 | Apr 25, 2026 , Nanaimo
        Ridge Runner Black Fly
        mtb
        7:18 | 261 | Apr 25, 2019 , Nanaimo

        Routes with this trail

        204
        Upper Ridge Runner - Mixup
        ★ 2.0 • 9 miles • 924 ft • 46 • Loop •
        A tougher route, lots of rock. Can be ridden both directions but better to do it counter-clockwise. Lots...
        334
        Ridge Runner Tour Featured
        16 miles • 1,737 ft • 68 • Loop •
        210
        Ridge Runner 2
        9 miles • 984 ft • 43 • Loop •
        A good, 2 hour(+) ride. Probably 11 kms. Takes you around Whisky Lake. No really technical features - a...
        4.0 ★★★★★
        5 Ratings
        5 ★ 20%
        4 ★ 60%
        3 ★ 20%
        2 ★
        1 ★

        Reviews / Comments

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        Frequently Asked Questions About Black Fly

        ▼ Where is Black Fly located?
        Black Fly is located in Ridge Runner, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. It is part of the Ridge Runner trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 49.10269, -123.99519.
        ▼ How hard is Black Fly?
        Black Fly is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Easy. The average grade is 3.1%. The climb difficulty is rated Green.
        ▼ What is the elevation gain for Black Fly?
        Black Fly has 30 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 103 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 964 ft to 1,045 ft.
        ▼ How long is Black Fly?
        Black Fly is 2,369 ft long. The trail type is singletrack.
        ▼ Are dogs allowed on Black Fly?
        Yes, dogs are allowed on Black Fly. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
        ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Black Fly?
        Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Black Fly are:
        • October (45 activities)
        • July (38 activities)
        • May (34 activities)
        Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
        ▼ How do I access Black Fly? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
        The closest parking and trailhead locations to Black Fly are: View all parking locations in the area.
        ▼ How long does it take to ride Black Fly?
        Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 5 minutes to ride Black Fly. The trail is 2,369 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
        ▼ How busy is Black Fly?
        Black Fly is a moderately popular trail. There have been 1,754 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 1,734 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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