more stats
1.4 miles
Distance
496 ft
Climb
-74 ft
Descent
00:20:39
Avg time
422 ft
Altitude change
2,410 ft
Altitude min
2,834 ft
Altitude max
2,410 ft
Altitude start
2,831 ft
Altitude end
5.6%
Grade
-31.9%
Grade max
43.5%
Grade min
4,938 ft
Distance climb
1,562 ft
Distance down
978 ft
Distance flat
00:20:39
Avg time

Broken Axe Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    The Bluff Recreation Area
    Smithers, British Columbia
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Local Popularity
    45 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 40 in E-Biking
    • 60 in Trail Running
    • 5 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #122838 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #88837 in E-Biking
    • #108169 in Trail Running
    • #113768 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Season
    May - September
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1
  • TTFs on Trail
    Berm

Enjoy this climb to the rest of the loop, enjoy the view and shred back down. A straightforward trail without many technical challenges, just a big hill in the way.

Trail Supporters
  • Carl Lutz
    Sponsor
Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 5 rides
  • 11 miles avg distance
All
  • 49 rides
  • Last: Aug 26, 2026
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Broken Axe Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
May 25, 2026 @ 9:53am (America/Vancouver)
May 25, 2026
 reporter
May 5, 2026 @ 8:29pm (America/Vancouver)
May 5, 2026
 reporter Broken Axe is closed above the Mid Bluff Road, please obey the signs.
Apr 25, 2026 @ 6:11am (America/Vancouver)
Apr 25, 2026
 reporter The Bluff trails are open (mostly)! Please obey closed trail signs.
Dec 2, 2025 @ 8:02pm (America/Vancouver)
Dec 2, 2025
 reporter Snow season is here.
Apr 28, 2025 @ 5:03pm
Apr 28, 2025
 reporter
more »
Status:
on May 25, 2026
Variable
Avg: 3.86 (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
Trail Flow (Ridden Direction)
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  • > 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
Trail Ridden Direction
The intended direction a trail should be ridden.
  • Downhill Only
  • Downhill Primary
  • Both Directions
  • Uphill Primary
  • Uphill Only
  • One Direction
Contribute Details
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  • Description
  • 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 broken-axe trailhead (54.772560, -127.187970)
        View on Discover Map

        Photos

        8 more »
        mtb
        224 |
        Feb 3, 2021 @ 10:30pm
        Feb 3, 2021
        mtb
        89 |
        Feb 1, 2021 @ 12:43pm
        Feb 1, 2021
        mtb
        553 |
        Mar 22, 2015 @ 1:37pm
        Mar 22, 2015
        mtb
        780 |
        Feb 22, 2015 @ 6:05pm
        Feb 22, 2015

        Videos

        1 more »
        Mountain Biking in Smithers, BC: Broken Axe To...
        mtb
        456 | Jun 13, 2020 , Smithers

        Technical Trail Features (TTF)

        Routes with this trail

        185
        The Big Bluff Loop - Challenging
        ★ 4.0 • 9 miles • 1,679 ft • 29 • Loop •
        This is a perimeter loop of the entire Bluff trail system, come for a challenge. Climb up Meanstreak and...
        3.5 ★★★★★
        2 Ratings
        5 ★
        4 ★ 50%
        3 ★ 50%
        2 ★
        1 ★

        Reviews / Comments

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        Nearby Trails

        The Bluff Recreation Area

        Frequently Asked Questions About Broken Axe

        ▼ Where is Broken Axe located?
        Broken Axe is located in The Bluff Recreation Area, Smithers, British Columbia, Canada. It is part of the The Bluff Recreation Area trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 54.77256, -127.18797.
        ▼ How hard is Broken Axe?
        Broken Axe is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 5.6%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
        ▼ What is the elevation gain for Broken Axe?
        Broken Axe has 496 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 74 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 2,410 ft to 2,834 ft.
        ▼ Is Broken Axe a point to point trail?
        Broken Axe is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
        ▼ How long is Broken Axe?
        Broken Axe is 1.4 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
        ▼ Are dogs allowed on Broken Axe?
        Yes, dogs are allowed on Broken Axe. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
        ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Broken Axe?
        Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Broken Axe are:
        • August (13 activities)
        • July (10 activities)
        • May (8 activities)
        Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
        ▼ How do I access Broken Axe? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
        The closest parking and trailhead locations to Broken Axe are: View all parking locations in the area.
        ▼ How long does it take to ride Broken Axe?
        Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 19 minutes to ride Broken Axe. The trail is 1.4 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
        ▼ How busy is Broken Axe?
        Broken Axe is a moderately popular trail. There have been 360 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 363 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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