4,531 ft
Distance
33 ft
Climb
-166 ft
Descent
00:05:32
Avg time

Dragon's Tail Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
  • Riding Area
  • Difficulty Rating
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Downhill Only
    Popular direction shown
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1
  • Ride in Rain
    Yes
  • Global Ranking
    #789 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #746 in E-Biking
  • Local Popularity
    85 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 80 in E-Biking

Undulating and flowing, the hardpack surface is fast rolling. Able to be ridden slowly with no difficult features. Still lots of fun to ride fast and link up the turns at warp speed.

Turn right as you enter a clearing about half way down the trail, to roll through a great sequence of berms.
(If you were to take the left hand fork when you see the clearing and berms you would be on Te Ara Puna trail which climbs to a high point then drops through a tight bermed section to a clearing and a forest road that takes you to the Duck Pond on Larch Rd.)

After the berms on Dragon's Tail there is more fast and flowy singletrack before hitting some challenging little pinch climbs into tight switchbacks towards the end.
Like most trails, this will be one that really rewards riding it a lot - as you get to know it, it just gets faster and better. Take care at the exits on to Red Tank Rd. There are several options including a couple of steep chutes that take you (very quickly) onto Red Tank Rd.

source: Ride Rotorua
Access Info

This runs from Red Tank Rd with the entrance on the left hand side not far down from Bunny Jugs (and Be Rude Not To)

Local Trail Association
More Stats for Dragon's Tail mountain bike trail trail
  • Altitude change
    -135 ft
  • Altitude min
    1,229 ft
  • Altitude max
    1,376 ft
  • Altitude start
    1,376 ft
  • Altitude end
    1,240 ft
  • Grade
    -3%
  • Grade max
    -16.7%
  • Grade min
    14.1%
  • Distance climb
    1,043 ft
  • Distance down
    2,808 ft
  • Distance flat
    682 ft
  • Avg time
    00:05:32
  • Avg reverse time
    00:07:44
  • view trail stats
Status:
on Aug 13, 2023
Ideal
Avg: 4.45 (23 votes)
Your vote: 0

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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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  • Downhill Primary
  • Both Directions
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  • Uphill Only
  • One Direction
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  • mountain biking recent
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  • moto (1 year)
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  • Nordic Ski
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      Directions to dragon-s-tail trailhead (-38.170850, 176.289719)
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      Dragon's Tail Trail Reports

      statusdatedescription
      Aug 13, 2023 @ 3:10pm
      Aug 13, 2023
      All issues cleared
      Aug 11, 2023 @ 6:19pm
      Aug 11, 2023
      Looks like my photo didn’t load
      Aug 11, 2023 @ 2:08pm
      Aug 11, 2023
      Tree down just approx 100m past the clearing. Approx 9” Not much warning for this one so watch out.
      Jun 24, 2023 @ 6:01pm
      Jun 24, 2023
      reporter
      Clear surface and some mud
      May 27, 2023 @ 6:17am
      May 27, 2023
      view all reports »

      Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail

      Past Week
      • 7 rides
      • 19 miles avg distance
      6 Months
      • 463 rides
      • 18 miles avg distance
      All
      • 7,588 rides
      • Last: Sep 24, 2023

      Photos

      more »
      2 |
      Aug 11, 2023 @ 6:19pm
      Aug 11, 2023
      1 |
      Aug 11, 2023 @ 6:19pm
      Aug 11, 2023
      45 |
      May 21, 2022 @ 3:00pm
      May 21, 2022
      347 |
      Oct 2, 2012 @ 6:53am
      Oct 2, 2012

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      Videos

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      youtuber XC FUN - Dragon's Tail Mountain Bike Trail...
      5:15 | 468 | May 3, 2021 , Rotorua
      youtuber Rotorua Spring Bliss: MTB Escapades in the Forest!
      12:47 | 11 | Sep 10, 2023 , Rotorua
      youtuber Flowy roots for the perfect link - Dragon's...
      3:07 | 153 | Aug 25, 2022 , Rotorua
      youtuber Dragons Tail @ Whakarewarewa Forest
      5:59 | 367 | Nov 15, 2019 , Rotorua
      • By mbl77 PCBC & contributors
      • #18021 - 9,046 views