4,531 ft
Distance
33 ft
Climb
-166 ft
Descent
00:05:28
Avg time

Dragon's Tail Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
  • Riding Area
    Whakarewarewa Forest
    Rotorua
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Blue (1 vote)
  • 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
    80 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 85 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
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
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
    00:05:28
  • Avg reverse time
    00:07:36
  • view trail stats
Status:
on May 9, 2025
Dry
Avg: 4.37 (26 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
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      Directions to dragon-s-tail trailhead (-38.170850, 176.289719)
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      Dragon's Tail Trail Reports

      statusdatedescription
      May 9, 2025 @ 4:11pm
      May 9, 2025
      		 reporter
      Cleaned surface and 2x trees
      May 2, 2025 @ 11:39pm
      May 2, 2025
      		 reporter
      Trimmed up a few old windfalls
      Apr 17, 2025 @ 9:09pm
      Apr 17, 2025
      		 reporter
      Cleared pungas and fallen branches
      Apr 14, 2025 @ 5:43pm
      Apr 14, 2025
      		 First half is great, the second half after the road exit is getting covered up, and quite a few ferns hanging in the track. Made for an...
      Apr 11, 2025 @ 9:23am
      Apr 11, 2025
      view all reports »

      Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail

      Past Week
      • 5 rides
      • 15 miles avg distance
      6 Months
      • 171 rides
      • 20 miles avg distance
      All
      • 1,136 rides
      • Last: Jun 14, 2025

      Photos

      more »
      61 |
      May 21, 2022 @ 3:00pm
      May 21, 2022
      411 |
      Oct 2, 2012 @ 6:53am
      Oct 2, 2012
      0 |
      May 10, 2025 @ 6:03pm
      May 10, 2025
      0 |
      May 10, 2025 @ 6:02pm
      May 10, 2025

      Trail Lists

      Routes with this trail

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      Planet Bike 3-4hr Upper Intermediate grade 3/4 Loop18 miles
      Some of Whakarewarewa's Finest17 miles
      K2, Hot Cross Buns, Dragon's Tail, Challenge DH, Rockdrop Route - RideSpots.com10 miles
      HIGHLANDER MTB Marathon41 miles

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      5 Reviews & Comments


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      Videos

      more »
      youtuber XC FUN - Dragon's Tail Mountain Bike Trail...
      5:15 | 648 | May 3, 2021 , Rotorua
      Dragons Tail - Redwoods 24.2.24
      7:59 | 148 | Feb 24, 2024 , Rotorua
      youtuber Rotorua Spring Bliss: MTB Escapades in the Forest!
      12:47 | 98 | Sep 10, 2023 , Rotorua
      youtuber Flowy roots for the perfect link - Dragon's...
      3:07 | 300 | Aug 25, 2022 , Rotorua

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