more stats
2,192 ft
Distance
-463 ft
Descent
00:04:57
Avg time
-463 ft
Altitude change
1,405 ft
Altitude min
1,867 ft
Altitude max
1,867 ft
Altitude start
1,404 ft
Altitude end
-21.1%
Grade
-54.7%
Grade max
-7.9%
Grade min
2,192 ft
Distance down
00:04:57
Avg time

Gatekeeper (Upper) Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    South Benson / Wolf Mountain
    Nanaimo, British Columbia
  • Difficulty Rating
    Black Diamond Rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Black Diamond (3 votes)
  • Local Popularity
    50 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 55 in E-Biking
    • 5 in Trail Running
    • 25 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #109743 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #44850 in E-Biking
    • #216581 in Trail Running
    • #157327 in Hiking
  • Provincial Ranking
    #5,651 in Mountain Biking · British Columbia [+]
    • #3,093 in E-Biking
    • #11,832 in Trail Running
    • #10,098 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    DH, AM, XC, Fat
  • Direction
    Downhill Only[+]
    Popular Direction Shown
    • Downhill Only for E-Biking
    • Downhill Only for Trail Running
    • Downhill Only for Hiking
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Season
    Snow level dependent
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1
  • TTFs on Trail
    Berm, Drop, Jump, Gap Jump, Rock Face
  • Ride in Rain
    Yes
  • Year Opened
    2017
  • Land Owner
    island timerlands

Newer addition to Gatekeeper. It has a couple of moderate steeps with berms and some non committing jumps. One mild step down jump about half way down. A stiff blue but not quite a black trail. Nice views of the coast in both directions.

Access Info

Access off 142 main spur at the old wolf mountain mine site. Climb is tough until the first turn where it levels out

This trail is unsanctioned.

Disclaimer

Unsanctioned trail. Please be respectful of logging operations and give clear right of way to vehicles.

Tags
BermsDropsJumpsRock slabsViews
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 2 rides
  • 12 miles average
6 Months
  • 19 rides
  • 11 miles avg distance
All
  • 366 rides
  • Last: Oct 2, 2026
update trails status or condition

Gatekeeper (Upper) Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Oct 4, 2026 @ 11:41am (America/Vancouver)
1 hours
 Pretty overgrown near the bottom/in the clearcut areas.
Sep 8, 2026 @ 10:43am (America/Vancouver)
Sep 8, 2026
 Bit rugged in the clearcut
Apr 22, 2026 @ 10:19pm (America/Vancouver)
Apr 22, 2026
 I’ve cut and moved the tree that was down.
Oct 19, 2025 @ 2:45pm (America/Vancouver)
Oct 19, 2025
 Tree down some distance below the rock roll (I think). Otherwise trail is in bad shape and not worth riding.
Aug 13, 2025 @ 4:34pm
Aug 13, 2025
 Trail is is very rough condition. Lots of branches blown down all over trail (cleared the big ones). Before you get into the open clearcut area,...
more »
Status:
on Oct 4, 2026
Ideal
Avg: 3.64 (22 votes)
Your vote: 0

view (1,765)
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      Directions to gatekeeper-upper-94644 trailhead (49.117160, -124.021400)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      11 more »
      mtb
      58 |
      Oct 21, 2023 @ 10:48pm
      Oct 21, 2023
      mtb
      116 |
      Sep 25, 2020 @ 12:54pm
      Sep 25, 2020
      mtb
      142 |
      Nov 14, 2019 @ 5:35pm
      Nov 14, 2019
      mtb
      126 |
      Nov 14, 2019 @ 5:34pm
      Nov 14, 2019

      Videos

      6 more »
      Upper/Lower/Lowest/Final Gatekeeper, South...
      mtb
      19:15 | 44 | May 4, 2025 , Nanaimo
      A Must Ride Trail | Upper Gatekeeper, Nanaimo,...
      mtb
      6:52 | 500 | Jun 29, 2021 , Nanaimo
      Mountain Biking down Gatekeeper
      mtb
      17:29 | 254 | Sep 14, 2020 , Nanaimo
      Gatekeeper - South BENSON
      mtb
      2:28 | 824 | Sep 14, 2018 , Nanaimo

      Routes with this trail

      64
      EXTENSION TO GATEKEEPER
      ★ 3.0 • 17 miles • 2,461 ft • 11 • Loop •
      THIS ROUTE IS FROM EXTENSION TO FULL GATEKEEPER. WHAT A CLIMB
      347
      2018 VI All MTB Championships Intermediate Enduro Course
      ★ 5.0 • 14 miles • 3,349 ft • 35 • Point to Point • Race •
      The 2018 VI All Mountain Bike Championships Intermediate Enduro Course! Stage 1: Rollercoaster) Stage 2:...
      Loaves and Fishes - Hurt Ride Archived
      123 miles • 18,870 ft • 510 • Loop • Race •
      This event route is a fundraiser for Nanaimo Loaves and Fishes. Robin Dutton and Peter Sinclair will see...
      3.6 ★★★★★
      22 Ratings
      5 ★ 36%
      4 ★ 14%
      3 ★ 32%
      2 ★ 5%
      1 ★ 14%

      7 Reviews & Comments

      Thomasbenko
      Rode it today despite reports. Trail need some trimming but ride well. 2 small sections of fist sized rocks is nothing to cry over. If ur not on a gravel bike go ride it. It’s not a race trail down, got corners and small features for fun. Rides like a tougher blue cuz of sharp corners but worth the ride
      tybcaldwell4
      Trail is extremely overgrown. Even if the trail was clear, I would not recommend. extremely loose gravel/baseball sized rocks with multiple Switchbacks.
      Bloomenhagens
      As others have said this is closer to black, entrance is 100% black and really sucks in dry conditions. Also not worth the effort to get there versus the other options in the area.

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      Nearby Trails

      South Benson / Wolf Mountain

      • #94644 - 3,127 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Gatekeeper (Upper) located?
      Gatekeeper (Upper) is located in South Benson / Wolf Mountain, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. It is part of the South Benson / Wolf Mountain trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 49.11716, -124.0214.
      ▼ How hard is Gatekeeper (Upper)?
      Gatekeeper (Upper) is rated as Black Diamond difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 21.1%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Gatekeeper (Upper)?
      The trail has 463 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 1,405 ft to 1,867 ft.
      ▼ Is Gatekeeper (Upper) a point to point trail?
      Yes, Gatekeeper (Upper) is a point to point trail. The direction is Downhill Only. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Gatekeeper (Upper)?
      Gatekeeper (Upper) is 2,192 ft long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Gatekeeper (Upper)?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Gatekeeper (Upper). Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Gatekeeper (Upper)?
      Gatekeeper (Upper) is best visited during: Snow level dependent.
      ▼ How do I access Gatekeeper (Upper)? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Gatekeeper (Upper) are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Gatekeeper (Upper)?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 4 minutes to ride Gatekeeper (Upper). The trail is 2,192 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Gatekeeper (Upper)?
      Gatekeeper (Upper) is a moderately popular trail. There have been 1,849 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 1,765 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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