more stats
3,891 ft
Distance
-711 ft
Descent
00:13:21
Avg time
-713 ft
Altitude change
1,615 ft
Altitude min
2,332 ft
Altitude max
2,328 ft
Altitude start
1,614 ft
Altitude end
-18.3%
Grade
-94.3%
Grade max
6.7%
Grade min
56 ft
Distance climb
3,740 ft
Distance down
95 ft
Distance flat
00:13:21
Avg time

Kataore Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
  • Riding Area
    Whakarewarewa Forest
    Rotorua
  • AKA
    Blue Lake DH
  • Difficulty Rating
    Black Diamond Rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Double Black Diamond (3 votes)
  • Local Popularity
    30 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 35 in E-Biking
  • Global Ranking
    #71626 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #80924 in E-Biking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM
  • Direction
    Downhill Primary
    Popular Direction Shown
  • Physical Rating
    Hard
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1
  • TTFs on Trail
    Drop
  • Year Opened
    2014

Built in 2014 for Rotorua Mountain Bike Club By Empire of Dirt. Designed and Built by Adam King, Rob Metz, Kurt Lancaster.

A superb Steep, technical, rooty, off-camber natural beauty. Hand-built, with lots of small drops (especially in the corners). Exits at the Blue Lake.

Access Info

Proceed along Tuhoto Ariki until you see the sign on your left.

Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 4 rides
  • 17 miles avg distance
All
  • 102 rides
  • Last: Jul 10, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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update trails status or condition

Kataore Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Mar 22, 2026 @ 3:40pm (Pacific/Auckland)
Mar 21, 2026
 Track in good condition, but fallen tree 2/3 down needs clearing
Dec 17, 2025 @ 7:19pm (Pacific/Auckland)
Dec 16, 2025
Dec 13, 2025 @ 1:07pm (Pacific/Auckland)
Dec 12, 2025
 Dry as! Looks to be running great
Oct 11, 2025 @ 9:57pm (Pacific/Auckland)
Oct 11, 2025
 Seemed to be in ok condition, doesn’t look like it’s ridden much.
Dec 14, 2024 @ 1:33am
Dec 14, 2024
more »
Status:
on Mar 22, 2026
Ideal
Avg: 4.32 (21 votes)
Your vote: 0

view (1,095)
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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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  • < 1 week
  • < 2 weeks
  • < 1 month
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  • > 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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  • Description & Photos
  • Videos
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        Directions to kataore trailhead (-38.185140, 176.317700)

        Photos

        26 more »
        mtb
        375 |
        Jul 7, 2016 @ 1:25am
        Jul 7, 2016
        mtb
        472 |
        Jul 7, 2016 @ 1:25am
        Jul 7, 2016
        mtb
        403 |
        Jul 7, 2016 @ 1:26am
        Jul 7, 2016
        report
        mtb
        46 |
        Mar 21, 2026 @ 7:40pm
        Mar 21, 2026

        Videos

        9 more »
        youtuber Kataore, Rotorua: How the Builder rides it!
        mtb
        8:15 | 963 | Mar 6, 2019 , Rotorua
        youtuber Beautiful Kataore Trail, Whakarewarewa Forest,...
        mtb
        15:34 | 938 | Mar 17, 2018 , Rotorua
        youtuber LOST in LOAM on the Most Technical Trails in Town!
        mtb
        18:09 | 224 | Aug 14, 2022 , Rotorua
        youtuber KING OF THE ROOTS - Kataore Mountain Bike...
        mtb
        6:30 | 391 | May 31, 2021 , Rotorua

        Routes with this trail

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        ★ 5.0 • 9 miles • 2,414 ft • 18 • Loop •
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        496
        FY 1 Hundred
        62 miles • 14,906 ft • 19 • Loop •
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        Katis
        3,120 ft • 1 •
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        4 Reviews & Comments


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        Frequently Asked Questions About Kataore

        ▼ Where is Kataore located?
        Kataore is located in Whakarewarewa Forest, Rotorua, New Zealand. It is part of the Whakarewarewa Forest trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates -38.18514, 176.3177.
        ▼ How hard is Kataore?
        Kataore is rated as Black Diamond difficulty. The physical rating is Hard. The average grade is 18.3%.
        ▼ What is the elevation gain for Kataore?
        The trail has 711 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 1,615 ft to 2,332 ft.
        ▼ Is Kataore a point to point trail?
        Kataore is not a point to point trail. The direction is Downhill Primary. The trail type is singletrack.
        ▼ How long is Kataore?
        Kataore is 3,891 ft long. The trail type is singletrack.
        ▼ Are dogs allowed on Kataore?
        Yes, dogs are allowed on Kataore. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
        ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Kataore?
        Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Kataore are:
        • March (12 activities)
        • January (11 activities)
        • November (9 activities)
        Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
        ▼ How do I access Kataore? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
        The closest parking and trailhead locations to Kataore are: View all parking locations in the area.
        ▼ How long does it take to ride Kataore?
        Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 15 minutes to ride Kataore. The trail is 3,891 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
        ▼ How busy is Kataore?
        Kataore is a less popular trail with lighter traffic. There have been 1,081 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 1,095 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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