3,655 ft
Distance
-778 ft
Descent
00:08:24
Avg time

Lava Flow Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
  • Riding Area
    Port Hills West
    Christchurch
  • Difficulty Rating
  • Voted Difficulty
    Black Diamond (1 vote)
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    DH
  • Direction
    Downhill Only
    Popular direction shown
  • Physical Rating
    Hard
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • TTFs on Trail
    Drop, Rock Face
  • Global Ranking
    #38228 in Mountain Biking
  • Local Popularity
    65 in Mountain Biking
  • Land Owner
    Christchurch City Council

Start: Ride the Bowenvale Traverse track for approx 500m towards Victoria Park from the Mt Vernon end. The track starts on the right about 100m past the first cattle stop.

Finish: Now connects into the Bowenvale bonus.

Access: Ride from Victoria Park car park along Bowenvale Traverse track. The fastest access is from the end of the Bowenvale Traverse track.

Signage: None at either end of the Summit Road where you access the ride, but the track is signposted at the start.

Classed as a difficult ride, this track definitely lives up to its reputation with steep descents and incredibly rocky terrain.

Make your way along a boulder strewn single track for approx 500m before launching into a steep descent which takes you into Bowenvale Valley.

The gnarly 2-3 foot drops have easier routes, so don't be intimidated by this good piece of down hill action.

Make sure you've got a good back tire or spare tubes as snake bites are common.

A great track if you want to step up your down hilling skills away from the hustle and bustle of Victoria Park.

The track passes through tussock land with great views into the Bowenvale Valley.

Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
More Stats for Lava Flow mountain bike trail trail
  • Altitude change
    -778 ft
  • Altitude min
    535 ft
  • Altitude max
    1,312 ft
  • Altitude start
    1,312 ft
  • Altitude end
    535 ft
  • Grade
    -21.3%
  • Grade max
    -52.6%
  • Grade min
    -3.8%
  • Distance down
    3,632 ft
  • Distance flat
    23 ft
  • Avg time
    00:08:24
  • Avg reverse time
    00:30:50
  • view trail stats
Status:
on Feb 28, 2021
Very Dry
Avg: 4.35 (9 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
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      Directions to lava-flow-27782 trailhead (-43.595800, 172.660570)
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      Lava Flow Trail Reports

      statusdatedescription
      Feb 28, 2021 @ 12:47pm
      Feb 28, 2021
      Jan 15, 2021 @ 3:13pm
      Jan 15, 2021
      Overgrown, can't even tell where the trail goes
      Nov 5, 2019 @ 12:24am
      Nov 5, 2019
      Pretty overgrown. Hard to tell where the trail actually is in some places.
      Oct 5, 2019 @ 1:17pm
      Oct 5, 2019
      May 18, 2019 @ 4:24pm
      May 18, 2019
      view all reports »

      Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail

      Past Week
      • 2 rides
      • 11 miles avg distance
      6 Months
      • 21 rides
      • 23 miles avg distance
      All
      • 776 rides
      • Last: Sep 21, 2023

      Photos

      more »
      38 |
      Aug 1, 2021 @ 4:51pm
      Aug 1, 2021
      49 |
      Aug 1, 2021 @ 4:51pm
      Aug 1, 2021
      151 |
      Aug 1, 2021 @ 4:51pm
      Aug 1, 2021
      41 |
      Aug 1, 2021 @ 4:50pm
      Aug 1, 2021

      Routes with this trail

      more »
      titledistance
      Tuesday Loop12 miles
      Phoenix Enduro 2022 race29 miles
      GC Advanced Enduro race15 miles
      Phoenix Enduro 2021 race23 miles

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      Videos

      more »
      youtuber New Zealand Downhill Mountain Bike Nationals |...
      5:25 | 623 | Feb 22, 2018 , Christchurch
      youtuber Christchurch Downhill Mountain Biking / LAVA...
      2:40 | 1057 | Feb 19, 2018 , Christchurch
      youtuber Christchurch Downhill Mountain Biking | Lava...
      2:23 | 614 | Feb 18, 2018 , Christchurch
      youtuber NEW ZEALAND MTB | RAW Nationals LAVA FLOW 2018...
      0:34 | 404 | Feb 24, 2018 , Christchurch
      • By nakinoah & contributors
      • #27782 - 12,674 views
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