1 miles
Distance
483 ft
Climb
-857 ft
Descent
00:07:36
Avg time

North Face Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park
    Wellington
  • Difficulty Rating
    Advanced rate
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Trail Usage
    Biking Primary
  • Direction
    Downhill Only
    Popular direction shown
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Season
    All Season
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes
  • TTFs on Trail
    Berm, Jump, Rock Garden, Wallride
  • Ride in Rain
    Yes
  • Global Ranking
    #3191 in Mountain Biking
  • Local Popularity
    85 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 5 in Trail Running
    • 60 in Hiking

This popular downhill route from the summit is sheltered from the southerly (hence the name) and built on top of typically rocky Makara Peak terrain.

The track is a step up in technical difficulty and challenge from Peak Flow. It starts off with a fast section with nice flow through a couple of bermed switchbacks, rollers and shaped corners weaving between native trees.

There are a couple of short pinch climbs through the middle section, the track surface gets fairly rough in places, and there are a couple of off-camber corners and rocky outcrops to negotiate. The last part of the track winds it's way down the hill via a series of flat and bermed switchbacks, some of which are quite exposed on the outside edge.

If you're comfortable with Peak Flow and want a new challenge, give it a go. The track doesn't get really steep, but there are a couple of sections intermediate grade riders may prefer to walk while they build their confidence and skills.

As of mid 2017, the trail surface has degraded to the point where it's quite rough in places, and the trail is now considered either a hard grade 3 (intermediate) or an easy grade 4 (advanced).

North Face flows straight into JFK, Smokin' which are genuine intermediate grade trails.

Access Info

From the summit platform, follow the signs straight down the hill. At the intersection with Zac's track via right - it's all well sign posted.

More Stats for North Face bike trail
  • Altitude change
    -374 ft
  • Altitude min
    879 ft
  • Altitude max
    1,294 ft
  • Altitude start
    1,254 ft
  • Altitude end
    880 ft
  • Grade
    -6.151%
  • Grade max
    -68.002%
  • Grade min
    65.689%
  • Distance climb
    2,469 ft
  • Distance down
    3,396 ft
  • Distance flat
    216 ft
  • Avg time
    00:07:36
  • view trail stats
Status:
on Oct 12, 2019
Dry
Avg: 4 (21 votes)

view (3,175)
close
  • Layers  w
  • Basemap 
  • Trail Style 
    • ?
  • Activity Type  
Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
Trail Ridden Direction
Trailforks scans users ridelogs to determine the most popular direction each trail is ridden. A good flowing trail network will have most trails flowing in a single direction according to their intension.
The colour categories are based on what percentage of riders are riding a trail in its intended direction.
  • > 96%
  • > 90%
  • > 80%
  • > 70%
  • > 50%
  • < 50%
Trail Last Ridden
Trailforks scans ridelogs to determine the last time a trail was ridden.
  • < 2 days
  • < 1 week
  • < 2 weeks
  • < 1 month
  • < 6 months
  • > 6 months
Trail Ridden Direction
The intended direction a trail should be ridden.
  • Downhill Only
  • Downhill Primary
  • Both Directions
  • Uphill Primary
  • Uphill Only
  • One Direction
ContributeDetails
Colors indicate trail is missing specified detail.
  • Description
  • Photos
  • Description & Photos
  • Videos
Trail Popularity ?
Trailforks scans ridelogs to determine which trails are ridden the most in the last 9 months. Trails are compared with nearby trails in the same city region with a possible 25 colour shades. Think of this as a heatmap, more rides = more kinetic energy = warmer colors.
  • most popular
  • popular
  • less popular
  • not popular

LEGEND
Trail Difficulties
  • Access Road/Trail
  • White
  • Green
  • Blue
  • Black
  • Double Black Diamond

Trail Report Status
  • Clear / Green
  • Minor Issue / Yellow
  • Significant Issue / Amber
  • Closed

  • Land Owner Overlay
  • Wilderness (typically no bikes in USA)
  • BLM (public)
  • USFS (Wildlife sanctuaries darker than usfs)
  • State land
  • Indigenous
  • Military
Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
  • Map Markers
  • trail Trail Head
  • photo Photo
  • place Directory Listing
  • region Riding Area
  • TTF TTF
  • Parking Parking
  • Viewpoint Viewpoint
  • Information Information
  • Warning Warning
  • Directions Directions
  • Sight Sight
  • Restrooms Restrooms
  • eBike Charging Point eBike Charging Point
  • Water Fountain/Source Water Fountain/Source
  • Gate Gate
  • Trail Sign Trail Sign
  • Table or Bench Table or Bench
  • Ladder Ladder
  • Stairs Stairs
  • Bridge Bridge
  • Camping Camping
  • Cabin Cabin
  • Lodge Lodge
  • Bear Cache Bear Cache
  • Dock Dock
  • Ranger Station Ranger Station
  • Summit Summit
  • Other Other
      Directions to north-face-17347 trailhead (-41.288040, 174.706460)
      update trails status or condition

      North Face Trail Reports

      statusdatedescription
      Oct 12, 2019 @ 2:21pm
      Oct 12, 2019
      Aug 24, 2019 @ 4:59pm
      Aug 24, 2019
      Aug 23, 2019 @ 3:09pm
      Aug 23, 2019
      Jul 4, 2019 @ 3:37pm
      Jul 4, 2019
      		 reporter
      Jul 3, 2019 @ 5:49pm
      Jul 3, 2019
      view all reports »

      Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail

      Past Week
      • 25 rides
      • 11 miles avg distance
      6 Months
      • 526 rides
      • 11 miles avg distance
      All
      • 2,137 rides
      •  

      Photos

      more »
      17 |
      Mar 5, 2019 @ 2:36pm
      Mar 5, 2019
      32 |
      Apr 18, 2017 @ 5:53pm
      Apr 18, 2017
      48 |
      Apr 18, 2017 @ 5:53pm
      Apr 18, 2017
      44 |
      Apr 18, 2017 @ 5:53pm
      Apr 18, 2017

      Routes with this trail

      titleratingdistance
      Makara Peak Grand Loop (intermediate & advanced)
      		8 miles
      Skyline (The Full Version)
      		24 miles

      Links

      Reviews / Comments

      No reviews yet, be the first to write a review or ask a question.
      Use trail reports to comment on trail conditions.


      Post a Comment



      You must login to Pinkbike.
      Don't have an account? Sign up

      Join Pinkbike  Login

      Videos

      more »
      North Face & Smokin; Trails, Makara Peak,...
      8:13 | 37 | Sep 11, 2019 , Wellington
      North Face | Makara Peak Welliington
      8:50 | 24 | Aug 28, 2019 , Wellington
      North Face & Smokin' Trails, Makara...
      8:13 | 55 | Aug 4, 2019 , Wellington
      Makara: North Face
      6:01 | 243 | Aug 14, 2018 , Wellington

      Nearby Trails

      Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park

      • subscribe
      • flag
      • login to download gpx or kml files.