more stats
3,638 ft
Distance
37 ft
Climb
-26 ft
Descent
00:10:02
Avg time
11 ft
Altitude change
301 ft
Altitude min
337 ft
Altitude max
325 ft
Altitude start
338 ft
Altitude end
0.3%
Grade
-8.3%
Grade max
8%
Grade min
2,293 ft
Distance climb
935 ft
Distance down
410 ft
Distance flat
00:10:02
Avg time

Pirate's Patch Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    The Vortex
    Courtenay, British Columbia
  • Difficulty Rating
    Black Diamond Rate
  • Local Popularity
    75 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 75 in E-Biking
    • 50 in Trail Running
    • 75 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #18593 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #39837 in E-Biking
    • #106938 in Trail Running
    • #85193 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1
  • TTFs on Trail
    Bridge, Skinny
  • OSM Way
    #777879387

Challenging trail with great views of the Bevan wetlands. Mandatory skinny bridge, slippery roots and punchy climbs round out one of the most popular trails in The Vortex.

This trail is unsanctioned.

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 1 rides
  • 5 miles average
6 Months
  • 20 rides
  • 9 miles avg distance
All
  • 65 rides
  • Last: Sep 9, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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Pirate's Patch Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Oct 20, 2025 @ 2:37pm (Pacific/Midway)
Oct 20, 2025
Jan 6, 2024 @ 1:51am
Jan 6, 2024
Sep 10, 2022 @ 2:41pm
Sep 10, 2022
 Bridge has been repaired and should be good for another year or two
May 22, 2022 @ 6:14pm
May 22, 2022
 Bridge is severely compromised. One stringer gone and other very rotten. Would not even walk over it. Suggest trail builders rip this out before...
more »
Status:
on Oct 20, 2025
Variable
Avg: 4.1 (3 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
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
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  • > 90%
  • > 80%
  • > 70%
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  • < 50%
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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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BC Backroad Status

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Slope Aspect
Direction the slope faces
Flat N NE E SE S SW W NW
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        Directions to pirate-s-patch trailhead (49.667590, -125.065570)
        View on Discover Map

        Photos

        8 more »
        mtb
        54 |
        Feb 3, 2026 @ 5:26pm
        Feb 3, 2026
        mtb
        49 |
        Oct 20, 2025 @ 7:52pm
        Oct 20, 2025
        mtb
        170 |
        Feb 3, 2021 @ 7:44pm
        Feb 3, 2021
        mtb
        297 |
        Feb 3, 2021 @ 7:30pm
        Feb 3, 2021

        Videos

        no videos have been added for Pirate's Patch yet, add a video.

        Technical Trail Features (TTF)

        4.4 ★★★★★
        3 Ratings
        5 ★ 67%
        4 ★
        3 ★ 33%
        2 ★
        1 ★

        2 Reviews & Comments

        giantrider67
        Skinny bridge needs repair. Has a broken stringer. Use caution.

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        Nearby Trails

        The Vortex

        • #381445 - 1,268 views
        This trails GPS track was originally sourced from OpenStreetMap and will always be available for download in OSM Format.

        Frequently Asked Questions About Pirate's Patch

        ▼ Where is Pirate's Patch located?
        Pirate's Patch is located in The Vortex, Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada. It is part of the The Vortex trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 49.66759, -125.06557.
        ▼ How hard is Pirate's Patch?
        Pirate's Patch is rated as Black Diamond difficulty. The average grade is 0.3%.
        ▼ What is the elevation gain for Pirate's Patch?
        Pirate's Patch has 37 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 26 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 301 ft to 337 ft.
        ▼ Is Pirate's Patch a point to point trail?
        Pirate's Patch is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
        ▼ How long is Pirate's Patch?
        Pirate's Patch is 3,638 ft long. The trail type is singletrack.
        ▼ Are dogs allowed on Pirate's Patch?
        There is no information about dogs being allowed on Pirate's Patch. Check with local trail managers or the trail page for the latest access rules.
        ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Pirate's Patch?
        Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Pirate's Patch are:
        • August (4 activities)
        • December (2 activities)
        • October (1 activities)
        Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
        ▼ How do I access Pirate's Patch? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
        The closest parking and trailhead locations to Pirate's Patch are: View all parking locations in the area.
        ▼ How long does it take to ride Pirate's Patch?
        Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 10 minutes to ride Pirate's Patch. The trail is 3,638 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
        ▼ How busy is Pirate's Patch?
        Pirate's Patch is a very popular trail. There have been 443 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 451 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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