more stats
4,918 ft
Distance
439 ft
Climb
-64 ft
Descent
00:11:10
Avg time
376 ft
Altitude change
1,417 ft
Altitude min
1,793 ft
Altitude max
1,417 ft
Altitude start
1,795 ft
Altitude end
7.6%
Grade
-24.3%
Grade max
56.9%
Grade min
3,993 ft
Distance climb
600 ft
Distance down
325 ft
Distance flat
00:11:10
Avg time

Pondy Elevator Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Whakarewarewa Forest
    Rotorua
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Local Popularity
    65 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 70 in E-Biking
    • 50 in Trail Running
    • 5 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #51800 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #48528 in E-Biking
    • #105311 in Trail Running
    • #124853 in Hiking
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T1 Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Uphill Only
    Popular Direction Shown
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Hard
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1

Uphill trail giving access to lower Split Enz and Moerangi Rd - has some steep pinch sections and more moderate climbs. The connecting link to lower Split Enz turns off to the left after the pinch climbs

Access Info

Veer right at the end of Sandy Skid Road, trail entrance sign is on the right

Trail Supporters
Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 2 rides
  • 34 miles average
6 Months
  • 67 rides
  • 24 miles avg distance
All
  • 499 rides
  • Last: Aug 15, 2026
c1c2c3c4
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
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December
Status:
on Jan 7, 2026
Ideal
Avg: 4.09 (4 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
Trail Flow (Ridden Direction)
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  • > 90%
  • > 80%
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  • < 1 week
  • < 2 weeks
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  • > 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
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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 pondy-elevator trailhead (-38.199610, 176.294900)

        Photos

        12 more »
        report
        mtb
        31 |
        Apr 24, 2023 @ 12:04am
        Apr 24, 2023
        report
        mtb
        72 |
        Oct 14, 2022 @ 8:48pm
        Oct 14, 2022
        report
        mtb
        26 |
        Jul 22, 2022 @ 8:18pm
        Jul 22, 2022
        report
        mtb
        54 |
        Apr 19, 2022 @ 4:18pm
        Apr 19, 2022

        Videos

        no videos have been added for Pondy Elevator yet, add a video.

        Routes with this trail

        683
        Split Enz half exit
        ★ 4.0 • 20 miles • 3,451 ft • 22 • Loop •
        Checking out Top and
        1944
        Whaka100 2023
        59 miles • 9,388 ft • 63 • Loop •
        Whaka100 20233
        176
        Rotorua Split Enz Loop
        11 miles • 2,195 ft • 8 •
        Head out to Split Enz without shuttle.

        3 Reviews & Comments


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        Nearby Trails

        Whakarewarewa Forest

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        Frequently Asked Questions About Pondy Elevator

        ▼ Where is Pondy Elevator located?
        Pondy Elevator is located in Whakarewarewa Forest, Rotorua, New Zealand. It is part of the Whakarewarewa Forest trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates -38.19961, 176.2949.
        ▼ How hard is Pondy Elevator?
        Pondy Elevator is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Hard. The average grade is 7.6%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
        ▼ What is the elevation gain for Pondy Elevator?
        Pondy Elevator has 439 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 64 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 1,417 ft to 1,793 ft.
        ▼ Is Pondy Elevator a point to point trail?
        Yes, Pondy Elevator is a point to point trail. The direction is Uphill Only. The trail type is singletrack.
        ▼ How long is Pondy Elevator?
        Pondy Elevator is 4,918 ft long. The trail type is singletrack.
        ▼ Are dogs allowed on Pondy Elevator?
        Yes, dogs are allowed on Pondy Elevator. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
        ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Pondy Elevator?
        Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Pondy Elevator are:
        • January (17 activities)
        • October (15 activities)
        • December (14 activities)
        Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
        ▼ How do I access Pondy Elevator? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
        The closest parking and trailhead locations to Pondy Elevator are: View all parking locations in the area.
        ▼ How long does it take to ride Pondy Elevator?
        Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 13 minutes to ride Pondy Elevator. The trail is 4,918 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
        ▼ How busy is Pondy Elevator?
        Pondy Elevator is a moderately popular trail. There have been 3,510 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 3,405 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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