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4,495 ft
Distance
512 ft
Climb
-26 ft
Descent
00:15:11
Avg time
487 ft
Altitude change
587 ft
Altitude min
1,074 ft
Altitude max
587 ft
Altitude start
1,073 ft
Altitude end
10.8%
Grade
-16.6%
Grade max
67.6%
Grade min
2,976 ft
Distance climb
502 ft
Distance down
1,017 ft
Distance flat
00:15:11
Avg time
The Bends Details
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Activities
- Mountain Bike
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Riding AreaArapuke Forest
Palmerston North -
Difficulty Rating
-
Local Popularity35 in Mountain Biking
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Global Ranking#254654 in Mountain Biking
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Trail TypeSingletrack
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Bike TypeAM, XC
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DirectionUphill OnlyPopular Direction Shown
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Trail VisibilityAlways easy to follow
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Dogs AllowedYes
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eBike AllowedYes up to Class 1
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TTFs on TrailRock Garden
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Year Opened2020
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Land OwnerPalmerston North City Council
This climbing trail is perfect for those looking to do a 2nd lap of the park as it is only accessible at the River hub at the bottom end of either Kārearea or Chewbacca.
The Bends is a challenging climbing trail with an average gradient of 10%. It has plenty of twists and turns and the odd pinch, rock step and alternate extra hard lines thrown in just for fun. It's called The Bends not just for the tight turns, but also if you try and ascend it too quickly, you risk feeling a little unwell and perhaps even briefly losing consciousness ;-)
The reward for fitter riders is quick access back into the park network, or take Decompression to quickly get back to the Shuttle Pickup.
Access Info
River Hub at the end of either Karearea or Chewbacca.
Trail Supporters
- Vestland TrailsBuilder
Bike Park
Local Trail Association
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-
Please consider joining or donating to the local trail association to support
trail development & maintenance.
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
Recent Activity on Trail
Past Week
- 0 rides
6 Months
- 3 rides
- 7 miles avg distance
All
- 63 rides
- Last: May 31, 2026
| c1 | c2 | c3 | c4 |
|---|---|---|---|
January | February | March | April |
May | June | July | August |
September | October | November | December |
The Bends Trail Reports
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Trail Conditions
- Unknown
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- Icy
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Directions to the-bends trailhead
(-40.473440, 175.614200)
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Nearby Trails
- Shuttle Rd 1,296 ft
- Kissing Rock Link 1,296 ft
- Shuttle Link 1,296 ft
- Decompression 1,378 ft
- Picnic Rd 1,732 ft
- By dirtologist
MMBC & contributors - #317503 - 1,109 views
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Bends
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Where is The Bends located?
The Bends is located in Arapuke Forest, Palmerston North, New Zealand. It is part of the Arapuke Forest trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates -40.47344, 175.6142.
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How hard is The Bends?
The Bends is rated as Advanced difficulty. The average grade is 10.8%.
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What is the elevation gain for The Bends?
The Bends has 512 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 26 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 587 ft to 1,074 ft.
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Is The Bends a point to point trail?
Yes, The Bends is a point to point trail. The direction is Uphill Only. The trail type is singletrack.
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