more stats
2,365 ft
Distance
12 ft
Climb
-199 ft
Descent
00:06:03
Avg time
-187 ft
Altitude change
407 ft
Altitude min
605 ft
Altitude max
605 ft
Altitude start
417 ft
Altitude end
-7.9%
Grade
-28.4%
Grade max
9.7%
Grade min
167 ft
Distance climb
1,558 ft
Distance down
640 ft
Distance flat
00:06:03
Avg time

The Darkness Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Hotoritori MTB Trail
    Thames
  • Difficulty Rating
    Advanced Rate
  • Local Popularity
    90 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 90 in E-Biking
    • 5 in Trail Running
    • 5 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #4239 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #22943 in E-Biking
    • #431299 in Trail Running
    • #435183 in Hiking
  • National Ranking
    #80 in Mountain Biking · New Zealand [+]
    • #487 in E-Biking
    • #4,558 in Trail Running
    • #4,396 in Hiking
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T1 Hiking
  • Blaze Color
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Downhill Only
    Popular Direction Shown
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1
  • TTFs on Trail
    Berm, Bridge, Drop, Jump, Gap Jump
  • Year Opened
    2023

This trail consists of mostly down hill with just a couple of short easy climbs. The trail winds its way down through pine and regenerating native with a few low level technical sections. It also has a few small drops and jumps with most having a bypass around it but not all. At the bottom of to hill, there is a creek crossing but there is a good amount of rocks to hop over to keep your feet dry. Last bit is a short climb back to meet Kim's trail and Short Hauler entrance

Tags
BermsBridgesCreek crossingDropsJumps
Trail Supporters
Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 4 rides
  • 8 miles avg distance
All
  • 32 rides
  • Last: Aug 21, 2026
c1c2c3c4
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
update trails status or condition

The Darkness Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
May 26, 2026 @ 1:15pm (Pacific/Auckland)
May 25, 2026
 reporter Trail now cleared and rideable top to bottom
Apr 21, 2026 @ 5:39pm (Pacific/Auckland)
Apr 20, 2026
 reporter A few small trees down over the trail that will need cutting up with a saw to clear. Easy enough to lift bike over to get past but will need clearing
Feb 27, 2026 @ 9:43am (Pacific/Auckland)
Feb 26, 2026
 reporter Trail fully clear and running really nice thanks to a couple of weeks of dry weather
more »
Status:
on May 26, 2026
Variable
Avg: 4.13 (1 votes)
Your vote: 0

view (87)
close
      Directions to the-darkness trailhead (-37.090920, 175.628850)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      4 more »
      mtb
      58 |
      Oct 30, 2023 @ 2:27pm
      Oct 30, 2023
      mtb
      56 |
      Oct 30, 2023 @ 2:26pm
      Oct 30, 2023
      mtb
      51 |
      Oct 30, 2023 @ 2:25pm
      Oct 30, 2023
      mtb
      58 |
      Oct 30, 2023 @ 2:23pm
      Oct 30, 2023

      Videos

      no videos have been added for The Darkness yet, add a video.
      5.0 ★★★★★
      1 Ratings
      5 ★ 100%
      4 ★
      3 ★
      2 ★
      1 ★

      Reviews / Comments

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


      We hope you've been enjoying Trailforks!

      Create a FREE account to view all trail reviews and much more.

      Create a Free Account

      Nearby Trails

      Hotoritori MTB Trail

      • By jaket-bTF Pro TMBC & contributors
      • #697621 - 546 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is The Darkness located?
      The Darkness is located in Hotoritori MTB Trail, Thames, New Zealand. It is part of the Hotoritori MTB Trail trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates -37.09092, 175.62885.
      ▼ How hard is The Darkness?
      The Darkness is rated as Advanced difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 7.9%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for The Darkness?
      The Darkness has 12 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 199 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 407 ft to 605 ft.
      ▼ Is The Darkness a point to point trail?
      Yes, The Darkness is a point to point trail. The direction is Downhill Only. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is The Darkness?
      The Darkness is 2,365 ft long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on The Darkness?
      There is no information about dogs being allowed on The Darkness. Check with local trail managers or the trail page for the latest access rules.
      ▼ How do I access The Darkness? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to The Darkness are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride The Darkness?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 6 minutes to ride The Darkness. The trail is 2,365 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is The Darkness?
      The Darkness is a very popular trail. There have been 101 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 87 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

      Hit the Trail

      Open in App

      Get this trail on your phone instantly.
      open trail in app

      Download Trail

      Save to wishlist, Garmin & download.
      save the trail

      Find Related Routes

      Find routes and users activities that include this trail.
      find routes for this trail

      You must enter a description before submitting.