more stats
1.0 mile
Distance
179 ft
Climb
-147 ft
Descent
00:07:50
Avg time
32 ft
Altitude change
3,216 ft
Altitude min
3,330 ft
Altitude max
3,287 ft
Altitude start
3,320 ft
Altitude end
0.6%
Grade
-20.1%
Grade max
19.7%
Grade min
3,091 ft
Distance climb
1,778 ft
Distance down
466 ft
Distance flat
00:07:50
Avg time

Trial & Error Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
    • Observed Trials
  • Riding Area
    Mountain Shadows
    Golden, British Columbia
  • Difficulty Rating
  • Local Popularity
    80 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 85 in E-Biking
    • 90 in Trail Running
    • 55 in Hiking
    • 5 in Observed Trials
  • Global Ranking
    #48111 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #26889 in E-Biking
    • #78615 in Trail Running
    • #148538 in Hiking
    • #1732 in Observed Trials
  • Provincial Ranking
    #2,376 in Mountain Biking · British Columbia [+]
    • #1,792 in E-Biking
    • #4,571 in Trail Running
    • #8,920 in Hiking
    • #669 in Observed Trials
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    XC
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed

Trial & Error is mainly used to reach Rock About. Nonetheless it has a couple of cool sections. Look at the map and you’ll see that Trial & Error is a loop branching off the south end of Magic Dragon. The loop has an east and a west side to it.

The east side of the Trial & Error loop has a fast straightway, riding through a corridor of trees. At the far end you reach the turn offs for Rock About. It is most common to ride the east side of the Trial & Error loop to and from Rock About.

The west side of the Trial & Error loop yields a little more technical riding. It is less commonly ridden since most riders are just thinking about the quickest way to Rock About. However, it’s way more interesting than the east side of the loop. The west side of the Trial & Error is usually ridden counter clockwise because of a steep section of trail.

Tags
Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 1 rides
  • 7 miles average
6 Months
  • 29 rides
  • 11 miles avg distance
All
  • 341 rides
  • Last: Sep 28, 2026
Status:
on Aug 1, 2026
Dry
Avg: 4.29 (4 votes)
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to trial--error trailhead (51.277530, -116.920570)

      Photos

      5 more »
      mtb
      148 |
      Sep 20, 2021 @ 9:27pm
      Sep 20, 2021
      report
      mtb
      41 |
      Apr 25, 2026 @ 1:26pm
      Apr 25, 2026
      report
      hike
      72 |
      Feb 6, 2024 @ 1:31pm
      Feb 6, 2024
      report
      hike
      86 |
      Feb 6, 2024 @ 1:26pm
      Feb 6, 2024

      Videos

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      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Trial & Error located?
      Trial & Error is located in Mountain Shadows, Golden, British Columbia, Canada. It is part of the Mountain Shadows trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 51.27753, -116.92057.
      ▼ How hard is Trial & Error?
      Trial & Error is rated as Blue difficulty. The average grade is 0.6%.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Trial & Error?
      Trial & Error has 179 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 147 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 3,216 ft to 3,330 ft.
      ▼ Is Trial & Error a point to point trail?
      Trial & Error is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Trial & Error?
      Trial & Error is 1.0 mile long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Trial & Error?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Trial & Error. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ How do I access Trial & Error? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Trial & Error are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Trial & Error?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 9 minutes to ride Trial & Error. The trail is 1.0 mile long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Trial & Error?
      Trial & Error is a very popular trail. There have been 2,774 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 2,856 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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