4,165 ft
Distance
612 ft
Climb
-421 ft
Descent
00:07:15
Avg time
Trail Supporters, Builders & Maintainers of Upswing Trail

Upswing Details

  • Riding Area
    Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park
    Wellington
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue rate
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Trail Usage
    Biking Primary
  • Direction
    Uphill Only
    Popular direction shown
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Season
    All seasons
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • TTFs on Trail
    Bridge
  • Ride in Rain
    Yes
  • Global Ranking
    #391 in Mountain Biking
  • Local Popularity
    100 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 5 in Trail Running
    • 95 in Hiking
  • Year Opened
    2017
  • Land Manager
    Wellington City Council

Upswing is the new climbing track that provides a much easier and more enjoyable way of getting to the summit of Makara Peak compared with Missing Link or Snakecharmer.

The first part of the track was built in 2016 by volunteers and corporate work parties. It climbs at a pretty gentle gradient through a series of eight switchbacks before crossing the 72 metre long Wild At Heart suspension bridge. The suspension bridge was planned by the Makara Peak Supporters, who also raised the funds and coordinated volunteers to assist Abseil Access with the construction of the bridge.

The bridge crosses high above a steep sided gully and native bush. There are viewing platforms and picnic areas on both sides of the bridge where you can enjoy the views of the bridge and the centre of the park.

The second portion of the track continues at a mellow gradient around the valley before joining about three quarters of the way up Aratihi. This section of the trail was digger and rock breaker built by TGL Contracting with funding from the Wellington City Council.

From there riders can continue for another 10 minutes of climbing to the summit or choose to head into the south west corner of the park via Upper Leaping Lizard.

Access Info

From the main carpark, head up Koru and Sally Alley. At the end of Sally Alley, turn right onto the 4WD track for 25m and then left onto Three Brothers . From St Albans Ave, head up Snake Charmer (4WD track) and drop into Sally Alley at one of the connector tracks.

Local Trail Association
More Stats for Upswing bike trail
  • Altitude change
    191 ft
  • Altitude min
    850 ft
  • Altitude max
    1,054 ft
  • Altitude start
    853 ft
  • Altitude end
    1,044 ft
  • Grade
    4.584%
  • Grade max
    -53.167%
  • Grade min
    59.368%
  • Distance climb
    2,395 ft
  • Distance down
    1,612 ft
  • Distance flat
    157 ft
  • Avg time
    00:07:15
  • view trail stats
Status:
on Jan 2, 2019
Dry
Avg: 4.85 (7 votes)

view (4,073)
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  • Layers  w
  • Basemap 
  • Trail Style 
    • ?
  • Activity Type  
Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
Trail Ridden Direction

Trailforks scans users ridelogs to determine the most popular direction each trail is ridden. A good flowing trail network will have most trails flowing in a single direction according to their intension.
The colour categories are based on what percentage of riders are riding a trail in its intended direction.

  • > 96%
  • > 90%
  • > 80%
  • > 70%
  • > 50%
  • < 50%
Trail Ridden Direction

The intendid direction a trail should be ridden.

  • Downhill Only
  • Downhill Primary
  • Both Directions
  • Uphill Primary
  • Uphill Only
  • One Direction

LEGEND
Trail Difficulties
  • Access Road/Trail
  • White
  • Green
  • Blue
  • Black
  • Double Black Diamond

Trail Report Status
  • Clear / Green
  • Minor Issue / Yellow
  • Significant Issue / Amber
  • Closed or Major Issue / Red

  • Land Owner Overlay
  • Wilderness (typically no bikes in USA)
  • BLM (public)
  • USFS (Wildlife sanctuaries darker than usfs)
  • State land
  • Indigenous
  • Military
Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
  • Map Markers
  • trail Trail Head
  • photo Photo
  • place Directory Listing
  • region Riding Area
  • TTF TTF
  • Parking Parking
  • Viewpoint Viewpoint
  • Information Information
  • Warning Warning
  • Directions Directions
  • Water Fountain/Source Water Fountain/Source
  • Sight Sight
  • Restrooms Restrooms
  • Gate Gate
  • Camping Camping
  • Trail Sign Trail Sign
  • Table or Bench Table or Bench
  • Other Other
      Directions to upswing trailhead (-41.293910, 174.708450)
      update trails status or condition

      Upswing Trail Reports

      datedescription
      Jan 2, 2019 @ 12:18pm
      Jan 2, 2019
      Dec 21, 2018 @ 3:25pm
      Dec 21, 2018
      Dec 8, 2018 @ 8:18pm
      Dec 8, 2018
      Nov 23, 2018 @ 9:29pm
      Nov 23, 2018
      Oct 21, 2018 @ 5:23pm
      Oct 21, 2018
      view all reports »

      Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail

      Past Week
      • 71 rides
      • 12 miles avg distance
      6 Months
      • 1,415 rides
      • 11 miles avg distance
      All
      • 3,508 rides
      •  

      Technical Trail Features (TTF)

      Photos

      more »
      5 |
      Dec 13, 2018 @ 10:57pm
      Dec 13, 2018
      Upswing, Wellington
      13 |
      Oct 5, 2018 @ 8:06pm
      Oct 5, 2018
      Upswing, My City
      11 |
      Oct 5, 2018 @ 8:05pm
      Oct 5, 2018
      Upswing, My City
      15 |
      Jul 11, 2018 @ 1:32am
      Jul 11, 2018
      Upswing, Masterton

      Routes with this trail

      titleratingdistance
      Makara Peak Intermediate Loop (feat. Upswing and Peak Flow)
      		7 miles
      Makara Peak alternative intermediate loop from Karori Park
      		8 miles
      2018 Creek to Peak race
      		8 miles

      Links

      1 Review & Comments

      • + 0
      flag longliveenduro (Jan 13, 2018 at 22:21)
       Wow!
      [Reply]

      Post a Comment



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      Videos

      more »
      Upwing - Looking fresh
      2:44 | 263 | Feb 28, 2017 , Wellington

      Nearby Trails

      Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park

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