Best Mountain Bike Trails in Akatarawa Forest Park (Upper Hutt)
Akatarawa Forest Park is a legendary 15,000-hectare wilderness area between Upper Hutt and the Kapiti Coast, featuring 17 maintained mountain bike trails through a rugged mix of native and exotic forest. The area is home to the world-famous Karapoti Classic, New Zealand's longest-running mountain biking event established decades ago. Trails range from 4WD forest roads to technical singletrack, with access points from multiple locations including Karapoti Road, Totara Park, and the Kapiti Coast side.
Trails
Showing 1 - 3 of 3 trails
Intermediate
941m
58m
-13m
The walk to Birchville Dam is a popular intermediate-level trail in the Akatarawa Forest.From Tulsa Park, zigzag uphill through private land and Akatarawa Forest to the summit. You’ll be rewarded with spectacular views over the Hutt Valley.The trail continues along old forestry roads to the north and descends to the historic Birchville Dam. Built in 1929, the dam supplied water to Upper Hutt until 1954.From the dam, walk 1 kilometre downstream and over a suspension bridge to the end of the trail.
Very difficult
1.1m
586m
-8m
17h 58m
Only the devil would put an unridable section or 4x4 track in the middle of know where and at the bottom of a rock garden with no other way out.A clay surface, very deep rutted series of climbs and plateaus with each 'step' using having a deep puddle on it.This forms the half way mark of the Karapoti Classic. Yep half way in and you have to carry your bike for close to 2Km.
Very difficult
1.3m
14m
-180m
8h 55m
As it's name suggests, it is a garden or rocks (if you can call it a garden). This is a very tricky bit of trail to ride. Some of the drops are large with no consistent line to them meaning if you're not carrying enough speed the rocks at the base of each drop will bring to a quick halt and if you're carrying too much speed you're likely to hurt yourself - and remember you're in the middle of nowhere with no cell phone coverage.