Mountain Bike Trails in Port Hills West

Alley Express aka Upper Bowenvale DH

This trail is a singletrack alternative to following the rutted doubletrack/4x4 trail to Bowenvale DH. Starts out at the end of Four Pause trail before heading downhill over a few steep sections. You'll need your trail reading skills on point… this isn't a well-marked trail and there are loads of sheep trails around to try and throw you off course.

Back track

An easier way up to the bottom of body bag(Could well be known as something else)

Bowenvale Bonus

Climbing track to access the Bowenvale Downhill track.

Bowenvale Downhill

Start: Ride from Victoria Park along the Bowenvale Traverse Track to the top of Huntsbury Track near the Summit Road. Finish: The bottom of Bowenvale Valley on the 4WD track. From the 4WD track it's a short ride out to Bowenvale Avenue. Access: The fastest access is to ride the Bowenvale Traverse Track from Victoria Park. Alternatively ride up Rapaki Track and then take the Mt Vernon Track through to its end at the top of Huntsbury. Signage: The track is sign posted at the airstrip.- Classed as a grade three ride, this track was the first down hill track built on the Port Hills in the mid 90's.- Start riding down the gravel surfaced 4WD Huntsbury Track for approx 500 metres.- At an obvious junction at the head of an old airstrip turn left and follow a steep 4WD track that zig zags it's way down into the valley. The track surface is rough and riddled with ruts – so don't forget to hang on.- At a pylon the track narrows to a fast flowing single track that takes you to the valley floor and the Bowenvale Valley 4WD Track. This section of this track has recently been re-built, and offers some fun riding with many switch back corners and lots of grade reversal to pump through while traversing back and forth across the hill country.

Bowenvale Traverse - East

A fast smooth graveled track that starts near the top of Mt Vernon then travles beside the road all the way to the top of Victoria Park.

Bowenvale Traverse - West

Fun and fast single track often taken after climbing Rāpaki Track and Mt Vernon on the way to Victoria Park and The Christchurch Adventure Park. A few rock rollovers, easy rolled though dip… can be ridden furiously fast while watching for oncoming traffic and sheep.

Elevator

Elevator is a bi-directional trail between lower Rapaki and the Taramea track. This trail has multiple entrances from Taramea track… some more technical riding than others but a single exit back onto the Taramea trails. Trail consists of a dirt and gravel and rock surface with some areas bench cut. One rocky section with an easy alternative route option.

F3

Closed permanently.

Far Side

Fluffy Sheep

Flying Nun

A local favorite rocky, bermy, single-track. A blast for skill levels from intermediate up. The bottom section from below Summit Connection is now in CAP (Christchurch Adventure Park)

Fourpause

Alternative to 4wd track when going down first section of Huntsbury. Trailhead not signposted.

Full Monty

Get off the highway Singletrack from the stockyards (halfway up Rapaki Track) to the Summit Road. Fun as a little downhill and a challenging as an uphill around the rocky bluffs.

Gnarly Nun

Steep rocky downhill track starting from close to the top of the Flying Nun. It runs into CAP (Christchurch Adventure Park) where it crosses the Summit Connection and Flying Nun, then rejoins the Flying Nun at the bottom of a steep rock chute and small jump.

Governor's Bay DH

Narrow singletrack to the Governor's Bay, a few rocky sections, some tight corners.

Huntsbury DH

Flowy single track with some rock gardens at the top section. Further down there's a series of jumps including a couple of wooden ramps. The final section has a number of jumps and a big drop off option at the end which is nice. Tends to get rutted out in winter because of poor drainage and fall line routing.

J Line

Turn left off the Elevator at the end of the rock garden. The trail is narrow and steep in parts with several rock gardens and a technical rising rocky corner about halfway down. A great technical and fast alternative route.

Mt Vernon

Short and sharp traverse track with some steep climbing switch backs and small rocky outcrops.

Rock up

Alternative section with a short climb to add rock riding and extra vert meters to Huntsbury DH.

Taramea Track / Montgomery Spur

Gentle switchbacked climb to the top of Montgomery Spur, then flowy hardpacked single track down and around. Good way to break up going up Rapaki Track, or also a good short ride on its own.