more stats
2.6 miles
Distance
564 ft
Climb
-569 ft
Descent
00:33:21
Avg time
-7 ft
Altitude change
482 ft
Altitude min
833 ft
Altitude max
489 ft
Altitude start
482 ft
Altitude end
-0%
Grade
-26.6%
Grade max
27%
Grade min
1 mile
Distance climb
1 mile
Distance down
2,411 ft
Distance flat
00:33:21
Avg time

The Abyss Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    The Abyss / Extension Ridge
    Nanaimo, British Columbia
  • AKA
    Extension Ridge
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Local Popularity
    80 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 80 in Trail Running
    • 95 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #27017 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #1221 in Trail Running
    • #1382 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1
  • TTFs on Trail
    Drop, Rock Face
  • Ride in Rain
    Yes

The Abyss is a Nanaimo classic that is part of the TransCanada Trail. It's mostly a cross country trail with some natural rock features. The challenging stuff comes mainly in the form of steep descents down rock faces.

Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 64 rides
  • 14.4 km avg distance
All
  • 667 rides
  • Last: Jun 21, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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The Abyss Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Sep 1, 2025 @ 3:34pm
Sep 1, 2025
Jul 17, 2025 @ 1:22pm
Jul 17, 2025
 Crunchy arbutus leaves and that summery smell. Ideal!
Jun 22, 2025 @ 9:02pm
Jun 22, 2025
Feb 28, 2025 @ 2:10pm
Feb 28, 2025
Nov 21, 2024 @ 5:39pm
Nov 21, 2024
 All downed trees are clear but there are still lots of branches on the trail.
more »
Status:
on Sep 1, 2025
Dry
Avg: 4.41 (28 votes)
Your vote: 0

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Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Snow Cover Partial
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
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BC Backroad Status

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Slope Aspect
Direction the slope faces
Flat N NE E SE S SW W NW
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        Directions to abyss trailhead (49.132720, -123.966590)

        Photos

        80 more »
        561 |
        Feb 29, 2004 @ 7:43pm
        Feb 29, 2004
        400 |
        Sep 16, 2015 @ 11:00pm
        Sep 16, 2015
        792 |
        Mar 29, 2011 @ 10:27pm
        Mar 29, 2011
        37 |
        Jul 12, 2025 @ 3:36pm
        Jul 12, 2025

        Videos

        10 more »
        youtuber I’ve DREAMED of riding here for YEARS // It...
        11:24 | 916 | Oct 9, 2019 , Nanaimo
        Abyss Circle to Hootenany - Abyss, Nanaimo -...
        4:20 | 11 | Jun 24, 2026 , Nanaimo
        Abyss Down - Abyss, Nanaimo, BC 2026 April
        4:29 | 95 | Apr 11, 2026 , Nanaimo
        The Abyss in Nanaimo, BC
        25:37 | 152 | Oct 19, 2024 , Nanaimo

        Technical Trail Features (TTF)

        Trail Lists

        Routes with this trail

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        This event route is a fundraiser for Nanaimo Loaves and Fishes. Robin Dutton and Peter Sinclair will see...

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        12 Reviews & Comments


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        Nearby Trails

        The Abyss / Extension Ridge

        • By canadakaTF Pro Trailforks & contributors
        • #1355 - 21,607 views

        Frequently Asked Questions About The Abyss

        ▼ Where is The Abyss located?
        The Abyss is located in The Abyss / Extension Ridge, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. It is part of the The Abyss / Extension Ridge trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 49.13272, -123.96659.
        ▼ How hard is The Abyss?
        The Abyss is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
        ▼ What is the elevation gain for The Abyss?
        The Abyss has 564 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 569 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 482 ft to 833 ft.
        ▼ How long is The Abyss?
        The Abyss is 2.6 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.

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