Bowenvale Downhill Details

Activities
- Mountain Bike
- E-Bike
- Trail Running
Riding Area

Port Hills West
Christchurch
Difficulty Rating

Advanced Rate
Local Popularity
80 in Mountain Biking [+]
- 70 in Trail Running
Global Ranking
#39361 in Mountain Biking [+]
- #50357 in Trail Running
Trail Exposure

Normal
Trail Type

Singletrack
Bike Type

DH, AM, XC
Direction
Downhill Primary[+]
- Downhill Primary for E-Biking
- Downhill Primary for Trail Running
Climb Difficulty

Black Diamond
Physical Rating

Moderate
Trail Visibility

Always easy to follow
Dogs Allowed

Yes
eBike Allowed

Yes up to Class 1
Land Owner

Christchurch City Council

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.

Trail Supporters

Dig Otautahi Trust
Maintainer

Local Trail Association

Dig Otautahi Trust (www.digotautahi.org)
Please consider joining or donating to the local trail association to support
trail development & maintenance.
Donate to earn trail karma!

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Ngāi Tahu

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week

4 rides
16.2 km average

6 Months

69 rides
16.6 km avg distance

All

192 rides
Last: Jun 19, 2026

c1	c2	c3	c4
January	February	March	April
May	June	July	August
September	October	November	December

update trails status or condition

Bowenvale Downhill Trail Reports

status	date	description
	Apr 13, 2025 @ 3:03am Apr 13, 2025	A few new bridges placed in the lower sections, old original bridges in the upper sections have some broken boards. Trail feel cleaner… less rocky?
	Sep 6, 2024 @ 9:47am Sep 6, 2024
	May 24, 2024 @ 9:39pm May 24, 2024	A bit damp with some good hero dirt but lower parts need rebuild with some large pot holes forming on the ends of the bridges
	May 24, 2024 @ 9:39pm May 24, 2024	A bit damp with some good hero dirt but lower parts need rebuild with some large pot holes forming on the ends of the bridges
	May 24, 2024 @ 9:39pm May 24, 2024	A bit damp with some good hero dirt but lower parts need rebuild with some large pot holes forming on the ends of the bridges