Trail Grades Explained
| Grade | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Green - easy |  |
| Blue - intermediate |
|
| Red - difficult |  |
Green grade - easy trails
- Green grade trails are suitable for: beginners or novice cyclists.
- Skills needed: basic bike skills are required for this grade.
- Trail and surface types: these will be relatively flat and wide. Trail surface might be loose, uneven or muddy at times. Might include short flowing singletrack-style sections.
- Gradients and technical trail features: climbs and descents are mostly shallow. No challenging features.
- Suggested fitness level: suitable for most people in good health.
Blue grade - intermediate trails
- Blue grade trails are suitable for: intermediate cyclists or mountain bikers with basic off-road riding skills.
- Skills needed: basic off-road riding skills to cope with uneven surfaces and small obstacles.
- Trail and surface types: as for 'green', plus specially constructed singletrack trails. Trail surface might include small obstacles of root and rock.
- Gradients and technical trail features: most gradients are moderate but might include short steep sections. Technical features such as roots and rocks might be present.
- Suggested fitness level: a good standard of fitness can help as some trails have short climbs.
Red grade - difficult trails
- Red grade trails are suitable for: proficient mountain bikers with good off-roading skills.
- Skills needed: good off-roading skills and techniques to cope with technical trail features.
- Trail and surface types: steeper and tougher, mostly singletrack with technical sections. Expect variable surface types.
- Gradients or technical trail features: a wide range of climbs and descents of a challenging nature will be present. Expect boardwalks, berms, large rocks, medium steps, drop-offs, cambers and water crossings.
- Suggested fitness level: a higher level of fitness and stamina is required to deal with technical features and longer distances.