There are several awesome mountain bike trails on or just below the Coronet Peak ski field. They are not lift assisted and they don't make up a co-ordinated network but they can be combined in a number of interesting ways. I'll suggest some options below but first, a brief run-down.......
*** CORO XC, two way, 4 km each way, intermediate - well crafted, scenic...
*** CORO DH, descent only, 3.5 km, expert - drops, jumps, berms...
*** SLIP SADDLE, descent only, 3.5 km, extreme - brakes!...
*** BUSH CREEK, two way, 6 km each way, advanced - benched, creek crossings...
*** RUDE ROCK, descent only, 3 km, advanced, - fast, flowing, rollercoaster...
*** ZOOT TRACK, descent only, 1.5 km, advanced - narrow, rad, too short...
*** PACK TRACK AND SACK, descent only, 1.5 km, expert - varied thriller...
*** SKIPPERS PACK TRACK, descent only, 4 km, advanced - spectacular views...
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Here are some ways to put them together to make up a great day out...
OPTION 1. If you have a car, drive up to the car park just above Skippers Road. Ride up the sealed road to the end, around the ski field building and ride up CORO XC to the top and back, then down RUDE ROCK, go past your car, turn up Skippers Road and immediately take ZOOT TRACK. Ride back up to your car. ---
OPTION 2. Do Option 1 but ride out from Queenstown. That will add 28 km and 750 metres of ascent (and descent!) on sealed road. ---
OPTION 3. For three hours of amazing downhill fun on advanced trails that won't try to maim you call the Queenstown Bike Taxi, 0800 2453 8294, spend $60 and you'll get perhaps four descents of both RUDE ROCK and ZOOT TRACK. You're guaranteed to go home on cloud 27.5... ---
OPTION 4. If you're an expert rider, make your way to the ski field car park, along CORO XC and descend SLIP SADDLE and BUSH CREEK to Arrowtown. There are numerous pub or café choices there as you wait for your pick-up. Alternatively, if you're not good for the extreme CORO DH, ride up BUSH CREEK from Arrowtown and then go back down. ---
OPTION 5. For history, spectacular scenery and many calories, ride out from Queenstown to Skippers Road, take the SKIPPERS PACK TRACK, then Skippers Road to the deserted gold mining town then turn around and head back. Coming back it's a stiff climb up Skippers Road but a fast downhill on seal to the bottom of the Coronet Peak Road. ---
OPTION 6. Do Option 5 but get a shuttle to Skippers Road. True hedonists get the shuttle to pick them from the bottom of Skippers Canyon for the trip back as well. ---
There are many more possibilities. If you have a favourite, put it in a review! Remember this is a site for mountain bikers by mountain bikers!!
There are more details about the trails on their own page along with photos, map and GPS trace. If you find stuff missing go ahead and add it! More photos are always good too!
 | Bush Creek |   | 4 mi |
 | Coro DH | | 2 mi |
 | Coro XC |  | 3 mi |
 | Hot Rod | | 3 mi |
| Pack Track and Sack | | 1 mi |
| Rude Rock | | 2 mi |
| Skippers Pack Track | | 6 mi |
| Slip Saddle | | 2 mi |
| Zoot | | 1 mi |
Short but very sweet! It is somewhat rutted so it demands very good balancing skills. It's below Rude Rock on the mountain so lots of riders ride one after the other with a shortish road ride in between. It's at least half a grade harder than Rude Rock because it's narrower and there is less margin for error. It is fast and demands focus.
| ThankI'll be doing Skippers end of the month 4 days 3 nights to see heaps should be fun
| ThankI love these rides with history, heritage and stunning scenery. Don't miss it and don't turn round at the bottom; go along the gravel road to Skippers.
| ThankIt starts at the top of the chair lift but the chair lift only works in the ski season so you get a good workout before you get to smash this amazing trail. It's seriously sick! Lots of twists, turns, drops, general technicality and views forever.
| ThankThe Coronet Peak trails give you the feeling of being on top of the world. They are stunning. Rude Rock is fast and whoopee. Coro XC is hot. Coro DH has great moments. Zoot is short and very sweet. Slip Saddle is extremely steep in places. None of them will disappoint if you have the skills. The views from them all are to die for. Check out JIm's excellent trail description for options on how best to tackle them because this is not your typical bike park...
| ThankAwesome trail. Stunning setting. Riding in these wide open spaces adds another dimension. Fast rollicking fun track - they don't get much better.
| ThankIt a nice but short ride, similar to the Rude Rock trail that it branches off from but without the magic... There is good variety for such a short ride.
| ThankThe actual pack track is a nice but fairly ho-hum down-slope ride but it's in a spectacular setting with loads of heritage. You probably wouldn't do it without carrying on up the Skippers Gorge to the ghost town - either on your bike or by shuttle. There you'll find some interesting panels about the history, geology, and ecology of this legendary gold mining area with its rugged canyon and it's scary road. There are also some restored buildings and walks to points of interest.
This is a ride into history with spectacular scenery. The road up Skippers Canyon is consistently rated in the top 10 most dangerous roads in the world!
| ThankI rode the Bush Creek trail down from the end of the Slip Saddle downhill ride. I enjoyed it. Lot's of variety and it's kind of back country without being too far "back". I don't think I'd be bothered riding up and back from Arrowtown.
| ThankIt's very steep and you don't get a lot of opportunity to relax! It's a sustained challenge. Lot's of variation too. Some tricky ruts but not that many. The problem with it is access if you don't have a friendly driver to take you up to Coronet and then pick you up at Arrowtown.
| ThankThe problem with the Coronet DH is that you have to ride up to it! It's a good downhill trail but it's not up there with the best of them. The panoramic views are stunning all the way down so be sure to take a few breaks!
| ThankLike the other Coronet Peak rides, the Coro XC trail is quality singletrack in high country tussock land with a top-of-the-world feeling. This is ideal country for mountain biking.
| ThankThe Coronet Peak trails are an outstanding bunch of exuberant trails that are great fun for advanced and expert riders. Stunning views from up there too.
| ThankRude Rock is sick as; you won't find better!
It doesn't get any better in terms of fast, flowing, down-slope rides. And this one will not try to maim you! This trail is the definition of fun!
| ThankAbove all Zoot is FUN! It keeps you on your toes too. You'll be back for more...
| Thank