The Dean's Bank Track is an easy to intermediate purpose build mountain bike trail along the north side of the Clutha River at its source - Lake Wanaka. The 10 km trail is partly out in the open and partly among pine trees. There are some really nice switchbacks, lots of good flowing little berms and some nice optional jumps. It's quite fast and it's a very pleasant ride but it lacks magic and really good fun stuff - it tends to meander aimlessly...
It's a good trail for a beginner to build skills on. I've seen families on it but the kids struggled in places. There are nice views along the open river terraces.
You can ride to the start of the trail from downtown Wanaka along the Lake Wanaka Outlet Trail which comes down the other (south) side of the Clutha River. There's a toilet and drinking water in the camp ground at the trail head.
Text updated by jimcummings, April 2015.
lovely flowing easy track - rode late October just before the 10 hour enduro. Great views
| ThankRode here in February so was very dry and dusty. Really fun track that was not too technical. Great views of the river
| ThankAwesome flow trail. Not a technical trail but a fast one.
| ThankIt's a good track which would suit a beginner for the most part but there are a couple of intermediate sections. Nice switchbacks climb up onto the higher terrace.
| ThankVery mellow, something I'd take my mother on - literally. Nice views, no real climbs, relatively flat, not technical. I'd say mostly good for some views early on, good for a quick ride, and the ending stretch has some fun berms and a couple (avoidable) jumps that are fun. Nothing to write home about.
| ThankA nice well designed single track with some hills mixed in.
| Thank