This trail takes you through a part of the doomed Jurassic beech forest of Kahurangi National Park.
At it's top end near the Flora car park the elevation is nearly 1000 metres. It descends to 100 metres at Upper Takaka over a distance of 34 kilometres. It's a ride for summer as it can get boggy in winter. There are lots of side tracks but the route is well marked. There are a few toilets along the way. Night riding is not allowed.
The first 9 km to Upper Junction are on a gently sloping benched 4wd track. The grade is easy, the forest is other-worldly - right out of The Lord of the Rings.
The next 6 km to Grecian Stream is more difficult - you need advanced riding skills. You're in rugged, remote terrain avoided by most wondering hobbits. You'll have to do some bike carrying and there are stream crossings.
The next 9 km to Barron Flat follows an historic horse track and also needs advanced riding skills.
The final 12 km is mainly on 4wd track. It needs intermediate skills and is outside the national park. You exit onto Cobb Valley Road. Turn right and you'll reach Upper Takaka in less than two kilometres.
There is more information about this trail on the DOC website here: http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/nelson-tasman/places/kahurangi-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/flora-saddle-to-barron-flat-track/
This is one of the few trails open to mountain bikers in New Zealand National Parks. The premium trail open to mountain bikers in Kahurangi National Park is the famous Heaphy Track but that is multi-day and requires a long shuttle. So this trail is an alternative ride through the stunning and doomed Jurassic beach forest of Kahurangi National Park. If ridden as a shuttle the access road up to Flora Car Park is long, winding, steep and bumpy. If ridden as an out-and-back trail you're in for an epic 60 odd kilometre ride that climbs, then descends 900 metres not counting undulations along the way!
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