Pan Pac Eskdale Mountain Bike Park
Also known as: Eskdale MTB Park, Pan Pac
Esk Valley pine-forest views with exposed saddles and ridgelines; sweeping outlooks from the tops.
Who in your group rides what
Whether everyone in your group gets a day at Pan Pac Eskdale Mountain Bike Park - the grades on offer, the named zones, and how mixed abilities split up.
NZ grades 2 to 6; easy climbing and flow tracks up to steep technical grade 5 trails (Horseshoe, Rimrock, Cliffhanger) and advanced lines.
GROUP SPLIT: beginners/intermediates ride the Waipunga Block easy tracks (Blackberry, Bolt, Piglet, Sugar, T-Bar) and climbing tracks (Beam Me Up, Enterprise, Warpspeed), while advanced riders tackle grade 5 lines (Horseshoe, Rimrock) or head to the Replanted Block advanced tracks (Cannonball Lecter, Minefield, Sweeper) - obeying the orange perimeter signs and the lock-in exit time; regroup at the carpark.
About 15 minutes drive north of Napier via the Esk Valley; permit/membership requirement and steep advanced trails mean it suits committed riders, though easy tracks exist for mixed groups.
The riding
Working pine plantation (Pan Pac Tangoio Forest) singletrack and linking forest roads, with steep technical exposed sections and some freshly built, softer trails.
Steep technical grade 5 trails with lots of exposure (Horseshoe, Rimrock, Cliffhanger) that should not be ridden alone unless confident at that level; the Enterprise-to-Time Warp saddle can be extremely windy.
Trail entrances/exits carry GPS-located signs; designated MTB boundary marked by signs and orange markers; two-way trails unless marked EXIT only. Map board at carpark and Trailforks maps.
Members-only access keeps numbers moderate; generally quiet midweek, busier at weekends; some remote back blocks where riding alone is discouraged.
Season & conditions
Open all year; no snow closure (low-elevation coastal forest). Respect any club/logging closures.
Rideable year-round with a permit; drier settled weather preferred, with caution on windy days at the exposed saddle.
Newly rebuilt network following Cyclone Gabrielle, with ongoing new-trail construction across the blocks.
Strong wind at the Enterprise-Time Warp saddle; the Esk Valley is flood-prone (severely hit by Cyclone Gabrielle). Ride to conditions.
Getting there & gear
Permit-only private forest: must hold HBMTB Club membership or a paid Visitor Permit (about NZ$10, includes a map, purchased online) to enter; no membership, no ride.
Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.
From the Esk Valley turn off SH5 into Waipunga Road, cross the bridge and take the first forest road on the right (Burden Road) to the carpark; 20 km/h speed limit on the narrow access road. No access from the old SH2 mill carpark (Mill Block permanently closed).
Self-shuttle/pedal via climbing tracks and forest roads; no commercial uplift. Drive-in about 15 minutes from Napier.
Helmet and enclosed footwear mandatory, working front/rear brakes required; NO water in the park so bring your own. Good mobile coverage in the Waipunga and Tait blocks but none in the Replanted Block.
Carpark with map board, shelter, picnic tables and a toilet; no water on site.
Hawke's Bay Mountain Bike Club (builds/manages the park); Napier bike shops such as Revolution Bikes for hire, service and permits info.
Hazards & rescue
Steep exposed grade 5 trails, two-way trails (watch for oncoming riders), windy saddle, active logging/machinery, narrow access road, and a lock-in exit time for the Replanted Block; strictly no dogs, no fires/BBQs, no rogue trail building.
No guide required, but the club advises not riding the steep grade 5 trails or the remote Replanted Block alone; under-11s must ride with an adult and 11-13s with an older rider.
All trail entrances/exits have GPS-located signs; if injured call 111 and request a helicopter giving the sign location (ambulances cannot reach the trailheads). Club Park Manager contactable by phone.
This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand mountain-bike network report. Coordinates are approximate.