Coppermine course maps here

The Coppermine Classic

This classic course completes a 40km loop of Nelson's stunning lush forests and mineral belt, including a fun and flowing descent that drops 850m. It stays on the Dun Mountain Trail all the way to Third House and on to the historic Coppermine Saddle. This course is an excellent recreational ride, but it's still a challenge to race.

The loop will start and finish at the brand new Maitai Recreation Hub next to the Maitai Golf Course, on the banks of the Maitai River. The course will start with a wide meandering trail beside the golf course before joining onto single track Te Ara Kopiko, passing the water ponds and up to the Tantragee Saddle. From here the course drops down to the Dun Mountain Trail before it begins it's gradual climb up to the Coppermine Saddle. 5km of easy gradient gets you to the Four Corners Junction. The Classic category course continues straight ahead at this point continuing along the Coppermine Trail to Third House, a section of 5km of gentle climbing track through stunning native bush.

A clearing in the forest canopy is the first sign you have reached the historic Third House point. From here it’s straight on to the Wells Ridge intersection and the 15km mark and continue on an easy route up the Dun Mountain Trail through native beech, eventually entering the stark and epically beautiful mineral belt section. The track smooths out for a fast ride to Windy Point and past the original cromite mine shaft on the way to Coppermine Saddle, not that you will have the time to look at it. This is the halfway mark at 20km.

From here the fun really starts as it’s mostly downhill to the finish. This descent had a full remake a few years ago with some very skilled work by the team at Easy Trail Solutions. Less experienced riders are encouraged to pre-ride the course to get familiar with this rocky but flowing meter wide single track section. The landscape is amazing and the scenery breathtaking. The lower section remains fast as you descend through native forest over the new bridge and out towards the Maitai Dam. The course stays left and follows the pipeline track on the left hand side of the Maitai river for several km before dropping down to the Maitai valley road. Once yo reach the Maitai campground you cut accross Groom Creek Road to return on the Maitai Valley Recreational path to the golf course and the final sprint to the finish line at the recreation hub. (Note, The Maitai Valley Road is open to general traffic. Normal road rules apply).

It is expected that most riders will take between 3 to 5 hours to complete the course

The Double Coppermine

New since 2025 is the double coppermine challenge. The course will follow the same route as the classic for the first 37km until the Groom Road/ Maitai walkway intersection where riders will have to muster up the will to turn left and head back up Te Ara Kopiko and onward for their second coppermine lap. There will be a hydration/aid station at this intersection where can leave drink bottles or food for their second lap.

The double coppermine challenge has Junior and Open male/female 19+ results categories instead of the usual age groups and the fastest overall double lapper will be recognized with their name on the block of wood for the double coppermine title.

The Coppermine Epic returns

Back by popular demand is the Coppermine Epic. The course will follow the same route as the classic until the “Fou Corners Intersection” at which point competitors will turn left up the incredibly steep and confusingly named “Classic”, to the top of Fringed Hill, then descend down the Grade 5 “Black Diamond” trail back to the Coppermine trail at Wells Ridge, and then continue as per the standard course.