Description
Grizedale Forest Park is in the Lake District. It consists of a red and black from the trail center as well as a selection of bridleways and natural routes crisscrossing the area.
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There is also a number of family-focussed forest road rides in the center itself. There are good facilities including a cafe, shop and a bike wash.
The North Face (Red)
- The North Face mountain bike trail is 10 miles (16km) long and is graded red. It starts from the visitors centre and has nine sections of singletrack trail on the west side of Grizedale Forest. It has rocks sections, tough climbs, technical descents, slabs, berms, drop-offs, rocks, and shore as well as loads of singletrack.
- Moor Top (Red): In 2025, new red-grade downhill sections were added near Moor Top, built by Velosolutions for Forestry England, featuring smooth, flowy track and tight technical corners.
The Black
- The optional black section is 1km of purpose-built downhill trail. It has a smooth ride with tight corners, berms, drop-offs, tabletops, and some rocky and steep sections. It also has two options within for single or double black trail. You access it from the forest road to the east of Carron Crag summit (North Face trail to marker number 5 then continuing straight on along the forest road for half a mile)
Forest Roads
- There are miles of forest trails throughout the forest which makes them the perfect family riding like the 3.5km Goosey Foot Tarn trail, the 10km Grizedale Tarn trail, the 17km Hawkshead Moor trail, the 11.5km Moor Top trail, the 4.8 (or 11km longer version) of the Mushroom cycle trail or the 23.5km Silurian Way cycle route.
Bridleways
- Grizedale has a fantastic network of bridleways. There are technical climbs, flowing and rocky, steep downhills. One natural route is the Parkamoor mountain bike route a GPS route graded Hard / Difficult. The MTB route is 17.1 miles of great rocky riding starting from the Grizedale Vistors Centre. It begins on the man-made mountain bike trails of The North Face Trail, before heading along the fells above Coniston Water for the fantastic Parkamoor descent into High Nibthwaite. Although this descent is the highlight the ones that follow don't disappoint and there's a real rock fest to finish.
- Great site for natural routes
Off-Piste
- There is also a network of unofficial unsanctioned off-piste non waymarked tracks. Many are steep and technical. Some of the popular ones are Vikings, Grandad, Dad and the Dentist, The Fox, Devil's Gallop, and the Breasty Haw North Descent.
Other Stuff
- BikeTreks Grizedale - A well kitted bike shop with hire. Also organises Demo Days and races
Share and Review
- If you have already or do get to ride these mountain bike trails at Grizedale Forest and the surrounding area then why not share your experiences with us and post some pictures, videos or a short review to the listing.
📍 UK MTB Trail Index
