Highlight (Segment) • Mountain Pass
Sticks Pass Trail
Mountain biking
4.7
(27)
Hiking
5.0
(1)
This Highlight goes through a protected area
Please check local regulations for:
Tips
August 6, 2018
Mountain biking
Beware though, there are a few fords and more than a couple of corners which you'll likely come a cropper on if you hurtle in to them too fast!
July 28, 2020
Mountain biking
July 10, 2021
Mountain biking
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Nearby routes
Best routes near Sticks Pass Trail
4.0
(4)
23
riders
29.1km
03:49
1,470m
1,480m
The Helvellyn loop in the Lake District offers a challenging mountain biking experience, known for its dramatic scenery and technical demands. This difficult 18.1-mile (29.1 km) route features panoramic views from glaciated peaks, including high-level views of Red Tarn and impressive mining landscapes. You will gain 4836 feet (1474 metres) in elevation, with the ride typically taking around 3 hours and 49 minutes to complete. Be prepared for varied and often arduous terrain, including steep, rocky ascents and descents with boulders and tight corners. You can expect to push or carry your bike on sections like Dollywagon Pike, which has set stones and drainage ditches. The descent via Sticks Pass also features rough ground and sudden drops. The route combines unpaved, asphalt, gravel, natural, and alpine surfaces, and trails can be wet even in summer. From the summit on a clear day, you might see Windermere, Coniston Water, and the Langdale Pikes. This ride is not recommended for beginners. It demands very good fitness and advanced riding skills, with some sections rated S3-S6 on the Singletrack Trail Scale. The Comb Crags descent can become extremely icy in winter due to lack of sun exposure. The Helvellyn loop is notable as one of England's premier mountain biking rides, largely because Helvellyn has the highest legal bridleway to a summit in the country. It offers an exhilarating day of technical mountain travel. The descent down Sticks Pass is often highlighted as one of the best in the Lake District, known for its fun switchbacks. The Helvellyn massif is also famous for its dramatic horseshoe ridge, which includes the iconic Striding Edge and Swirral Edge, providing an epic backdrop to your ride.
4.2
(13)
172
riders
14.0km
01:59
720m
720m
Tackle the challenging Sticks Pass to Whiteside Fell trail in the Lake District, a mountain biking adventure spanning 8.7 miles (14.0 km) with a significant 2362 feet (720 metres) of elevation gain. This route, typically completed in around 1 hour and 59 minutes, is rated as moderate to hard, demanding good fitness and advanced riding skills. You'll experience diverse terrain, from wide-open exposed sections at the summit offering 360-degree panoramic views, to narrower, heather-lined singletrack and steep, rocky switchbacks, including a precipitous scree slope leading into Glenridding. Prepare for sections described as "moonscape rocky" where you'll need to pick your own lines.
Planning your ride requires acknowledging the trail's technical demands; some portions, especially the climb up Keppel Cove, may necessitate hike-a-biking where you push or carry your bike. The route features challenging rock gardens, sweeping turns, and bouldery sections, alongside a few fords and tricky corners. Given its S2 to S6 rating on the Single Track Scale, with some parts considered black difficulty alpine singletrack, ensure you are prepared for a demanding ride.
Sticks Pass is celebrated as one of the Lake District's premier mountain biking descents, offering a sublime natural experience. The trail's unique blend of fast, open sections at the top transitioning into hugely fun switchbacks, combined with glimpses of disused mines, makes it a memorable ride. It's considered by many to be everything a mountain biker could want and more, providing a true test of skill and endurance amidst stunning natural beauty.
4.3
(12)
174
riders
32.8km
03:29
1,060m
1,060m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
Details
Informations
Distance 3.14 km
Uphill 30 m
Downhill 420 m
Weather
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Tuesday 30 June
18°C
11°C
80 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 21.0 km/h
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