Airplane Canyon

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Allowed

Features Downhill · Drops/Jumps · Technical

Toro Park usually charges for parking ($6 M-F and $8 at the weekends), although there is limited dirt-lot parking just outside the park boundary.

I suspect most riders are likely to consider this the most challenging trail in Toro Park, and it is certainly not for novices or nervous intermediate riders - hence the solid Black rating (and even potentially Double Black in places).

That said, it is all rideable and rollable, but you do have to be confident in your abilities particularly with gear selection for the numerous punchy climbs - where the consequence of getting it wrong could easily see you tumble into the creek ravine below, as could an inadvertent pedal strike or clipping one of the trees with your bars.

The trail starts to the east of Ollason Peak at the junction of Don Byrd and Ollason Trail at a small saddle. Right from the start, there is significant exposure to your right, and the trail is very narrow, quite steep in places, and rutted from bike tyres and water run-off.

At the bottom of the initial descent into the valley, the trail crosses the creek, followed immediately by a short, steep, punchy climb on the far side - make sure you're in the right gear to avoid stalling out!

The trail then continues to the right downhill on a narrow undulating singletrack - punctuated with rocks, the odd root, and a number of short, punchy climbs and steep descents - crossing the creek numerous times and all the while with a steep drop to one side or the other of you. Note there is one sharp and steep double switchback soon after you've started the main descent, otherwise the trail flows well and hangs to the canyon wall above the creek all the way down.

Some [optional] jumps and drops have been built at certain points, plus there are semi-blind crests to some of the punchy climbs to also keep you on your toes - although its worth noting all the 'features' are either rollable or have an obvious alternate line which is slightly less demanding, but you really do need to pay attention all the way down.

Once you reach the water trough (see photo) the technical terrain is over, and the remainder of the trail is more mellow and wider, following the route of the Harper Canyon Trail to the junction with Harper Canyon Road, where there is a marker sign post pointing you back uphill to the Ollason Trail... for another lap!