Photo: F-Tech, Visit Lana
Classifying the difficulty of mountain bike routes using the Single Trail Scale
About the difficulty of Mountain Biking Trails
The Single Trail Scale describes the difficulty of a mountain biking trail. The uphill mountain biking difficulty defines how hard it is to ride the trail uphill. Riding a trail uphill is significantly harder than downhill, meaning that a trail rated S3 downhill, is most likely unrideable uphill.
The assigned difficulty should always be reassessed on site as difficulty can change over time, i.e. due to erosion or other damage.
The different grades of the Single Trail Scale
The difficulty of a mountain biking trail. The assigned difficulty should be reassessed on site as difficulty can change over time i.e. due to erosion or other damage.
S0
Gravel or packed earth. The path has no particular difficulties and mostly consists of forest and meadow paths. Wide curves, easy to moderate slope. No special skills are needed to ride this.
S1
Smaller obstacles like roots and small stones that can be ridden over. Soil may be loose in places and there may be erosion damage. Tight turns, but no hairpin turns. Gradient up to 40%. Riding requires care and attention, but no special skill.
S2
Obstacles such as large rocks and roots. Soil is often loose. Steps are expected. Wider hairpin turns, gradient up to 70%. Requires some advanced riding skills.
S3
Many sections with large obstacles such as boulders and large roots. Many hairpin and off-balance turns. Slippery surface and talus. Gradient above 70%. Constant concentration and very good bike control and balance needed.
S4
Very steep and difficult. Sections with large boulders and roots. Frequent loose debris. Very steep sections with very tight hairpin turns and high steps that will cause the chainring to hit the ground. Perfect bike control and trial skills required - only for pros.
S5
Extremely steep and difficult with big boulder fields and debris, and landslides. Speed must be carried for counter-ascents. If at all only short passages are available for accelerating and braking. Very few mountain bikers can actually ride at this level.
