Bull Run

The Story of Bull Run

A tale of flow, frustration, and a fair bit of fun in the making of Belmont’s best-loved downhill.

Back in August 2011, while BAMBA was making good progress on Bull-A-Varde, the team already had their sights set on something spicier: a flowy downhill to make up for the looming loss of trails in the soon-to-be-logged Danzig pine block.

Early Vision and a Muddy Start

With the axe about to fall on iconic tracks like Choppers and Big Weta, urgency was high. Scoping and tagging for a new descent started quickly, and on 18 August 2011, BAMBA held its first dig day. It was cold, wet, and miserable – and predictably turned into a sketchy, slippery mud bath. But it was progress.

Several names were floated – Hootenanny, Sweet Gravity, Sweet Haven, and Sweet Fury among them. But it was clear that the gnarlier name Bull Run suited the downhill far better than the tamer connector trail being built in parallel. So Bull-A-Varde got its name, and the descent claimed Bull Run.

Roots of Doom and Trailbuilding Tensions

By early October, the core volunteer group had carved more than 100 metres of trail through the dense valley trees. One infamous section, known as the “off-camber tree roots of doom,” became a cult favourite. Finding the right line was tricky, rewarding, and downright addictive.

Unfortunately, not everyone was a fan. One volunteer “fixed” the section by smoothing it out, prompting Cowboy (Craig McGinnity) to turn up at the next working bee and bluntly demand: “Who the fck ruined the track?”* It was a tense moment – but one of those inevitable clashes that trail crews work through.

Digging In, Learning Lessons

As summer approached, the build gathered pace. Wednesday night digs became a regular fixture, and some solo builders kept the momentum going through the Christmas–New Year lull.

In hindsight, a few sections were built too steep for the terrain – fun to ride, but hell to maintain. Ruts and water damage set in fast. It was a tough but valuable lesson: build it once, build it right. Over time, the team repaired the worst sections with plastic pavers and proper drainage – reinforcing a sustainability-first approach for future trails.

Delays, Drama and a Department of Conservation Surprise

By March 2012, Bull Run was halfway built and riding beautifully. Meanwhile, logging delays meant trails in the Danzig block were still open – a reprieve no one had expected to last so long.

But in April, BAMBA hit a brick wall. It was discovered that parts of the Bull Run build were on land under a DOC covenant, and the Greater Wellington Regional Council issued a stop-work order on 12 April 2012.

“She’ll Be Right” – The Rogue Build That Nearly Finished It

Before the halt, BAMBA had lined up a large group of BNZ volunteers to help with the build. Rather than cancel, the crew pressed ahead with a classic Wellington attitude: “She’ll be right – what’s the worst that could happen?”

The result? A massive day of progress – nearly completing the second half of the trail in one go. A final working bee on 20 May 2012 connected the top to the bottom, and Bull Run was technically rideable from end to end.

But it didn’t go unnoticed.

The Fallout: Kicked Out and Rebuilding Trust

On 2 July 2012, BAMBA’s president received a formal complaint from GWRC over “damage to Belmont Regional Park through illegal trail building.” Legal action was threatened. The trail was officially closed. BAMBA was locked out of the park and all trail activity was suspended until March 2013.

When tempers cooled, a compromise was reached: realign the bottom half of Bull Run to avoid protected land. This led to the unexpected pinch climb mid-trail, replacing a smoother original line that had followed the creek more naturally.

Final Push: Cops, Berms, and a Grassroots Community

The final build was relatively smooth – apart from discovering someone’s “crop” in the exact spot where the trail was meant to go. Once that was dealt with, progress resumed.

By July 2013, Bull Run had reached the first grass clearing, and Jeremy the Park Ranger – directed by Cowboy – used machinery to shape the two large sweeping berms in the grass sections, saving weeks of manual work.

At the same time, the first volunteer planting day was held with the Friends of Belmont Regional Park, kicking off a tradition of restoring native vegetation along the trail’s open lower sections.

Opening Day and Instant Impact

Bull Run officially opened on 15 December 2013, drawing around 100 riders from across the region. The hype was boosted by a Spoke Magazine feature and a video titled “Cowboy Takes Us for a Ride Down Bull Run” – both of which helped cement the trail’s place in Wellington riding lore.

Since then, it’s never really been “done.” In 2014, a large gravel resurfacing effort improved the top section, and another wave of BNZ volunteers realigned awkward corners that had never quite ridden right.

Bull Run Today

In the years since, Bull Run has become one of the most beloved trails in Belmont Regional Park. In summer, it’s fast, flowing, and addictive. In winter, its slick clay surface gives even seasoned riders a challenge they won’t forget.

‍