Grin and Tonic Trail Guide: Rocky Tech meets Fast Flow at Mt Tumbarumba

Grin and Tonic is a highly dynamic trail at Mt Tumbarumba MTB Park that tests two completely different skill sets in a single run. Rather than a pure machine-built flow trail from top to bottom, it starts with a demanding dose of rocky tech before opening up into a fast, flowing descent.

The trail opens by putting your line choice and bike control to the test through a series of natural rock gardens and technical features. You will need to stay active on the bike, manage your braking over the square-edged hits, and navigate the rougher terrain with precision. It is a brilliant wake-up call that demands your full attention right out of the gate.

However, once you clear the initial tech, the character of the trail completely transforms, and it quickly lives up to its name. The lower section shifts focus to maintaining momentum. The builders have shaped a ribbon of smooth singletrack loaded with sweeping berms, deep catch-ruts, and perfectly spaced rollers. Instead of heavy braking, success here comes from pumping the terrain and letting the bike do the work through the transitions.

A responsive trail bike is arguably the most fun weapon of choice here, offering enough suspension to handle the rocky upper half while remaining lively enough to pop off the lips and carve through the berms on the lower flow section.

Grin and Tonic on Trailforks.com