The Ratamaire Road mountain biking trail is a mix of partially formed paper road and gravel road that travels through sheep and beef farms and market gardens. On a clear day, you will have stunning views of Mt Ruapehu and the Ohakune area.
There are many ways you can tackle this trail, the most common is riding from the Mangawhero town end of the River Trail.
Starting at the Mangawhero River Trail
Follow Clyde Street and then turn off on Raetihi - Ohakune Road, ride your bike until you see the Lakes Road signpost. Follow the road, you can turn off and ride the Lakes Reserve loop trail or carry on until you see the Ratamaire Road signpost. Follow this paper road and soak up the views of farmland and Mt Ruapehu, you will eventually reach the end where the trail meets State Highway 49. Please be careful when crossing this intersection as this road is very busy. Once you have crossed the road you can head straight down Piwari Street, in Rangataua, follow this road for a few hundred metres before turning left on Nei Street and carrying on to Dreadnought Road. This road will take you to Ruapehu Road, you can either turn right, you will enter Ohakune via the Ohakune Junction or turn left, and follow this road until you enter Ohakune town.