Tatamagouche - Slaughter Pen
If there’s one trail that holds Slaughter Pen, it’s Tatamagouche. This 1.79-mile blue-rated middle hillside traverse connects Jesse’s Last Stand, Medusa, Armadillo’s Last Stand, the Skills Park, Castle Climb and more all tie into it at some point. Most riders encounter Tatamagouche as the trail they use to get somewhere else, which undersells what it actually delivers on its own.
The Terrain
Tatamagouche traverses the middle of the hillside with 133 feet of climbing and 144 feet of descent — nearly even, which tells you most of what you need to know about how it rides. This isn’t a climb and it isn’t a descent. It’s a rolling traverse defined by constant ups and downs, where you’re always either giving back what you just gained or earning it back again. Most riders complete the full trail in around 18 minutes.
The trail has a good mix of smooth singletrack with sections of exposed rock that keep the riding engaged even though the overall gradient stays mellow. Ladder bridges and a wooden berm are woven into the route, giving Tatamagouche more built character than most connector trails ever get.
Tatamagouche — Blue — The Backbone of Slaughter Pen
🎯 Why Ride Tatamagouche?
1.79-mile traverse connecting nearly every trail in Slaughter Pen Phase 1
Rolling terrain — 133 ft of climbing against 144 ft of descent
Cobbly, chundery tread with exposed rock sections that keep it engaging
Ladder bridges and a wooden berm built into the route
Black and blue alt lines near Jesse’s Last Stand — rideable as a mini loop
Essential knowledge for building efficient routes through Phase 1
🚴 Perfect For
Riders linking trails across Slaughter Pen Phase 1
Intermediate riders wanting a traverse with genuine character
Anyone accessing Jesse’s Last Stand, Medusa, or Armadillo’s Last Stand
Riders looking for the black/blue alt line mini loop
Visitors learning how Slaughter Pen Phase 1 fits together
📊 Trail Stats
Distance: 1.79 miles
Climb: 133 ft
Descent: 144 ft
Average time: 18 minutes
Rating: Blue (Intermediate)
Direction: Bidirectional
System: Slaughter Pen — Phase 1
Connects: Jesse’s Last Stand | Medusa | Armadillo’s Last Stand | Skills Park | Castle Climb
Trail data mapped directly by NWAtrails.com. Third-party databases list Tatamagouche in partial segments — these figures reflect the full trail.
Tatamagouche Black and Blue Alt Lines
A short distance from the Jesse’s Last Stand trailhead, Tatamagouche splits into two alternate lines — one black, one blue. Both are spicier than the main traverse. The black line earns its rating through rocky technical terrain that demands deliberate line choice. The blue line is a step down but still holds enough character to keep things honest.
The best way to ride them is as a mini loop: take one line out, double back, and run the other. The experience changes noticeably depending on which order you choose. Taking the blue line first means approaching the black line’s obstacles from a slightly harder angle, while riding the black line first puts you into the steep loose rock of the blue line as your second act. Both are worth doing. Most riders roll right past this section without stopping, which is a shame.
Tatamagouche Trail Pics
