ITRS · MTB trail difficulty
ITRS trail rating for MTB trails
The ITRS trail rating (International Trail Rating System) scores every MTB trail and route on four aspects: technical difficulty, endurance, exposure and wilderness. Here is everything you need to read a trail sign and pick a trail that matches your level.
4
aspects of the trail and route rating
5
technical difficulty colors
5.2
ITRS version we use
In short
- What ITRS is: the International Trail Rating System is a free standard for rating MTB trails and routes, developed by Swiss Bike Park Oberried and IMBA Europe.
- Four aspects: technical difficulty (5 levels), endurance (5 levels), exposure (4 levels) and wilderness (4 levels).
- Technical difficulty colors: green (Beginner), blue (Intermediate), red (Advanced), black (Expert) and orange (Extreme).
- Route Pie: a circle divided into four parts, one for each aspect, so you can see at a glance what to expect on a route.
- The hardest part decides: a route's rating depends on its hardest or most exposed section, not on the average.
Overview
The four aspects of the ITRS trail rating
Every trail or route gets a separate rating for each aspect, so riders know in advance whether they are facing a technically demanding descent, a tough climb or remote terrain.
Aspect 1
Technical difficulty
The riding skill needed to handle the technical features of a trail: gradients, obstacles, jumps and drops. Five levels, from green to orange.
Aspect 2
Endurance
The combined effect of a route's length, climbing and descending, ranked by the training it requires. Five levels, from sporty to professional.
Aspect 3
Exposure
The possible consequences of a fall at an exposed spot beside the trail. Four levels, from normal risk to fatal consequences.
Aspect 4
Wilderness
The planning a route demands because of rescue options, mobile signal, water and dangerous animals. Four levels.
Aspect 1
MTB trail difficulty: five levels
Technical difficulty tells you how much riding skill the hardest feature of a trail demands, not the whole trail on average. Each level has its own color, and together these mountain bike trail grades make up the ITRS trail rating.
Green
Beginner
For families and kids who can ride a bike confidently, with no MTB experience. Gradient up to 10%, obstacles up to 5 cm.
Blue
Intermediate
For riders who have taken a basic riding course or have similar experience and are ready for blue trails. Gradient up to 17%, obstacles up to 15 cm.
Red
Advanced
For riders with advanced training or equivalent experience, whose basic skills are automatic. Gradient up to 35%, obstacles up to 40 cm.
Black
Expert
Requires expert-level courses or plenty of experience, for riders who love difficult terrain. Gradient up to 70%, obstacles up to 70 cm.
Orange
Extreme
Only for a handful of exceptional riders with professional downhill, freeride, slopestyle or trials skills. Gradient over 70%, obstacles over 70 cm.
Aspect 2
Endurance: how much effort a route takes
Endurance is determined from a route's length, climbing and descending, and ranked by the training it requires. You can work out the exact level with the route difficulty calculator.
Level 1
Sporty
Up to 25 km (typically around 10 km), up to 350 m of climbing and up to 1,000 m of descending. General sporting fitness is enough.
Level 2
Occasional training
Up to 50 km (typically around 25 km), up to 800 m of climbing and up to 2,400 m of descending. Occasional training is enough.
Level 3
Regular training
Up to 100 km (typically around 50 km), up to 1,500 m of climbing and up to 5,000 m of descending. Regular training is required.
Level 4
Frequent hard training
Often around 80 km, up to 3,400 m of climbing and up to 10,000 m of descending. Frequent, hard training is required.
Level 5
Professional training
Typically over 100 km, over 3,400 m of climbing or over 10,000 m of descending. Professional preparation is required.
Aspect 3
Exposure: what if you fall off the trail
Exposure describes the consequences of a fall at an exposed spot beside the trail. A route's rating is set by its most exposed section.
Level 1
Normal risk
The consequences of a fall are no worse than the usual risk of riding a trail.
Level 2
High risk of serious injury
A fall can end in serious injury, for example on a steep slope below the trail where a fall can be stopped, or beside a vertical drop of about 2 m next to the trail.
Level 3
Life-threatening
A fall can be deadly, but the rider may have a chance to stop, for example on steep terrain that ends in a vertical drop, or beside a drop of about 4 m next to the trail.
Level 4
Fatal consequences
A fall is fatal: a vertical drop beside the trail with no chance of stopping the fall.
Aspect 4
Wilderness: how much planning a route takes
Wilderness measures how much planning a route requires because of rescue options, mobile signal, water supply and dangerous animals.
Level 1
Civilized area
Strong signal everywhere, quick evacuation and plenty of water (fountains). No dangerous animals.
Level 2
Planning required
Signal on more than 70% of the route. Self-evacuation is possible but slower, and water is limited. You may meet dangerous animals, for example a lynx or wild boar.
Level 3
Careful preparation required
Signal on 30 to 70% of the route. Professional help is needed, self-evacuation is too slow, and there is little water.
Level 4
Professional planning
Signal on less than 30% of the route. Rescue by helicopter only, no water sources, and dangerous animals are often encountered.
Route Pie
How to read the ITRS Route Pie
The Route Pie is a circle divided into four parts, one for each aspect of the ITRS trail rating: technical difficulty, endurance, exposure and wilderness. The color of each part shows right away what you need to prepare for before you set off.
The color of each part matches the hardest segment of the route for that aspect: a single dangerous crossing is enough to make the whole route's exposure red or black. So read the Route Pie as a warning, not as an average.
Choosing a trail
How to choose a trail by ITRS trail rating
Start with a trail below your level and move up gradually to more demanding ones. Here is what that looks like at Bike Park Evolution.
Beginners and families
Green trail
Tricolor Flag Trail is a 647 m green trail with a gentle slope and good visibility. You can also practice technique on the MTB skills area.
Intermediate level
Blue trails
Fox Skull Trail and Dragon Trail are blue trails with berms and flow sections for riders who have mastered the basics.
Advanced and expert
Black and advanced trails
Roller Coaster Trail and Evolution Downhill are black trails for experienced riders. We recommend a full-face helmet and protective gear.
ITRS tools
ITRS tools and further reading
Calculate the difficulty of your route, read the complete guide, or see what ITRS route ratings look like in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Calculator
Route difficulty calculator
Estimate the difficulty of your whole route using the ITRS aspects and plan your ride safely.
AI tool
ITRS AI analyst
Determine the technical difficulty of a section in a couple of clicks with the AI trail analyst.
Classification
ITRS MTB trail classification
An interactive calculator for rating the technical difficulty of terrain and gradients.
Guide
Complete technical guide
A detailed overview of the ITRS categories: technical difficulty, endurance, exposure and wilderness.
Routes
MTB routes in Bosnia and Herzegovina
11 routes with a GPX track, length, climbing and ITRS difficulty.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the ITRS trail rating
What is the ITRS standard?
ITRS (International Trail Rating System) is a free international system for rating MTB trails and routes. It was developed by Swiss Bike Park Oberried and IMBA Europe, backed by a survey of over 1,300 cyclists. The ITRS trail rating covers four aspects: technical difficulty, endurance, exposure and wilderness, so riders everywhere get the same information about what to expect. The official documentation is at itrs.bike.
What do the ITRS trail colors mean?
Technical difficulty has five levels: green (Beginner), blue (Intermediate), red (Advanced), black (Expert) and orange (Extreme). Green is for families and kids who can ride a bike confidently, while orange is only for a handful of exceptional riders with professional downhill, freeride, slopestyle or trials skills.
What is the ITRS Route Pie and how do you read it?
The Route Pie is a circle divided into four parts, one for each ITRS aspect. The color of each part matches the hardest segment of the route for that aspect, so it is best to read the Route Pie as a warning: if one part is red or black, prepare specifically for that challenge. For examples, see the MTB routes in Bosnia and Herzegovina page.
Why does ITRS matter for trails in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Without a standard, a "red" trail on one mountain doesn't mean the same as on another. ITRS gives the same yardstick for all trails and routes, so riders can judge MTB trail difficulty, effort and risk in advance. MTB Evolution uses ITRS to rate routes in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and every route has its own ITRS difficulty.
Does an e-bike change a trail's ITRS rating?
Technical difficulty stays the same, because a descent demands the same skill regardless of the motor. An e-bike makes climbs easier, so it affects physical effort, that is, the route's endurance.
How do weather and conditions affect a trail's rating?
The ITRS trail rating describes a trail in normal, dry conditions. Mud, ice or strong wind can make a trail considerably harder, so always adapt your ride to the current conditions on the ground.
How do I calculate the ITRS difficulty of my route?
Use our ITRS route difficulty calculator or the ITRS AI trail analyst, and compare the levels of each aspect with the descriptions on this page. For endurance, you can also use the official ITRS endurance calculator at itrs.bike.
About the guide's author
Marko Ristivojević, MTB Evolution
Marko Ristivojević runs MTB Evolution in Eastern Sarajevo. He has been building MTB trails and servicing bikes since 2015, and since 2019 he has been the Trailforks administrator for Bosnia and Herzegovina. He runs Bike Park Evolution and trains new generations of riders.
Calculate your route's difficulty
Enter your route into the ITRS calculator or AI analyst and find out what awaits you before you set off: technique, effort, exposure and wilderness.