Mario Kart 7 Track Shortcuts List

Virtually every track in Mario Kart 7 features at least a few shortcuts. We've listed them below. In addition, check out our Mario Kart 7 (3DS) Guide: Cheats, Tricks, Easter Eggs, and Unlockables for more info to help you become an MK7 pro.

Mushroom Cup

• Toad Circuit: As the first, and simplest track, there aren’t really many shortcuts worth mentioning on this one.
• Daisy Hills:  As you go over the large jump where the glider appears, hang right to land on the roof. Here, you’ll find several boost pads which will give you a huge edge over the competition. 
• Cheep Cheep Lagoon: There are actually two shortcuts in this stage:
  
  • As you enter the first pool of water, make a sharp right turn to land on top of higher ground. 
  • Immediately upon exiting the first pool of water, hang left and you’ll see a narrow strip of road. This’ll take you to an item box, as well as a blue boost pad that’ll led you glide over the water- try to land in the water at the far side to take advantage of the red boost pads there, as well. 
• Shy Guy Bazaar: As you enter the section filled with market stands, hang right and you should be able to boost yourself up to a higher level in order to avoid the obstacle course.

Flower Cup

• Wuhu Loop: There are two shortcuts of note in Wuhu Loop. 
  
  • Immediately after passing one of the ramps on the stage, you should see a tree on the right side of the road- next to this tree is a section of dirt that appears to be off-road. Driving here, however, won’t slow you down- instead, your cart will drive normally, and you’ll be rewarded with a healthy lead as well as some boosts and a blue ramp.
  • When you reach the side of the mountain with a drop on the right, keep your eyes on the left. If you’re feeling particularly daring, you can go up to higher ground and hit a few ramps, eventually coming to three small ‘towers,’ one of which holds a boost. Take the boost, and you’ll be able to hop on all three platforms before making it back to the main road. Difficult, but rewarding.
• Mario Circuit: Immediately after starting the race, you’ll see a ramp in the grass to your right. If you have a mushroom power-up or good off-road handling, you can use it to gain a slight edge. 
• Music Park: Sadly, there don’t appear to be any noteworthy shortcuts on this stage.
• Rock Rock Mountain: As you enter your second lap, keep an eye on the left to find a ramp that’ll shoot you into a glider section. During this section, there’ll be a number of pipes beneath you- one of these will be shooting air, but only on the second lap. Fly into it. 

Star Cup

• Piranha Plant Slide: There are actually three shortcuts to be found on this track. 
  
  • During the section where there’s a giant piranha plant in the middle of the road, hopping to the center plank will reward you with a few coins and a ramp. 
  • After passing the giant grey Goombas, stick to the right or left as far as you can go, and you’ll find your way to an upper level containing a number of boosts and coins
  • After reaching the underwater section during the race’s final stretch, keep right and you’ll be able to ride a waterspout upwards. 
• Wario Shipyard: Immediately after starting the race, hug the left side of the track and remain there as you enter the water. Eventually, you’ll find yourself in an upper tier of the track filled with ramps and coins.
• Neo Bowser City: There aren’t really any shortcuts to speak of on this stage. 
• Maka Wuhu: 
  
  • Shortly after you start the race, you’ll see a ramp leading up to a dirt path on your right. Follow this path.
  • As you approach the blue-roofed castle, head into the castle, then make a right turn followed by a sharp left. 
  • Immediately after passing the first area of rocks, keep to the left side of the track to find a ramp.

Special Cup

• DK Jungle: As you pass by the tiki towers near the end of the track, you should see a portion that veers off to the left. Follow it. 
• Rosalina’s Ice World: After passing by the large ice spikes, there’ll be a tunnel to the right that contains a boost pad. Go into it for a shortcut, but be wary of falling off. 
• Bowser’s Castle: Once you pass the first Thwomp, watch the left side of the track. As you approach the second thwomp, hop onto a small area of ground then keep going left for a shortcut that’ll end up sending you underwater. 

Shell Cup

• N64 Luigi Raceway: Nothing to see here, folks.
• GBA Bowser’s Castle 1: Keep an eye out for a blue speed boost as you enter into the stretch of red speed boosts to soar past the other racers. 
• Wii Mushroom Gorge: This is one of those stages with a vast plethora of branching paths- as such, there aren’t really any shortcuts; there are simply some paths you can take that are better than others. 
• DS Luigi’s Mansion: As you pass by the Boos, hang left to find a blue boost pad. 

Banana Cup

• N64 Koopa Troopa Beach:  Just like the old Koopa Troopa beach, there are a lot of shortcuts on this track- some better than others. Most of you who’ve played Mario Kart 64 should remember some of these.   
  
  • When you see the giant Koopa, hang left when the path branches.
  • To the right side of the track, you’ll find a long ramp that leads into a cave which pretty much lets you skip a quarter of the track. Make sure you have a mushroom going into this, though- you won’t make it otherwise. 
  • During the final stretch of the course, you might notice that the waves occasionally recede- if they do, and the seafloor is clear of crabs, you can find a rather hefty shortcut here.
• SNES Mario Circuit 2: 
  
  • Towards the left side of the track, there’ll be a ramp in the dirt. If you’ve a high top speed or good off-road capabilities, there’s a shortcut to be found here.  
  • Right when you hit the gliding section near the track’s end, pull up on the circle pad, then swing to the left and keep going in that direction. 
• Wii Coconut Mall: Again, there aren’t really any shortcuts here- simply branching paths.
• DS Waluigi Pinball: When you enter the pinball machine section of the course (you’ll know it when you see it), stay far left or far right. 

Leaf Cup

• N64 Kalimari Desert: If you’ve got good off-road capabilities, you’re going to love this course. Keep your eyes on the right side of the course- both shortcuts can be found there; and both of them are ramps.
• DS DK Pass: No shortcuts here, folks. Sorry. 
• GCN Daisy Cruiser: After passing by the sliding tables, stick right and you can fall into the pool to find an underwater section, then several boosts will rocket you back to the main track. 
• Wii Maple Treeway: Shortly after the finish line, there’ll be a gap in the fence and a grassy hill off to your right. Go that way.

Lightning Cup

• Wii Koopa Cape: While on your glider, try to land on the nearest ramp on your immediate left, then use R to perform a trick and gain a massive amount of air.
• GCN Dino Dino Jungle: When you enter the cave, you’ll notice that part of the track branches off to the right. If you’ve got a high top speed or good off-roading, go this way; but jump as much as possible to avoid getting slowed down. Trust me, it’s worth it. 
• DS Airship Fortress: Nope. Nothing.
• SNES Rainbow Road: The fact that there aren’t really any shortcuts (aside from a few ramps off to the side of the course that you might use if you’ve got amushrooms or high enough speed) somehow makes this old-school course even more intimidating. 

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