Wild Woods

Wild Woods is the third race course of the Crossing Cup in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The course can be obtained in Mario Kart 8 by purchasing the Animal Crossing × Mario Kart 8 downloadable content along with the other three race courses found in this cup. The course is located in a forested area inhabited by Toads and Shy Guys, where the track runs around a giant tree, its branches, down a stream passage and through a pond in a forest clearing.

Course layout
The race starts in a grove, with the trunk of the tree serving as the starting point; therefore, racers start the course in anti-gravity mode. The track makes a U-turn to the right while racers meet the first set of Item Boxes and coins and follow a boardwalk. The track then splits in two, while the boardwalk ends with two ramps for tricks on each side. Racers can choose which branch to take – the left has some coins scattered about, while the right has more ramps for tricks but no coins to collect. After that, the two sections join and finish with another ramp to jump, where the anti-gravity mode turns off and racers once again land on a boardwalk that runs through a small village dwelling in the top of the tree, inhabited by several Shy Guys.

The track bends gently to the right with a second set of Item Boxes here and some coins. Racers then take a Glide Ramp over a large void and reach a circular platform at the end with an emblem of Shy Guy's mask on it. Taking a slight bend to the left, racers drop from the boardwalk to a passage with a stream of water running down, giving them a slight boost of speed. Racers will find ramps built into the track and coins moving along the stream and the last set of Item Boxes, while the passage turns to the right. Racers exit the passage with a last ramp and fall into a shallow pond in the lowest level of the forest. The pond has enormous leaves floating with Dash Panel ramps on them, allowing players to run over them and perform tricks. The last set of coins is found here, over the pads.

After the pond, racers take a ramp to jump over another gap and land directly on another boardwalk over an anti-gravity pad. The track makes a slight detour to the left before approaching the finish line once more.

Shortcuts

 * On the left route where the track splits near the beginning, players can take either of these shortcuts:
 * A Mushroom can be used over a patch of grass, cutting off a corner.
 * To the left of the jump ramp a small grass ramp can be taken using a Mushroom cutting off the turn leading to the main ramp.
 * Just before the finish line and located in the detour, there is a single jump ramp that can be taken. It is required to use a Mushroom or a Super Star to take this way due to the grass before it.

Mario Kart 8 Original Soundtrack liner notes
"This is the first time we've used a quintuple metre signature in a Mario Kart track: perhaps you noticed a slightly strange feeling while you're driving. It's a level with a kind of fairy tale feel as you drive through giant trees, so we wanted to add a fantasy atmosphere that's unusual for the series."

Trivia

 * Like in Shy Guy Falls and, the Shy Guys in the glider segment chant as the racers pass by.
 * Wild Woods is the only course in the game to start in anti-gravity but not be in anti-gravity for the whole race.
 * Wild Woods is the only course in the Mario Kart series to have music in 5/4 time.
 * The mountains in the background use a texture taken from a photo of the in the southeast of.