Urban
Out and Back
Totally/mostly flat
Dog Friendly
Plantation/exotic forest
Riverside
Farm Road / 4WD Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +0.4%
Average Downhill Gradient: -0.4%
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2:00
Slow
1:35
Moderate
1:10
Fast
If leaving from the north side of the river cross under the bridge run up through Park toward countdown, around the fence and over the bridge. At the end of the bridge, there is a break in the fence, head downhill and you are on the track. Can't go wrong from there. From the southside simply cross under the bridge. From Countdown its just across the bridge and at the break in the fence head downhill and you are on the track. It is a wide 4WD all the way out to Lake Hood. This is part of a network of tracks that all start from Ashburton Bridge. Once you are at Lake Hood you can loop the lake which will put another 6kms onto your distance. This is a great run for Running Prams!!!!
Great blackberry picking in season!! Natural nutrition. Lake Hood is the turn around point and on a hot day, is definitely good for a swim or a leg dip. Great views of the Canterbury Foothills from Lake Hood.
If you know of any public toilets near the trail start or on the route, please login and then let us know so we can update this section.
Safe parking at either Riverside and Countdown. Crossing SH1 to exit or enter carparks during heavy traffic times can take time.
1 km
2 minutes
Yes
No
Easy.
None
Perfect throughout.
Windproof jacket, Cellphone
None
In high winds and heavy rains, it can be a dangerous track. The Ashburton River has flooded the track this year (2018) and trees do come down in heavy wind.
The Lake House
Lake Hood
http://www.lakehouselakehood.co.nz/
They have a great deck to sit out on.
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
You and Momma's Sanity
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I want to like this track because its one of the only off road tracks close to me, but for some reason I find it a little creepy and don't like running here alone.. ! There are also rampant weeds (ivy, old mans beard, convolvulus and blackberry) which put me off a little too. Some might enjoy it though, especially if running with a friend! :)
April 26, 2022
Ran this after the floods in Ashburton, winter 2021. Have to say, this trail was not super fast but great for multisport athletes. There was slick mud to practice your skiing and skating, swimming pool sized scour pools to practice your strokes, and the occasional bit of firm ground for running. It may be a while before the track is suitable for prams again! Still it was an adventure, and amazing to see all the cobbles, silt, and trees moved about by the flood waters.
June 6, 2021