Last Updated: 7th Dec 2023

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Thomas River Run

Castle Hill Village, Canterbury

Submitted by Corey Woodward

Last Updated: 7th Dec 2023

Beginner

Save Trail Save

I've done it Done

Open

Grunt Factor: 7 ?

Gnarl Factor: 40 ?

4.7km

110m

110m

819m

  

  

  

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Trail Map

Type of Run

Front country - easily accessible

Loop

Undulating, small hills only

Native bush

Riverside

Run Makeup

2%
3%
5%
90%

Sealed Road

Gravel Road

Easy Single Track

Moderate Single Track

Average Uphill Gradient: +7.0%

Average Downhill Gradient: -7.1%

Trailhead

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Estimated Times to Run

0:40

Slow

0:30

Moderate

0:20

Fast

An awesome short loop with well formed trails, delicious native bush, small (easy) river crossings and copious amounts of native birdlife. Start at the DoC sign for the Thomas River trail on Trelissick Loop, head down to the stream and once up onto the terrace head right. Easy to follow trail from there. You will cross over an access road to a Lodge about 900m in, the trail then meanders along above the Thomas River before dropping down to cross the river and briefly send you along a 4WD access track for the Castle Hill Village water scheme.

Take note at the 1.9km mark to look for for a trail to your right as you'll come back to this point and head up there upon your return. The trail gets a bit less travelled from here but eventually brings you out to a massive flying fox (private), from here you get great views up the valley and up to Leith Hill. Now retrace your steps and head up the trail mentioned previously. Eventually the trail will bring you back out to the start of Hogsback track. Follow the gravel road down to Castle Hill Drive and then Trelissick Loop to your start point.

An ideal warm up/shake out for the nearby Leith Hill, Loop of Depression or Hogsback trails without repeating any of those trails (about 100m overlap for trail access).

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.

Plenty of roadside parking opportunities.

0 km

1 minutes

Unknown

No

Easy.

Take note to the return route around the 1.9km mark, it is obvious. Do not attempt to return via a trail marked on some Topo maps from the Flying Fox, it does not exist.

Generally good.

Windproof jacket, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map

Water in the stream/river may be drinkable but advise carrying your own.

Use caution if there has been recent heavy rain, if in doubt about the river crossings don't attempt.

Trail Legend

Jeremy  Edwards

Jeremy Edwards

has completed Thomas River Run once in the last year.

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Trail Reviews

Beautiful undulating loop through native bush.

Stefanie Parks

October 21, 2022

A nice wee loop to finish off a day riding the mtb. Would love a crack at that flying fox!

Christian Couper

January 28, 2022

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Overlapping Trails

These overlap with this trail to some degree. You may wish to combine them but please note that to qualify for FKTs on these runs you should record a separate activity for each.

Hogsback Track

Hogsback Track

Length: 14.7km

Level: Beginner - Intermediate

Leith Hill

Leith Hill

Length: 8.3km

Level: Intermediate

Cloudsley - Enys Traverse

Cloudsley - Enys Traverse

Length: 21.7km

Level: Very Experienced

The Loop of Depression

The Loop of Depression

Length: 6.0km

Level: Beginner - Intermediate

Extended Thomas River

Extended Thomas River

Length: 6.6km

Level: Beginner

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