Last Updated: 15th Mar 2024
Oxford Odyssey Marathon Route
Submitted by Dan Boulton
Last Updated: 15th Mar 2024
Open
Grunt Factor: 96 ?
Gnarl Factor: 75 ?
41.0km
3200m
3200m
1366m
Last Updated: 15th Mar 2024
Submitted by Dan Boulton
Last Updated: 15th Mar 2024
Open
Grunt Factor: 96 ?
Gnarl Factor: 75 ?
41.0km
3200m
3200m
1366m
Front country - easily accessible
Combo
Mountainous
Dog Friendly
Native bush
Open tussock/grasslands
Open ridges/tops
Farm Road / 4WD Track
Easy Single Track
Moderate Single Track
Technical Single Track
Untracked / Route only
Average Uphill Gradient: +15.7%
Average Downhill Gradient: -15.6%
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10:00
Slow
7:30
Moderate
5:30
Fast
From the Coopers Creek Carpark, go over the stream via the bridge and follow a 4WD track through a working farm for about 1.5km. This takes you to the start of the Mt Oxford track. Follow this for a further 5.5km all the way to the top of Mt Oxford, this is about a 1,000m climb. As you reach the tussock alpine line you can follow the orange track markers. Trail can be difficult to follow in snowy conditions. From top of Mt Oxford, bare to the left going around the back side of Mt Oxford, following the ridge down into a shallow saddle and then a small climb and along the ridge for about a 1km. Keep an eye out to the right as the track will descend steeply down the west side of Mt Oxford. Follow this track steeply down for about 6km to the Wharfdale Track. Steep in parts. Turn right onto Wharfdale Track and follow this for about a 1.5km crossing the river a couple of times. On the left hand side of the river, you will see a sign to take you up to the Black Hill Hut. This is a steep 6km climb to the hut that will really get the legs burning. Once you reach the hut, turn 180 degrees and descend back down the track you came up for about 700m and take a right onto Fosters Ridge Track. This descends steeply for 5km, at the bottom turn left onto Wharfdale Track and follow the MTB track for about 2km until you reach the junction that takes you all the way back to the top of Mt Oxford. Prepare for steep climb (1hr to 2hrs) to the summit of Mt Oxford and then a fast descent back to the car park following the same track you ascended on.
This trail includes the peak Mount Oxford.
Massive climbs in an alpine environment. Great views over the Canterbury Plains, and west into the Southern Alps. Amazing beech forest trails.
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.
Free parking at start of Coopers Creek Carpark. There is a port-o-loo there that I think is permanent.
10 km
15 minutes
Yes
No
Moderate.
In snowy conditions track along the top of Mt Oxford is more difficult to follow. Just follow the orange markers on steel warratahs.
Patchy.
Thermal leggings, Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Windproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Survival blanket, Cellphone, Map, Headtorch and spare batteries
Streams in the Wharfdale are ok for drinking.
Check the weather in winter, it often snows.
Trail Legend
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
You and Oxford Odyssey Marathon Route
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Tough day out! If you like big grunty climbs, you will like this. If you like runnable routes, you will not. Well deserving of the name "odyssey". I don't know if I would enjoy this run on my own - but I certainly enjoyed it as part of the Mt Oxford Odyssey race. It's a great event.
April 16, 2023
SH
Intense trail, not your average marathon... took me much longer than expected.
May 5, 2019
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.
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