Last Updated: 23rd Mar 2024

Intermediate

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Leith Saddle and Burns Track loop

Dunedin, Otago

Submitted by Ben Walker

Last Updated: 23rd Mar 2024

Intermediate

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I've done it Done

Open

Grunt Factor: 17 ?

Gnarl Factor: 35 ?

10.0km

540m

540m

717m

  

  

  

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Trail Map

Type of Run

Front country - easily accessible

Loop

Very hilly

Dog Friendly

Native bush

Open tussock/grasslands

Open ridges/tops

Run Makeup

10%
40%
40%
10%

Gravel Road

Easy Single Track

Moderate Single Track

Technical Single Track

Average Uphill Gradient: +9.7%

Average Downhill Gradient: -10.5%

Trailhead

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Estimated Times to Run

2:00

Slow

1:30

Moderate

1:00

Fast

The whole run is well signposted. Start at the carpark and head straight up the hill past the Leith Saddle Track DoC sign. Keep going to the top until you get to a large transmitter/radio tower. Head left down Rollinsons Road and head down here until you get past the radar (Doppler Array). On your right perhaps 100m down the road is a sign for access to the Burns, Rustler track Circuit. Head straight down this track, turning right at the Burns/Rustlers intersection.

It's down down down from here, through a bit of mud, some slippery sections and across a stream or two. Two thirds of the trail had been cleared when I passed through but the last third was pretty bushy. Gaiters are a great idea, I realised at this point. When you hit the bottom of Burns turn right onto the Pipeline track then left when you hit a bridge. The bridge leads onto a short section of road and onto Waitati Valley Road. The carpark is a short job up the hill

This trail includes the peak Swampy Summit.

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Carpark on Waitati Valley Road, off SH1.

11 km

11 minutes

Yes

No

Easy.

Generally good.

Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map, Headtorch and spare batteries, Gaiters

Bring water with you.

Can be exposed up top. Could get quite muddy after rain.

Trail Legend

DP

Daniel Pettigrew

has completed Leith Saddle and Burns Track loop twice in the last year.

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Trail Reviews

Did it in reverse. The Burns track starts out pretty steep then levels off towards the saddle then another steepish slog following Rustlers Ridge which then gets flatter and flatter until Swampy ridge is reached. Doing the Leith Saddle descent in the dark was lots of fun - an excellent track once you are in the trees makes for a fast descent. May be better to do it anticlockwise like I did as Burns can get quite muddy, slowing any descent to a crawl.

Daniel Pettigrew

May 28, 2021

Saw some wild goats!

Cass Hart

August 6, 2020

Just what I needed post the post lockdown parkrun, which coincidentally was my fastest of the year. Nice and mushy, couldn't see much being enveloped by cloud. The track down through the bush was slippery but I was wearing Scott Running Supertracs so I never fell over.

Andrew Glennie

July 4, 2020

Good little loop. Quite overgrown on the return and muddy in spots but still fun!

Isaac Walker

June 9, 2020

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