Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023

Intermediate

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I've done it Done

Scout loop

Nelson, Nelson

Submitted by Nick Lane

Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023

Intermediate

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I've done it Done

Open

Grunt Factor: 13 ?

Gnarl Factor: 53 ?

5.4km

445m

440m

585m

  

  

  

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Trail Map

Type of Run

Front country - easily accessible

Loop

Very hilly

Dog Friendly

Native bush

Run Makeup

20%
5%
50%
25%

Farm Road / 4WD Track

Easy Single Track

Moderate Single Track

Technical Single Track

Average Uphill Gradient: +16.4%

Average Downhill Gradient: -16.1%

Trailhead

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Estimated Times to Run

1:40

Slow

1:00

Moderate

00:40

Fast

Well signposted carpark at the end of the road just before the Quarry. The start location is from the carpark, head up the road approximately 200m and cross over the bridge and through the gate.

Follow the 4WD road all the way up keeping left until you reach a single track trail and a small stream crossing further on. From the stream, it's all uphill until you reach the Involution trail crossing. Take a left onto Involution and follow it down all the way back to the carpark.

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.

Lots of space available, safe during daylight hours. Keep valuables on you and/or out of sight in the car.

5 km

7 minutes

Yes

No

Moderate.

Patchy.

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

Stream at the bottom and two stream crossings on the way down.

Can be very muddy and slippery after rain.

The climb up is very steep with the grade being 55%.

Trail Legend

Birte Kleinloog

Birte Kleinloog

has completed Scout loop 8 times in the last year.

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Trail Reviews

Seriously impressed with those doing this in under 45min it’s. It took me around 30minutes to get through that ascent which was far more technical then the track description would elude to. No track markers in sight and very limited cell reception made me feel unsafe at times. Really glad I had the GPX track. For that first ascent I agree with others that I would not want to come down that for sure.

I went back via reservoir loop track to add on some extra distance and found a nice swimming hole nearby. Again track is not well marked so keep your wits about you as there are plenty of decoy tracks to take you other places.

Downhill switchbacks were really fun and a highlight was the two waterfalls along that section.

Stewie Stuart

September 1

Good short and shape hit out. I don't recommend doing it in reverse and down the Scout Track after a recent downpour. Very slippery and then some decent stream crossings!

Jeremy Wheeler

May 11, 2023

This is a nice loop for punishing the quads and glutes. The uphill is 1.6ish km at 25%. After the waterfall/weir it is natural rock and root steps straight up the hill. The return is very runnable at an average of 10% downhill on a mixed use mountain bike track. Running quickly requires me to focus on foot placement due to rocks and roots. Marsden valley is dog friendly and the overlapping and surrounding tracks are worth a look. I save the scout track uphill for when I need extra punishment.

Gareth Harris

November 16, 2022

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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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