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An old gold miners' trail through luxuriant beech forest along an old water race and through alluvial mine tailings.


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Map Key

3.4

Miles

5.4

KM

Singletrack

3,233' 985 m

High

1,543' 470 m

Low

76' 23 m

Up

1,723' 525 m

Down

10%

Avg Grade (6°)

56%

Max Grade (29°)

Dogs Off-leash

E-Bikes Allowed

Need to Know

Sandflies can be voracious so be prepared. The whole ride can be done in under 3 hours.

Description

Louis Creek (pron. Loo-ee as in french) is accessed 100 metres after the crest of the Porika Track, by a marker post on the left that indicates the start of the singletrack, which heads off through moss-floored beech forest. There are some old percolate markers on trees but it takes a bit of concentration to stay on the track, although you'll soon be aware if you are off it.

After following a ridge for 5 minutes, the track twists steeply down through the forest with some tight, technical riding before reaching historic slab-sided Booths Hut.

Soon after Booths Hut, the grade eases and the trail follows parts of an old water race and goes through piles of alluvial gold tailings before you come out on a 4WD road. Follow the road down past the memorial to the gold miners into a pine forest. Turn left at a trail marker post down a road through some pines.

Another marker post shows the start of singletrack down through bush to the Louis Creek then follow the track crossing the creek several times to the Howard Valley. The creek crossings were washed out by a storm in December 2019 and have yet to be restored, so a bit of scrambling may be required.

Contacts

Shared By:

Alan Eskrick with improvements by Chris Longliveenduro

Trail Ratings

  5.0 from 1 vote

#3299

Overall
  5.0 from 1 vote
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Trail Rankings

#22

in New Zealand

#3,299

Overall
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224 Since Jan 3, 2020
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Photos

Tight turns, roots and mossy forest floor
Dec 31, 2019 near St Arnaud, NZ
Arriving at the hut
Jan 7, 2020 near St Arnaud, NZ
Riding down a pile of old tailings
Dec 31, 2019 near St Arnaud, NZ
Recent (December 2019) floods have washed out some of the creek crossings
Dec 31, 2019 near St Arnaud, NZ
About to emerge in the Howard Valley
Dec 31, 2019 near St Arnaud, NZ
Following the water race
Dec 31, 2019 near St Arnaud, NZ
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Current Trail Conditions

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