MTB Project Logo

A well-graded climbing track that gives access to Maitland Ridge and Unhinged trails.


Your Rating: Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites: Add To-Do · Your List
Zoom in to see details
Map Key

6.4

Miles

10.3

KM

Singletrack

4,262' 1,299 m

High

1,828' 557 m

Low

2,457' 749 m

Up

40' 12 m

Down

7%

Avg Grade (4°)

24%

Max Grade (13°)

Dogs Off-leash

E-Bikes Allowed

Features Views

Part of this trail passes over private land. Please respect this and keep to the trail.

Need to Know

There is no reliable water along the route after the first 3km. A creek near the 1300m elevation provides water for dogs most of the time. 67% singletrack, 33% doubletrack to the start of Maitland Ridge trail.

Description

Most of the trail is at an easy 8% gradient climbing 740 metres through native bush and open sub-alpine grassland to give access to Maitland Ridge and Unhinged tracks. It also makes a good out-and-back intermediate grade ride to the open tussock tops of Beebys Knob.
Head east from St Arnaud on SH63. A the bottom of the hill past Rainbow Skifield turnoff, turn in to the Red Hills carpark 100 metres before a one lane bridge.
The start of the track is signposted from the carpark and leads off into mature red beech forest. After 100 metres the Six Mile Creek is crossed on a ford made from concrete fence strainer posts. It then climbs for another 270 metres to the intersection with the Red Hills track, which is signposted. Continue straight ahead on Wots up Doc track winding through beech forest on an easy grade crossing Upper Six Mile Creek on a ford built of rocks before switchbacking up through dense kanuka scrub to more level terrain in beech forest. After fording another creek it ascends through more kanukas to a flatish area of beech forest. 3.1 km from the start there is a turnoff to the left which is the Lowther Link track. This is currently only a walking track track to Lowther Rd unless you are keen for a bit of bike carrying down and up a steep gully. From this turnoff there are 22 switchbacks up to the Beebys 4wd road 4.7km from the start. The 4wd road can be descended to Tophouse Rd and SH63 for those who would like a shorter loop.
From here there are another 35 switchbacks, some quite tight, that take you up through scrub and grassy clearings with a few sections of the 4wd road to around the 1100 metre level. From here the track winds through a section of beech forest before emerging again into open tussock areas. At 1240 metres the graded singletrack ends and there are a couple of steeper sections of 4wd road up to the start of Unhinged, Maitland Ridge and the open tussock country of Beebys Knob 11km from the start. The 4wd road can be followed for another half hour or so to Beebys Hut.

Contacts

Shared By:

Alan Eskrick

Trail Ratings

  5.0 from 1 vote

#3239

Overall
  5.0 from 1 vote
5 Star
100%
4 Star
0%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#19

in New Zealand

#3,239

Overall
9 Views Last Month
248 Since Dec 31, 2019
Intermediate Intermediate

0%
0%
100%
0%
0%
0%

Photos

The track passes through a small clump of wizened mountain beech trees
Nov 14, 2020 near St Arnaud, NZ
View over the Wairau Valley
Dec 31, 2019 near St Arnaud, NZ
Descending the trail across the Upper Six Mile Creek
Nov 14, 2020 near St Arnaud, NZ
A great track for a trail dog.
Nov 14, 2020 near St Arnaud, NZ
As you climb higher views open up down the Wairau Valley
Nov 14, 2020 near St Arnaud, NZ
Near the start of Unhinged
Dec 31, 2019 near St Arnaud, NZ

0 Comments

Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

none

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.