Strip Trig to BarlowBeginner - Intermediate
Submitted by Ian Macleod
Front country - easily accessible
Loop
Undulating, small hills only
Native bushPlantation/exotic forest
Beginner - Intermediate
2:00 (Slow)
1:30 (Moderate)
1:00 (Fast)
-52.2%
+84.3%
As this is a commercial forest there are occasionally sections of managed or restricted access for harvesting operations. This is rare on the forest roads and if you turn up and find a section closed you will have plenty of options to modify your run to suit.
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
Please set your gender to see your position on the FKT leaderboards.
Men
Women
Filter FKTs
The more , the harder the FKT will be to beat. Learn about Fastest Known Times.
Description
A 13.5k loop that takes you on a gradual but persistent uphill climb to the trig point just over half way (this provides a good opportunity/excuse to have a breather/lunch before carrying on home). Mostly on well formed forest roads through mature pine plantation which provide shade from the sun or shelter from the wind and rain. Mature sections and a scattering of natives/hardwoods provide a very pleasant nature feel despite being a commercial forest. You will be serenaded by birdsong and if you decide to run at night/late evening you will hear Ruru (morepork) and most likely few possums too. Forest roads are well formed so you can plod along or run hard, or even run at night (head torch optional depending on cloud cover).
Follow Strip Road uphill until you emerge into a wide storage type area, cross straight over and take the right hand track down the far side, after 100 or so metres you will come onto Barlow Road. Take a right and continue downhill, veer left downhill when a fork appears, then left again at the next junction (about 3.7km) Now you are on Longbush Road and start heading uphill.
Continue heading up Longbush until you come to a ridge with a wide view over a naked clearfell harvested area (in 2022), take a left up Trig Road (steep and winding). About 400m up to the trig point take in the views out across Auckland before backtracking 200m to take the single track down the ridge to the north of Trig road. The single track becomes a 4wd track and a forest road. At 10km you take a left at the fork to stay on Hansen Road, 1km later you arrive at Barlow Road. Either turn right downhill on Barlow or take the pleasant single track through the trees on the far side that runs down the side of Barlow.
When you reach Barlow gate turn left and follow along the wide grassy roadside for 1.5km back to where you started at Strip road. There are many single tracks in this area so there is a good chance one of them joins Barlow to Strip Road if you are keen to explore more.
Trail Community
Features of interest
Views out across the whole of Auckland from the Trig point. Plenty birdlife in the forest, the occasional deer and/or wild pig.
Make Up of Run
Easy Single Track: 10%
Farm Road / 4WD Track: 90%
Route Data
Reviews:
Overlapping Runs
The following trails overlap with this run 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 Strava activity for each
Photos:
Your Trail Wishlist
All the runs that are on your To Do list (no limit).
Add to wishlist view wishlistWild Explorers
I did it!-
Access
Strip Road forest gate on Ararimu Rd, about 1.5k south of the busier Barlow Road gate.
Plenty parking on open ground off the road near the gate. Make sure you don't block the gate.
34 km
30 minutes
Yes
No
-
Staying Safe
Moderate.
Generally good.
Windproof jacket, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map.
No drinking water available on the route, or at the start/finish.
The shore section of single track can be muddy and slippy after rain or in winter. Forest roads are fine all year.
You may experience Dog walkers, mountain bikers, horse riders, wild pigs or dirt bikers (Although motorbikes are well managed and only during club events - predominantly).
-
Sponsor this trail
See other runs nearby:
Centennial Park trails (Campbells Bay)
Rangitoto Romp
Cascade Kauri V1
Riverhead Rambling
Goldies Goodness
Hunt For The Wilderpeople
Christies Lollipop
Cascade Shorty
Okura Bush
Kuataika Double & Wainamu Bush
Titirangi Trainer
Cascade Kauri V2
Pipeline Loop
Puke Ariki (Point View Reserve)
Mangemangeroa Track
Inner City Bush Trails
Cascades - Waitaks 20km Loop
Waikowhai Stairs, Bush & Beach
Wainamu - Why Not?
Cascade Kauri Outer Loop
Flat Fun in the East
Rangitoto - Motutapu Double
Western Rangitoto
Rangitoto - Motutapu Double V2
Rangitoto Circumnavigation
Puhinui Stream Forest Trail
Kuataika Half Marathon
Tiritiri Magic!
Te Ara Hura West
The Wenderholm Wonder
It may be only 4.5km... BUT...
Mangere Mountain Crater loop
Motuihe Island Loop
Anzac Loop
Tawharanui Loops
Hunua Hustle
Maungakiekie Loop
Watercare Coastal Walkway
Partial Lunacy Mission
Sanders Reserve
Around the Outside at Te Atatu
Fernhill & Burnside Escarpments
The Rangicircum
Te Henga Trail
The James Vowles Inspiration Circuit
Takapuna Rocks
Riverhead Gates Challenge
Low Tide at Mahurangi West
Mercer Bay Magic
Northcote Trails
Long Bay Beach, Bush & Cliffs
Bus Station to Beer Spot
Karamatura Loop
Hobson Bay Loopity
Lake Wainamu Loop
Duder Dude
The Riverhead Capital E
Onetangi/Trig Hill loop
Simple Beauty
Must Love Sand and Stairs.
Ernie's Pukupuka Combined Loop
Cascadia
Espresso Love
Northcote Multi Trail Loop
Te Ara ki Uta ki Tai
Beach Haven Bridges to Pitches
