Clevedon Reserve Stairway to HeavenIntermediate

Description

Jan 2021: the trails have been upgraded with lots of new steps and boardwalks as well as tourist grade gravel paths for the rest - this means none of the mud and roots of the old trail. Other than that the below description should hold true:

From the car park run north to the wobbly bridge (wobbles when you run across it), then spray your shoes for Kauri die back. Across the bridge you'll come to three track entry points; straight ahead (anticlockwise loop), one to the left (to the waterfall) and one left of left (clockwise loop). My recommendation is to run the loop clockwise - reason being, the clockwise loop gives you a mean stair climb that is way more fun going up, and then gives you a super fun run down with way less stairs and more bouncy turns.
The way up is a mix of stairs, flat single track, stairs, undulating single track, stairs, stairs, single track and stairs to the top.
Then on the way down the fun starts right away with a single track gentle decent to bouncy turns, to stairs, to single track turns, technical declines, to stairs, to easy single track to an intersection - either right or left will take you to the bottom - left is more stairs, right is more fun and wiggly - a couple of fun turny bits and you're out.
Then do it all again. I recommend three loops then a big swig of water and off to the 'With Relish Delicatessen' in Clevedon for a coffee and sausage roll.

If keen, from the top you can head along Kimptions track (part of the Te Araroa Trail) to the trig point at 257m. About 1km in you'll hit a turnstile, head up the fence line which is on farmland, and not a well kept trail - super slippery in the wet. I don't recommend going further down the trail to Kimptions Road as there has been a large slip and the only way down is through 250m of super spiky shrubs, which you also have to battle on the way back up.
It's a fun trail, but can be a bit hard to find markers.

Features of interest

1. At the top there is a lookout platform with a seat with table, which is just great for a well earned rest and bite to eat.
2. There is also an easy five minute walk to the old Thorp Quarry site, which has a cool waterfall and wetland. Accessed via boardwalk and has a seating area for a snack.
3. Beside the car park there is a confidence course: containing an array of challenging activities. This facility is for the enjoyment of all; however, children under 14 years of age must be supervised by an adult.

Make Up of Run

Technical Single Track: 25%

Moderate Single Track: 75%

Route Data