Last Updated: 16th Jan 2025
Challenge / Ernies Loop
Last Updated: 16th Jan 2025
Open
Grunt Factor: 31 ?
Gnarl Factor: 35 ?
21.0km
1100m
1100m
500m
Last Updated: 16th Jan 2025
Last Updated: 16th Jan 2025
Open
Grunt Factor: 31 ?
Gnarl Factor: 35 ?
21.0km
1100m
1100m
500m
Front country - easily accessible
Loop
Very hilly
Plantation/exotic forest
Gravel Road
Easy Single Track
Moderate Single Track
Technical Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +10.6%
Average Downhill Gradient: -10.8%
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4:00
Slow
3:00
Moderate
2:00
Fast
Start at the Repeater Rd junction, head up gravel rd for 0.8 km, take the track on the right, continue up past Reapter Camp site.
Muddy sections through overgrown track take you along and down an undulating ridgeline for another 4km with some views of the Upper Mangatawhiri Res.
The track meets the Gravel Road at the 4km mark and follow this to the north for 1.7 kms. Turn right down the hill at the junction. then take the track on the left (Ernies) at the 7km mark. Follow single track for 6km over a big climb always trending right in a loop to the end of Lilburne Rd and follow back past the dam face and up Moumoukai Rd to the starting point. Whoa!
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.
0 km
0 minutes
No
No
Moderate.
Very patchy.
Windproof jacket, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map
Service building with water tank at start (end) of Lilburne Rd.
Muddy / Wading along low sections
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Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
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KA
I have done Ernie's Loop a few times, so I added the Challenge Trail into the mix. A great trail, which I really enjoyed. The Challenge track is nowhere near a gnarly as Ernie's loop, but as I started and finished at the camping site car park, I had a hilly start! The weather was mint, even if it was 1-2 degrees when I set off. I stopped a couple of times to take photos. A great track if you want to do a bit more than Ernie's Loop. Challenge track is a little overgrown, but still very manageable. Due to the cold conditions, it was not as slippery as last week [On Earnie's Loop). There were still places that were super muddy, but manageable. My Garmin said that it was 21.6km, 1135m ascent, 1142m descent and a little over 2 hours 45minutes. I recommend running this loop!
May 11, 2024
KA
I have done Ernie's Loop a few times, so I added the Challenge Trail into the mix. A great trail, which I really enjoyed. The Challenge track is nowhere near a gnarly as Ernie's loop, but as I started and finished at the camping site car park, I had a hilly start! The weather was mint, even if it was 1-2 degrees when I set off. I stopped a couple of times to take photos. A great track if you want to do a bit more than Ernie's Loop. Challenge track is a little overgrown, but still very manageable. Due to the cold conditions, it was not as slippery as last week [On Earnie's Loop). There were still places that were super muddy, but manageable. My Garmin said that it was 21.6km, 1135m ascent, 1142m descent and a little over 2 hours 45minutes. I recommend running this loop!
May 11, 2024
I’ve done Ernie’s Loop previously so this was stepping it up adding in Challenge track. Over 1000m of very and my legs feel like it. The trails are fantastic lots of technical stuff with loads of roots trying to trip u up. Bumped into a pig hunter tracking his son and dog who were off into the bush after a pig. A very hard workout but so worth it. Definitely grippy trail shoes as the climbs and descents are gnarly in the wet.
May 22, 2022
Holy Smokes!!
After a night of rain the clay slopes were like trying to run (walk mostly) on ice. Low cloud meant not a lot of views but the forest sections made up for it.
Would love to add Rata Ridge in next time.
Amazing run all around although next time will be in the summer!!
May 16, 2022
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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