Last Updated: 9th Feb 2025
Mt Grey
Submitted by Yonni Kepes
Last Updated: 9th Feb 2025
Open
Grunt Factor: 24 ?
Gnarl Factor: 45 ?
14.0km
770m
770m
934m
Last Updated: 9th Feb 2025
Submitted by Yonni Kepes
Last Updated: 9th Feb 2025
Open
Grunt Factor: 24 ?
Gnarl Factor: 45 ?
14.0km
770m
770m
934m
Front country - easily accessible
Loop
Very hilly
Dog Friendly
Native bush
Open tussock/grasslands
Open ridges/tops
Other
Gravel Road
Farm Road / 4WD Track
Easy Single Track
Moderate Single Track
Technical Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +13.4%
Average Downhill Gradient: -14.0%
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2:45
Slow
1:45
Moderate
1:10
Fast
From the Lake Janet carpark, follow the track up beside the toilet. You'll start climbing, and soon come out into the open zig-zagging your way up the hill. After a couple of hard km's you'll find you've reached the Fire House (look out). From here continue up trail (approx north) direct up the spur through the bush. After about 20m you will emerge on the service road, follow the service road up, as it winds it's way to the cellphone tower
From here you can look across to the trig in the distance, go down the hill and then climb back up to the trig of Mt Grey.
From the trig, turn back but follow the track that leads down to the right. It's nice single track, and after a couple of km you'll enter the bush and start the meandering switchbacks. Follow the trail down to the Grey River, where the track will come out at a gravel road and a river. Turn left here, and follow the road back to Lake Janet - it's about a 3km run on tired legs!
This trail includes the peak Mount Grey/Maukatere.
Mt Grey trig, Lake Janet lake
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.
The road is gravel, and a bit rutty, so take care driving. Parking is fine at Lake Janet.
17 km
20 minutes
Yes
No
Moderate.
Follow what you thinks best! :) It's easy enough
Very patchy.
Thermal leggings, Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Whistle, First aid kit, Survival blanket, Cellphone, Map
Take water with you. If you need water, you should be able to access it at the Grey River Camping ground.
It's fine all year round. Even better with snow, just so long as you are prepared!
Be careful coming down the switchbacks as they get slippery and there can be tripping hazards.
The Blue Dairy
Amberley
N/A
Great, cheap ice creams!
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Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
You and Mt Grey
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A great loop with such a fun descent! I'd watched the weather to get a drier track, especially near the end of the descent and back into the plantation pine.
October 3, 2024
Nice loop with beautiful views on a late autumn day. The forest has been cleared by Lake Janet so it’s not so easy to see it. I really enjoyed the Mt Grey track down. Nice flow until I hit…MUD! Decent sections of mud towards the bottom in late May but was able to stay mostly out of it by dancing around the sides and careful balance but it does slow you down so maybe save the KFTs for the summer. The 4wd track back is a grunt up back to the start. Mostly uphill but a fun and loop to do.
May 28, 2022
Awesome loop run..going up is ok...but going back down is stunning and so much fun to run! 4 stars just because going up via firehouse there is some shoddy overgrown bits. But very worth it for the second half of the run.
May 12, 2021
Wow, what an unexpected gem. In my experience, it is uncommon to find trail runs in NZ that are this runnable...usually it's quite steep ascents/descents, but this is juuuust right and you feel like you can run forever! Gorgeous views from the top too. The first 10 km are a delight. The last 4 km back up the road are not as exciting, but if that's the price of admission I'll pay it every time. I will have to try this one in reverse next time.
March 29, 2021
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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