Lava LiteIntermediate
Submitted by Conor Keena
Urban fringe
Loop
Undulating, some big hills
Native bushOpen tussock/grasslandsOpen ridges/topsVolcanic
Intermediate
1:20 (Slow)
0:55 (Moderate)
0:38 (Fast)
-14.0%
+14.8%
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
Up to you whether you use the re-routed MTB track or the original route - either count for FKT and Challenge Pts purposes.
Please set your gender to see your position on the FKT leaderboards.
The more , the harder the FKT will be to beat. Learn about Fastest Known Times.
Description
NOTE: As at Jan 2020 the lower section of the Lava Flow Track has been rerouted a spur to the NW, it is obvious when going down but if approaching from the valley floor take the earlier bridge that connects the Hidden Valley Track and head up the new section. The old bit is still there, but is no longer maintained.
This is a short, sharp kick in the gut with some quick downhill for treat.
Warm up by running in the valley along the Bowenvale gravel track. About 1.3km in you'll cross a few small timber bridges. After the third bridge there will be a track going up to the left with sign saying 'Lava Flow Track'. Go up, and keep going up. Keep an eye out for mountain bikers, if they're coming down this track they'll probably be moving at high speed. You'll arrive at the top of the ridge near the Summit Road with zero breath left in your lungs.
Start along the MTB east and cut down towards the Huntsbury gravel track. After 200m-300m on the Huntsbury Track, veer left down the zig-zag track. Zig-zag down to the Bowenvale Bonus MTB track. This a nicely graded, fast track, lovely place to pick up a bit of speed for a mile or so. Look out for mountain bikers coming up behind, and give way to them.
This track will bring you back in to the valley, with a short trot back to the car park.
Do the track in reverse for a hair-raising downhill on the Lava Flow.
Trail Community
Features of interest
A nice steep climb up ancient volcanic rock
Make Up of Run
Technical Single Track: 20%
Easy Single Track: 35%
Farm Road / 4WD Track: 20%
Gravel Road: 25%
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
Rapaki Sugarloaf Return
Length: 15.00km
Sign Of The Takahe - Rapaki
Length: 13.00km
VKV challenge
Length: 10.00km
Gondola Gallop
Length: 11.30km
Lava - H.ELL Loop
Length: 10.30km
Port Hills Spur Challenge!
Length: 18.50km
Vicki Vale
Length: 9.25km
Photos:
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Access
Car park at the end of Bowenvale Ave
There are a few parking spots regularly used by walkers / mountain bikers / runners. On-street parking should be available during busy periods.
7 km
16 minutes
No
No
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Staying Safe
Moderate.
Perfect throughout.
Lightweight fleece top, Windproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Whistle, First aid kit, Cellphone, Headtorch and spare batteries.
Usually none available
The single track can get quite slippy after rain, especially the lower halves of the Lava Flow and Bowenvale Bonus tracks.
Just keep an eye and ear out for mountain bikers, particularly going up the Lava Flow, because they'd have to be a bit mad and stupid to bike down that track.
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Post run indulgence
Brickworks Bar
Centaurus Rd
Good food & drink -
Sponsor this trail
See other runs nearby:
Godley Head loop
Lyttelton to Diamond Harbour
Halswell and Kennedys
Summit Walkway
The Bowenvale Elevator
The Gorsetrack Strikes Back
Rapaki Sugarloaf Return
Sign Of The Takahe - Rapaki
Port Hills Nearly Half Marathon
Horse Longitudes
Horse Latitudes
Sumner Half Heads
Whigs' Flying Fifty (WFF)
VKV challenge
Banks Peninsula Ultra Beer Run
Bottle Lake Blue Loop
Gebbies to Packhorse Romp
Hagley Figure of 8
Bowenvale / Huntsbury Loop
Avon City Loops
Avon - Source to Surf
Okuti to Hilltop Amble
Gondola Gallop
Orton Bradley Loop
The ATH (Around The Harbour)
Lava - H.ELL Loop
Travis Wetland Loop
Punk Rock Assault On Windsor Castle
The Guv'nor & His Birds
The Crater Rim
Takahe Half
North New Brighton Spit
Mt Pleasant Trig
God's Con - Rehab Road
Gang of Four
Dog Sniffing Rhythms - Harbour Crusin'
Trinity - Harbour Bruisin'
Gates Of The East
Hunting Out A Gorge-ous Loop
Lyttelton Dress Circle
A Diamond in the Rough
Port Hills Spur Challenge!
Up Hill Down Valley
The Coffee Run
Pour Some Sugarloaf On Me
Never Trust A Crocodile
Lyttelton Semi-Circle
Hagley Perimeter
Holliss Stairway to Heaven
Diamond, Herbert & Fitzgerald
Barnett Bunker Buster
The Pipeline of Pain
Mt Vernon Farm Track
Vicki Vale
Heathcote River Run - Opawa to Hoon Hay
Christchurch 360 Trail - Sugarloaf Hills Section
Little Learner Loop (Halswell Quarry)
Bird to Bird
Port Hills Protocol
Bodybag
O'Farrells For Shore
The Governator
Heathcote Meander
Spitting Distance
Montgomery Loop
Canterbury Agricultural Park Loop
2 Sugars, 2 Vernons & a Half Shot
Quail Island Looping
The Chairlift Choice
Tussock Hill Ridge
Mt Pleasant Elevator
McLeans Meander
Girdle the Groynes
Governator 2 - Judgement Day
Christchurch 360 Trail - Godley Cliffs Section
Westmorland Wetland Time Trial
Loopy in Siberia
The North Faces
Westmorland Hill Reps
360 Trail - Dunes Wetlands Section
Rocking Gibraltar
Dune Bugging
Hey Sisters!
Living Springs Loop
Springing Around Longhurst
Lady Isaac Loop
The Missing Link
Beer Bum Bluffs
Brooklands for the Birds.
Surf's Up!!!
Styx Pick Me Up
Orton Odyssey
Shoeing the Horse
Tauhinu-Korokio TKO
Double Top
Beginner's Adventure Park Loop
Boulder Dash
Clan of the Cave Runner
Taiora Track
Landfill Lark
Morgans Baa Baa Loop
Mary Had a Little Lamb
Horsing Around
Port Hills 8-Attack
Pinecone Pirate - Waitākiri/Bottle Lake Forest Park
Frogger
Takahe to Taylors
