Last Updated: 10th Jan 2024
Living Springs Loop
Submitted by Tony Sharpe
Last Updated: 10th Jan 2024
Open
Grunt Factor: 12 ?
Gnarl Factor: 38 ?
7.5km
400m
400m
515m
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Last Updated: 10th Jan 2024
Submitted by Tony Sharpe
Last Updated: 10th Jan 2024
Open
Grunt Factor: 12 ?
Gnarl Factor: 38 ?
7.5km
400m
400m
515m
Urban fringe
Loop
Undulating, some big hills
Native bush
Open farmlands
Open tussock/grasslands
Open ridges/tops
Volcanic
Farm Road / 4WD Track
Easy Single Track
Moderate Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +12.9%
Average Downhill Gradient: -14.2%
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1:15
Slow
1:00
Moderate
0:45
Fast
Starting at the Bellbird carpark, head west along the Crater Rim under Cass Knob airport radar and go through a sweet section of native forest. Emerging into the open keep going west until you near Coopers Knob. Look for a stile and a seat in a saddle and jump over into the Living Springs trails all the way down to O'Farrells Track. Take O'Farrells east around the bends to gain the Cass Ridge Track back up to the carpark to finish with a nice grunty ascent. Enjoy the views, some of the best in Christchurch!
This trail includes the peak Cass Peak.
Loop through Living Springs, now it's reopened its trails since the earthquakes
You'll need to drive up or connect via another nearby run, such as the Kennedy's Bush Trail from Halswell.
14 km
28 minutes
Unknown
No
Easy.
Only place you can really go wrong is down at the farm - make sure you pick up the O'Farrells trac eastbound, its a farm track to start with.
Generally good.
Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Windproof jacket, Whistle, First aid kit, Cellphone, Map
BYO, no taps or streams here
Check for lambing closures- usually ok
Take grippy footwear if its wet
Sign of the Kiwi
Dyers Pass
http://www.signofthekiwi.co.nz/
Nice we cafe on the hills on your way home
Sign of the Takahe
Cashmere Hill
https://signofthetakahe.co.nz/
Great dining, coffee and craft beer
Trail Legend
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
You and Living Springs Loop
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Stunning adventure out on a steamy hot summer afternoon, the first part under Cass Peak to Living Springs trail (about 3km) was nice and breezy through some beautiful native bush, then out on the more exposed Crater Rim trail in the hot sun, then down down down the Living Springs trail (newly graded) till O'farrells track which was hugely overgrown with grass over our heads, blackberries bursting with flowers and lurking everywhich where, big hairy "onga-onga", managed to avoid getting stung and pushed through the undergrowth turning back up the grunty hill back to the carpark..Awesome way to spend my birthday!!!
January 9
Magic trail that really has everything, well groomed single-trail, grassy trail, rocky trail, great views, bucketloads of blackberries if the time of year is right and a killer climb at the end to finish you off!
March 1, 2023
KR
Nice sunny winters day run. Slippery in places. not a blackberry nor cow nor a single other person in sight! Track really well maintained. There are white-tipped poles to mark the way down on the Living Springs side. Not that easy to follow but as long as you make it to the gate it doesn't matter I guess? In the final section I went to take Cass Ridge Track back up to the carparks written in the description, but according to TOPO GPS I needed to stay low and continue around the hill instead of up, which I did. Nice to explore a trail I never would have known existed!
July 8, 2021
Man oh man! Gotta love the western Port Hills. Stunning views, bits of technical trail through the bush, and an all-you-can-eat blackberry buffet. The best part about the steep uphill at the end is, you'll be walking, so you can grab blackberries and eat them without even stopping!
March 3, 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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