Last Updated: 5th Jan 2025
North Range Road Traverse
Palmerston North, Manawatu - Wanganui
Submitted by Tim Carpenter
Last Updated: 5th Jan 2025
Open
Grunt Factor: 18 ?
Gnarl Factor: 9 ?
23.6km
400m
700m
505m
_7f53a7c7.jpg?tr=w-542,h-325)
Last Updated: 5th Jan 2025
Palmerston North, Manawatu - Wanganui
Submitted by Tim Carpenter
Last Updated: 5th Jan 2025
Open
Grunt Factor: 18 ?
Gnarl Factor: 9 ?
23.6km
400m
700m
505m
Front country - easily accessible
Point to Point (one way)
Undulating, some big hills
Dog Friendly
Open tussock/grasslands
Gravel Road
Farm Road / 4WD Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +8.9%
Average Downhill Gradient: -9.9%
VIP Feature: Send this route to your Garmin account so you can follow the course on your Garmin device.
Login as a VIP to see the trailhead information.
3:00
Slow
2:05
Moderate
1:40
Fast
All of the run is on gravel road or 4WD track.
The run passes private land including RADAR and wind farms, all of these gates are locked.
Run starts with around 3.5km of uphill on gravel road, before going onto 4WD tracks with some deep puddles which can be run around.
There is around 10km of this before coming back onto gravel access roads again.
There are 2 significant climbs, before passing the woolshed and beginning the descent - this is around 5km, there is an uphill bump in the middle.
You will need to have a car at the finish, or it is around 15km back to the start via road.
Good views of the Manawatu when the weather allows running along the ridge tops
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.
There is a gravel parking area at the start of the run
17 km
22 minutes
Yes
No
Moderate.
Don't enter any closed gates, and follow the main road along the route
Patchy.
Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map
Not available.
Can be very cold and windy as exposed along the tops.
There can be some very deep puddles along the 4WD track.
There can be farm traffic and windfarm traffic on the road
Beyond the Bridge Cafe
Is at the finish
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
You and North Range Road Traverse
As a VIP member you can record private notes for this trail, see all of your times and more.
Already have an account? Login now
SH
I have run this several times, and love it more and more every time, I'm sure it has nothing to do with the net downhill. Stunning views, plenty of mud and puddles and all fairly runnable. Just be mindful of the wind especially in the winter as it can be fairly warm but once yet get up on the ridge line the temperature can drop by a good couple of degrees. all in all a really fun run.
September 18, 2021
WW
Ran this trail while doing the north range trio and absolutely enjoyed it.... it was my longest trail run and I really enjoyed the variety of the run. Being up amongst the turbines and the views are amazing..
January 17, 2020
finally ticked this one off during the North Range Traverse event last weekend. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Favourite sections would be the muddy 4WD part and the fast downhill at the end (prepare for legs to take a beating though). Go on a reasonably calm day as obviously it gets windy up there amongst the windmills.
September 2, 2019
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.
Send to your phone
Scan the below QR code to open this trail on your phone.
Tip: position the QR code in your phone camera screen.
