3 Peaks Plus 1Intermediate
Submitted by Steve Tripp
Urban fringe
Point to Point (one way)
Very hilly
Native bushPlantation/exotic forestOpen ridges/tops
Intermediate
11:00 (Slow)
8:00 (Moderate)
6:00 (Fast)
-10.5%
+10.6%
This route is entirely on public land and is open all year.
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
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Description
The run starts on Woodhaugh St and in 400 turns into the Ross Creek reservoir reserve. Follow those trails up to join the Pineapple track for the first big climb up Flagstaff.
Carry on over to the bullring on Whare Flat Rd and cross the road to join the Longridge Rd forestry road. 1.5km down that turn right onto Smeatons track and join back onto Longridge Rd at the bottom. Back onto Whare Flat Rd then onto Tunnel Track. Keep following that and along beside the water race until the route down to Powder Creek.
Cross Silverstream (probably with wet feet) and 500m later turn right for the big climb up Powder Ridge and then up Long Ridge to Pulpit Rock the course highpoint. Follow Green Ridge down to Hightop and then turn right toward Swampy Summit.
At Swampy pass the Summit and head for the cell tower then down Leith Saddle track turn right into the flax track to head down into Morrisons Gully and Leith Valley.
Head up Leith Valley Rd for 1.5km and just over the bridge turn left in the track through the forestry to head up Mt Cargill.
From the summit head down the trail to Bethunes and follow the road to the finish at Mt Cargill.
Trail Community
Features of interest
Obviously the biggest feature of interest is this is the route for the 3 Peaks Mountain Race 55km distance. Also you pass a historic water race that used to provide Dunedin's water supply in the 1880s. Lots of really nice native bush sections with good bird life thanks to an active pest management programme.
Make Up of Run
Technical Single Track: 10%
Moderate Single Track: 20%
Easy Single Track: 50%
Farm Road / 4WD Track: 10%
Gravel Road: 5%
Sealed Road: 5%
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

Mt Cargill and Organ Pipes
Length: 10.50km

Whare Flat to Pulpit Rock
Length: 20.40km

The Bullring Basher
Length: 37.00km

The 3 Peaks
Length: 26.40km
Photos:
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Access
Woodhaugh St, Dunedin.
Usually a bit of on-street parking is available on Woodhaugh St or Malvern St.
0 km
0 minutes
No
No
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Staying Safe
Moderate.
There's a lot of other trails around so best to download a gpx onto your phone or watch and follow that. Or you can enter the race and it will be well marked and marshalled.
Cell coverage is available on the tops but patchy elsewhere.Patchy.
Thermal leggings, Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Survival bag, Cellphone, Map.
Water in Silverstream (20km) is drinkable. Apart from that there is almost nothing.
Swampy ridge is always muddy. Rain at any time of the year can add a bit more in other sections. Silverstream (20km) can be high in a massive deluge but usually OK the day after. Pulpit Rock and Swampy sections are high and exposed and can get very cold and windy with no visibility in bad weather than can be any time of the year.
Rocks, mud, river crossing that might be high in very high rainfall.
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Post run indulgence
Inch Bar
8 Bank St
https://www.facebook.com/Inch-Bar-100507150007389/
Good beer Good company Great atmosphere Open fire in winter - Blog Posts and Articles
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See other runs nearby:
Karetai, Highcliff, Paradise and Greenacres
Green Hill via Swampy
Taieri Mouth Millenium Trail
Mt Cargill and Organ Pipes
Ross Creek and McGouns
Signal Hill Big Easy
Pineapple and Flagstaff
Slick and Quick Swampy
Silverpeaks Classic Loop
Flagstaff Swampy Circuit
Leith Valley Swampy Circuit
Alternative Flagstaff Circuit
Seal Point Rd to Sandymount
Purakaunui Beach Loop
Leith Saddle and Burns Track loop
Ross, Pineapple, Frasers loop
Graham's Grunt
Karetai Soldier
Coasting
Racing to Rain Gauge
2.8 Peaks Dunedin
Nichols Fall Loop
The Bullring Basher
Greengauge Loop
Chalkies Loop
Orokonui Heaven
The 3 Peaks
Silverpeaks Pure