Slick and Quick SwampyBeginner - Intermediate
Submitted by Henry Ritchie
Front country - easily accessible
Loop
Very hilly
Native bushOpen tussock/grasslandsOpen ridges/tops
Beginner - Intermediate
1:30 (Slow)
1:10 (Moderate)
0:45 (Fast)
-9.8%
+11.6%
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
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Description
Start at the carpark at Sullivan's Dam and make your way down the gravel road (away from Sullivan's Dam), across the bridge over the top of the motorway and keep following the gravel road for about 1.85km until you reach a bridge. Just before this bridge you'll want to turn right and head up a steepish gravel track for about 600m and you'll see a little track heading into the bush on your right (easily missed so keep an eye out).
Head up this muddy, technical 'track' (you'll pop out into the open grass once or twice) before heading into the bush again. You'll eventually end up on a 4WD track that heads up (very steep in places). Keep following this and as it starts to ease. As you get closer to the summit you'll see a little track on your right which will take you up to the summit (again, easily missed).
From here, shoot down the Leith Saddle track (very muddy in places), to the top of the the motorway. Cross, and run down to the car. You can add distance by adding a loop or two of Sullivan's Dam if you feel like it. Very enjoyable run with plenty of variation, and is relatively short, (slick) and sweet!
Trail Community
Features of interest
Fantastic views from the top of Swampy of the city, up the northern coast and of Mount Cargill.
Make Up of Run
Untracked / Route only: 0%
Technical Single Track: 15%
Moderate Single Track: 30%
Easy Single Track: 15%
Farm Road / 4WD Track: 30%
Gravel Road: 10%
Sealed Road: 0%
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
Photos:
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I did it!-
Access
Drive on SH1 to the top of the Northern Motorway and turn right and drive on the gravel road until you get to the Sullivan's Dam gate where there is room to park a car or two.
Enough room to park on either side of the road and safe.
12 km
17 minutes
Yes
No
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Staying Safe
Moderate.
As mentioned above, two tracks which you need to take on your RIGHT can easily be missed. Not disastrous if you take the wrong turn, you'll soon realise!
Perfect throughout.
Lightweight fleece top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Beanie/thermal headwear, Headtorch and spare batteries.
No water
Very muddy after rain (but fun).
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Leith Valley Swampy Circuit
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Graham's Grunt
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