Wild Things - New Zealand's trail running community
New Zealand's trail running community

Login



don't have an account?

Black Gully - Blue Mountains, Otago

Trail Directory proudly supported by Further Faster

Update Your Header Picture

Black Gully - Blue MountainsBeginner - Intermediate

Submitted by Mike Tennent

Info Info
Map Loading

Trail Information

8.50km

600m

600m

 

Otago

Gore

Front country - easily accessible

Loop

Mountainous

Native bush
Plantation/exotic forest
Riverside
Open tussock/grasslands
Open ridges/tops

Beginner - Intermediate

3:00 (Slow)
2:15 (Moderate)
1:20 (Fast)

-20.2%

+18.7%

Download PDF Guide

Fastest Known Times (FKTs)

Please set your gender to see your position on the FKT leaderboards.

Men

Women

There are currently no female FKTs for Black Gully - Blue Mountains.

Filter FKTs

The more , the harder the FKT will be to beat. Learn about Fastest Known Times.

Missing your time?

Register or login as a VIP and get yourself on the FKT leaderboard!

Register Now

Description

From the DOC sign in the reserve take the trail to the right into the bush and over the small bridge.

At the first sign take the straight ahead option for Black Gully Trail Loop. From there it is steady climbing, a few flat bits. You will descend to a stream crossing, look to the left and you will see the orange triangles about 30 - 40 metres downstream. Either cross there or pick your way along the bank or head down the stream... up to you.

After that it is just climb and climb, following the ubiquitous orange triangles ever upward. Eventually you will get up above the treeline at about the 4km mark and a short climb on a poled route to the trail intersection and DOC sign. This sign says 1km to Black Gully Track and points right... going right is correct, but it will be 1.5 to 2km until you come to the next DOC sign.

This stretch is swampy in places and you will probably get wet feet. When you reach the next sign at first you will see it says nothing about Black Gully Track... until you check the back. There it says head right and 2km ....once more they fib, it's about 3km to the carpark.

Be careful navigating the tussock above the treeline as some of the poles have fallen over, but the trail is pretty easy to follow. Once back in the trees the downhillers amongst you will thrive, about 80% of the downhill is open and runnable... enjoy!


Trail Community

Find people who are interested in this run.

You must register or login to view this content.

Features of interest

Views forever on a good day. Wonderful beech forests and some knarly trail.


Make Up of Run

Untracked / Route only: 5%

Technical Single Track: 45%

Moderate Single Track: 20%

Easy Single Track: 30%

Farm Road / 4WD Track: 0%

Gravel Road: 0%

Sealed Road: 0%


Route Data

Reviews:

You must register or login to view this content.

Photos:

You must register or login to view this content.

Your Trail Wishlist

All the runs that are on your To Do list (no limit).

Add to wishlist view wishlist

Your Trail Dreamlist

The runs you most want to do (limited to 10).

Add to dreamlist view dreamlist

Wild Explorers

I did it!
  • Access

    At the very end of Black Gully Road just out of Tapanui, head through the gate and find a park. The trail entrance is behind the playground at the far end of the park from the entrance.

    Plenty of parking in the reserve.

    45 km

    34 minutes

    No

    No

  • Staying Safe

    Moderate.

    There are nearly always orange triangles and then poles, but care is still required. The only confusing bit is the stream, remember, look left.

    Patchy.

    Waterproof leggings, Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Survival bag, Cellphone, Map, Headtorch and spare batteries, Crampons / microspikes (for winter conditions).

    Water from streams at various places on the trail.

    Could get very slippery in winter. Also after heavy rain you would probably not cross the stream.

    Lots, technical trail, angled trail (sideways) often you can't see where you are putting your feet. A trail that deserves respect.

  • Sponsor this trail

    If you are interested in learning about sponsorship opportunities, please get in touch below:

    Submit

Got a favourite trail? Tell us about it.

Share the love and add your favourite trail(s) to our growing trail directory.

Submit A Trail

Become a member today

Start enjoying the many benefits to becoming a member of our thriving community.

Become a member

Great brands at great prices with our VIP member's discount

Stay up to date

Sign up to our newsletter for latest offers and trail guides

Share this trail with a friend:

VIP Membership

Please register as a VIP or login to your VIP account to view this content.

Cancel Login Register

Membership Required

You can see up to three trail guides without being logged in but after that we require you to be logged in to your Free or VIP account. If you don’t yet have an account you can register here.

Login Register