Hilly Hakarimata LoopBeginner - Intermediate
Submitted by Paul Parker
Front country - easily accessible
Loop
Undulating, some big hills
Native bushRiverside
Beginner - Intermediate
2.00 (Slow)
1.30 (Moderate)
1.00 (Fast)
-14.6%
+11.3%
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
Please set your gender to see your position on the FKT leaderboards.
The more , the harder the FKT will be to beat. Learn about Fastest Known Times.
Description
This makes a good alternative to the Hilly Hakarimata out and back run.
Head south from the carpark back over the bridge for a fast 1.7km warm up run along the Waingaro Road (Footpath and gravel track).
At 1.7km you will reach the Rail Trail on your right, head down this wide grass track for 1.5km to reach a picnic area with a toilet. Head up the track to the right which follows a beautiful river with a waterfall side trail just near the start. After about 1km the ascent starts with at least 1,000 stairs over the next 1.5km.
The track deteriorates from here and you have a hard slog over 1km of muddy steep technical track, barely runable. You will pop out onto the Hilly Hakarimata Track, turn right (you can go left here for 300m to the summit tower) on to the stairs and head back down to another river and follow the river track back to the carpark.
A very good training run with fast warmup, great single track, brutal stairs and technical section.
Trail Community
Features of interest
Hakarimata Rail Trail and Walkway - Hakarimata Summit Tower - Waterfalls
Make Up of Run
Technical Single Track: 20%
Moderate Single Track: 40%
Easy Single Track: 20%
Sealed Road: 20%
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

Hakarimata Traverse
Length: 13.80km
Photos:
Your Trail Wishlist
All the runs that are on your To Do list (no limit).
Add to wishlist view wishlistWild Explorers
I did it!-
Access
Hakarimata ranges public carpark - Ngaruawahia
Good parking here, safe with lots of people around and public toilets.
1 km
1 minutes
No
No
-
Staying Safe
Moderate.
On the way up keep to the main track, don't take the Christian Camp Track on your right.
Generally good.
Short-sleeved thermal top, Windproof jacket, Gloves, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map.
Plenty
Muddy for 1km in winter or after rain
-
Sponsor this trail
See other runs nearby:
Hakarimata Traverse
Hakarimata, Brownlee Ave Loop.
Hakarimata N-S Full Trail Loop