YET MORE DELICIOUS ADELAIDE GRAVEL DIRTSPIRATION

Words and Images - James Raison

My first Amazing Adelaide Gravel Routes was such a smashing success that I immediately started thinking about the follow-up! Articles like this are absolutely my favourite to write and I’ve loved hearing the feedback from people on what an awesome time they’ve had following these routes. So I spent some time this year building out another set for your riding pleasure.

Want to support this content? It’s all completely self-funded to help people have an awesome time on a bike. So feel free to buy me a coffee! Every little bit helps me keep making guides like this and cover my hot chip expenses at regional takeaway shops!

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Just some context here before diving into the routes:

You’re responsible for your own safety doing these routes.
Use a GPS and keep an eye on it. Some routes might be a little wonky at times because of transcription errors, or because I saved them from a ride.
They’re somewhat stacked towards the East. Because that’s where I live!
They’re climb-heavy because we live next to a range of hills ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I’d like to take a moment and thank Rapha Australia who sent me some of their gravel and adventure focused gear recently. They wanted to support the people who are supporting the gravel scene and I really appreciate it as a self-funded content creator. I’ve been rather impressed with the entire range. The Cargo Bib Shorts have been excellent on my recent gravel adventures and Explore Down Jacket has become my favourite Winter warmer. Head over to Rapha if you’re after some quality gear. I’m not saying this because I have to, but because I choose to and appreciate the support.

Other gravel-focused content you should check out:

Fleuri-YEW! 127 km & 2,680 vertical

This is the jewel in the crown of this list so I’m putting it first up. I’m not going to claim full credit for this one either. I took (stole) inspiration from a stellar chap named Evan who shared two rides he did over a Fleurieu getaway weekend and I smashed them into one mega ride. I would consider this one of the best courses I’ve ever ridden in South Australia, if not the best. It’s that good.

The start location is Normanville so you’re going to have to draw straws with your mates to see who drives down there. It’s worth the trip though. The views are absurd, the gravel is primo, and the chips at Yankalilla Takeway are superb.

A couple of warnings on this one before you do it. The gravel surface has plenty of white clay in it so be wary of riding it in, or soon after, heavily wet weather. There’s many potholes on the roads too and some can surprise you on the many fast descents. Keep your eyes up!

The course rolls out of Normanville and immediately wallops you with a gorgeous 10km false flat gravel stretch through Hay Flat. The gradient takes a turn for the worse at Ingalalla Falls with a lengthy section of around 15%. Off the top you’ll start to drop down towards the insanely dramatic Tungkalila Beach. Don’t get distracted by the views because the descent is very steep. We dropped down to the car park to snag some photos and then grovelled our way back up at around 7 kph according to Strava. I expect many people will end up walking this. The slow climb was made longer by my frequent photo stops because this area is eye-poppingly pretty.

You will both love and regret the out-and-back to Tungkalila Beach

Next up is an undulating section towards Waitpinga with ample steep climbs and descents in succession. Things get agricultural after you cross Waitpinga Road and you head through some fantastic, dense pine forest roads. Beware again Simpson Hill Road. Its “Dry Weather Only” sign isn’t mucking around because this road is absolute slop, churned up by big-tyred tractors. Even in the dry, you’ll be picking your tyre tracks carefully. You wash off all your elevation along Sixth Creek Road and end up in Yankalilla for some refuelling.

Immediately you’re hit with a significant and dramatically picturesque climb up Kermiss Hill. It’s a lengthy ascent with ample steep gradients, a few quick descents, and large views. The next kilometres wind you through more farmland along James Track and eventually drop onto South Road for a lame tarmac connection, then a loop around the Yankalilla Reservoir. The bomber descent down to Myponga Beach is the next treat but do keep in mind there’s an imminent climb out.

This is the climb out of Myponga Beach in Summer spec

The final crescendo to this Ride With GPS masterpiece is the descent of Smith Hill Road. It’s so pretty that I nearly overran a hairpin. Worth it. Follow the course back to the finish and you’re done!

CLELAND XL - 30 km & 1,000 vertical

The Cleland Trails have become my default ride choice in the last year because they’re just brilliant fun. This is a bit of an extended loop over the “Sunset Chaser” in the last article for those who might want to spend a little longer in there. It’s not wildly different but takes in a few new things. It’s also more difficult climbing-wise so be prepared for some walking. There are double-ups on this course as well so I recommend using a unit with navigation if you’re unfamiliar with the area.

Chambers is the start again and its Winter foliage clearing and hefty rains have caused the trail to get rougher and rockier. The deviation comes at the slap-in-the-face that is the Kirrang/Gunbower Track tandem. It’s steep and low traction so those with big gear ranges and grippy tyres will be oozing gratitude for them, and those without might be walking. There is no growth without adversity though so push onwards and you’ll find yourself on Wine Shanty; one of Cleland’s finest tracks. Wind your way around and eventually, you’ll end up doing the full Steub Trail in all its switchbacked glory to its finish at Mt Lofty Summit. The spicy little Warre track descends you back down to Mount Lofty Summit Road for a brief interlude along Gores and Sprig Roads and back into Cleland and along Wine Shanty again because… it’s awesome!

We’re working our way around to do another ⅔ Steub but will head along the same Nangarre, Birree, and Spa loop from the original Sunset Chaser before popping out at the Old Freeway, sending it downwards and jumping back onto the Bullock Track. The course terminates on Mt Osmond where you can drink in the view and choose your own adventure back down!

THE GENERALLY BAD IDEA - 24 km, 800m vertical

A route that truly lives up to its name! I only recommend this one to people who are comfortable climbing and descending extended 20% gradients of shifty surfaces. It is, in parts, horrible. I also don’t recommend reversing this course. Climbing Besser blocks might sound awful but I’d much prefer that to descending down. You have been warned. The views are magical though!

The course starts with a necessary evil tarmac climb up Norton Summit but drops down into the rock climbing area to the left before you finish the traditional Strava Segment. The drop-down to Third Falls is steep, but it flattens out along Colonial Track where you’ll need to mind the rocks and roots along the way. 35 Track cuts you back towards Moores Road where a steep and loose descent awaits down past the Fox Dam and then back to Montacute Road. Keep your wits about you and cover the brakes because it’s easy to gain speed and hard to rein it on on the gravel.

Black Hill has some amazing and very hard earned views - photo by Josh Hannam

The brief respite on Montacute Road will let you recharge before Quarry Track awaits with a barrel of lactic acid. The full Strava Segment for this climb states an average gradient of 10% for 2.7 km but much of the gradient is clustered on the concrete Besser blocks section. It’s seriously hard climbing up here so don’t be surprised if you end up walking.

Once you’ve drooled your way at the top you get an absolutely brilliant descent back down on the newly re-surfaced tracks. Keep aware of the little humps they put in because they can give you a surprise launch into the air. As always, stay safe on the descent. It’s fast and steep. The route spits you out on Gorge Road so pick your own adventure after that.

POTATO CAKE BURGER GRAVSTRAVAGANZA - 130 km, 2,700m vertical

I threw this course together because I saw a picture of a potato cake burger at the Nairne takeaway shop and wanted an excuse to go and eat one. So I drew inspiration from other courses I’ve designed to visit family members who live in the general area and BAM you got yerself a ride devoted to eating burgers, exploiting family hospitality and the catchy name: Potato Cake Burger Gravstravaganza. I’ve ridden this course in both directions but I recommend the version below because you clear most of the tarmac early on and then enjoy more gravel later in the day. I also forgot to take many pictures from my two rides of PCBG… oh well, you’re just going to have to go do it!

I started the route through Cleland and it uses the stem chewing Winter Track to link up with the beloved Steub Trail. You exit the Cleland Network and onto Mt Lofty Summit Road and then back onto gravel for Gores and Sprigg.

The course uses some of the most pleasant tarmac and gravel I could find to connect with some highly underrated gravel roads between Verdun and Littlehampton. The highlights won’t start properly until you’re through Nairne and jump onto the Kidman Trail. You bomb down by the freeway before zinging around the quarry and into Kanmantoo. My favourite stretch begins once across the Old Princes Highway. The gravel around here is mint and you have adequate time to enjoy because it’s a long gradual climb all the way up to Woodside.

Exiting Woodside uses a small stretch of tarmac before turning onto Western Branch Road and the lovely Burns Road. The final stretch home is the eternally enjoyable Croft - Mawson - Blockers and Knotts/Pound over towards Norton Summit. Normally I’d have sent the route up Raymonds Road but a connecting track has a gate and large “Private Property” signs so I can’t be seen publicly recommending trespassing. Zing down Norton Summit to finish and you’re done!

SOUTHERN HALF KIDMAN - 170 km, 3,000m vertical

The Kidman Trail is an absolute ripper and its Southern Half is closer to the city than you might expect. During Winter myself and partner in crime Shane decided to put together a day-long adventure that started from home and ended in Seaford Meadows. This is a long course built to take the whole day, but can easily be made shorter by riding directly to Nairne on whatever route takes your fancy.

The full route goes along well-worn paths early on. Those who’ve ridden a few of my courses will feel right at home on the Norton - Blockers - Mawson - Croft - Burns and whatnot into Woodside. It then rolls through some more of my favourites to get you into the Nairne area and onto the Kidman. It’s a pure greatest gravel hits album from that area.

The Southern end of the Kidman is my favourite and includes some flippin’ magical gravel riding. This is the end with the Kidman stitch-ups but they’re not so problematic to be put off. Occasionally you’ll need to ride through grassy paddocks and the state of them is highly variable. I’ve been lucky enough to find them in excellent condition twice; after a summer fire prevention clearance and in winter before the spring growth spurt causes the grass to get tall. I have seen pictures of the Kidman overgrown and it looks annoying. Not impassable but don’t be surprised to be trudging through long grass.

Paddock sections aside, the quality of gravel around Wistow and through to Macclesfield is excellent. There’s a good mixture of well-kept gravel roads and some fun paddocks bashing if the grass is low. You’re forever on short climbs followed by short descents so it’ll give you a significant hunger by the time you get to Macclesfield where the General Store makes a damn good bag of hot chips.

The next stretch includes some forest shredding with Prospect Hill being a particular highlight with its tall trees and fun sections of trails. My love of the Southern end of the Kidman is partly because you get a sense of momentum that can be missing from the Northern end which is dominated by constant climbing and descending. Down South there’s some flat-ish shaded roads which are an absolute treat.

There’s one last climb over the Willunga range before the flying descent down Thomas Hill Road. I’ve diverted the route off the Kidman at this point, which finishes in Willunga, and directed it towards Seaford Meadows so city dwellers can jump into the train home. The last few kms are bike paths from McLaren Vale but it’s the most chilled and efficient way to end the day.

And you’re done!

WRAPPING UP

Thanks for stopping by! I’ll absolutely be building out more gravel route content so keep your eyes on the site. I’ve also stacked the gravel oriented gear and tech stuff recently and put together some gear guides to help you make equipment choices.