If there was ever an ideal place to live being a trail runner, it’s the Southern Highlands.
A smorgasbord of state forests, national parks, mountains, reserves and fire trails are a stone’s throw away in any direction.
And you know what’s awesome? Every run and every landscape is totally different, which keeps you motivated and craving more. It’s like you’re sightseeing, right? Just with a little bit of sweat and huffing and puffing [and maybe some swearing] thrown in.
The hardest part about living here is deciding where to run.
So you’re laced up and ready to hit a trail, huh?
Then hit up one or all five of these local gems.
GIBBERGUNYAH RESERVE
Length :: 2.95 kilometre loop track [with plenty of deviations to add kilometres].
Duration :: Allow 30-60 minutes.
Access :: You’ll find the trail head at the end of Howard’s Lane road in Welby, which is a left-hand turn [coming from Mittagong] off the Old Hume Highway just before the Hume Highway south bound entrance.
Parking :: 2 bush parking spaces
Difficulty :: Hard maaaaan!
This trail is spicy, and what it lacks in distance, it more than makes up for in challenges. It’s the perfect place to train if you’re looking for inclines.
Two options await at the entry gate.
Take the main fire trail straight ahead or veer to the right to take the single track. Both are beautifully aggressive climbs in their own right.
Slow your pace at the top to catch your breath for about 30 seconds before the fun starts.
The entire trail changes elevation multiple times and it does so quickly.
You won’t find much time on the flat before you’re climbing or plunging again. It’s fast and steep and takes a fair amount of focus to get through so you’ll want a sense of adventure for this one.
The scenery is magical – at one point, you’re running into a fern covered forest floor. The next you’re powering those legs up through a bustling wildlife hub.
Our favourite part of this trail comes on the return to the car.
The main fire trail reaches a particular bend that starts a fast-rolling ripple like decline. Remember those giant slides and hessian sacks at carnivals!? This is the running version of that – you’ll have so much fun here that you’ll almost forget your calves are screaming.
Almost…..!
BELANGLO STATE FOREST
Editor’s Note: Belanglo State Forest is currently closed to recreational vehicles and trail bikes until further notice. The trails are still good to go for runs and hikes with access via Belanglo road and Deley’s Road only.
Length :: 4.9 kilometre loop.
Duration :: Allow 45 minutes.
Access :: Head south bound on the Hume Highway, coming from Mittagong. Take a right-hand turn onto Belanglo Road. Move past the rest stop and make your way into the forest on an unsealed road. You’ll find signs announcing the entrance to Belanglo State Forest.
Parking :: Plenty of unofficial space alongside the main entrance road.
Difficulty :: Easy [my calves love this one – sort of].
A literal trail-runners playground, Belanglo offers so much choice.
The opportunities to extend your run here are endless and that’s what we love the most about it.
Find a parking spot along main entrance road and head down one of the trail heads – Cherry Tree Road is our pick.
The terrain is easy underfoot and there isn’t much in the way of steep sections. This allows for a really casual run flow and a great opportunity to settle into your breathing and just enjoy being surrounded by the towering pine trees.
Run in a big square loop for a return to the car that’ll see you finish just shy of 5kms, or choose to snake through the maze to extend out your kilometres and open your lungs a little more.
The whole forest boasts a network of well maintained, clear and easy to follow trail roads. Almost all of them are named and sign posted making it easy to navigate without a GPS if you’re starting to feel like you’ve passed the same row of pine trees a few too many times!
BUNDANOON GORGE
Length :: 10 kilometres out to the gorge and back.
Duration :: Allow 2 hours.
Access :: From Moss Vale, make your way into Greenhills road. It turns into Garbutt’s Road, and you’ll come to a dead end with signs saying Bundanoon Water Treatment Plant and a large gate – this is the trail entrance.
Parking :: Nothing official. Park along the road.
Difficulty :: Medium
A feast for the eyes as well as a treat for the legs, no matter who you are this trail delivers the goods.
Be prepared to share this one with a few groups of deer and their mates, the kangaroos.
An ever changing and wide fire trail will twist you around the edge of the gorge, through dramatic, damp forestscapes and past rows of regenerating trees busy sprouting new life after the bushfires.
Most of the trail is flat but be prepared to tackle some short but steep little climbs.
Eventually you’ll find yourself at a farm fence corner post. Turning around here means you’ll return to the car just as the kilometres kick over to 10.
By far the best part of this trail though are offshoot tracks that will take you to the cliff’s edge, overlooking the breathtaking Bundanoon Gorge – just be careful near the cliffs, guys. Not toooooo close.
It’s worth adding the extra distance for these views alone but they’ll also give you a nice little break to catch your breath and stretch before continuing on.
BERRIMA WEIR
Length :: 1.6 kilometre loop
Duration :: Allow 30 minutes
Access :: Drive through Berrima – north to south – and cross the river before turning left onto Oldbury’s Road. Follow that for roughly 300 metres and you’ll find an entrance gate on the left-hand side of the road.
Parking :: Nothing official. Park along the road.
Difficulty :: Easy
This is a fun little sprinter trail hidden in plain sight.
If you’re interested in starting trail running but have no idea where to start, this little pocket of happiness is it.
Not far past the entry gate, you’ll find a right-hand deviation off the track you’re on. Follow this well-formed track out to a beautiful body of water.
It’s hard not to stop and breathe it all in.
Follow the sister track back to your starting point to finish the loop.
A nice and easy run through the bush at anytime, but particularly lovely for an evening run – there’s something about the bird calls in the afternoons and the crimson tones over the water that elevate the vibe.
40 FOOT FALLS
Editor’s Note: There are three tracks in the area, with the main Box Vale Track being closed temporarily. The 40 Foot Falls trail is still good to go, however if there is heavy rainfall around the time you plan to visit, we suggest holding off for better weather.
Length :: 7 kilometres out to the falls and back.
Duration :: Allow 60-75 minutes.
Access :: Enter the trail at the back of Lake Alexandra in Mittagong and follow the trail markers.
Parking :: Plenty of parking at Lake Alexandra car park.
Difficulty :: Medium
Perhaps one of the more popular trails in the Southern Highlands, the run to the 40 Foot Falls is a fantastic, demanding and varied trail.
It encourages pace on the first leg, expects focus on the single track and pays handsomely with waterfall views at the turn around point.
An eclectic mix of surroundings, running this trail gives you a chance to flex your skillset a little and work on small technical changes in terrain and elevation.
Add some stairs in and you’ve got yourself a dynamic training trail that’ll keep your body guessing.
Our favourite part of this trail comes shortly after a run alongside the creek-the trail takes a small but steep left sided climb. From here the trail winds through a forest that is damp and oh so pretty.
Through this stage of the run, you’ll need to navigate the landscape a little bit. This means touching the rocks, ducking under the fallen trees and squeezing through hollowed out trunks.
It’s an experience in itself and the attachment you need with nature to get through this part is grounding to say the least.
Before long, you’ll start to hear the waterfall flow and even jump in for a dip if you’re a little warm!
This track is popular with the locals for walking, but to run it is a whole new experience.
Okay guys, it’s super important to stay safe out there. How do you do that?
Familiarise yourself with the area on a map, make sure to tell someone where you are and how long you expect to be. Take water, follow trail markers and be careful in the rougher terrain and near those cliffs!
Most of all have fun experiencing what’s on offer out in the Southern Highlands – it’s a trail buffet you’re most certainly going to want to overeat at [and bonus – you’re burning calories at THIS buffet!]
Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
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We love sharing our awesome outdoor adventures with The Fold readers and want to make sure everyone stays safe and healthy when giving our walks and rides a crack for themselves. So, always check the weather forecast before you venture out. If you’re heading into a National Park, be sure to consult the National Parks website for up-to-date information about current alerts. Prepare yourself with the right equipment, clothing, safety items, with plenty to eat and drink if you’re going on longer hikes, and always let someone else know where you’re going and what time you are expected to be back. Have fun and stay safe!