St James Cycle Trail

Track category

Great Walk/Easier tramping track
Tramping track
Mountain bike - Intermediate
Mountain bike - Advanced
Mountain bike - Expert
Horse riding

Distance:

64 km

Description

Lake Tennyson, St James CA

St James Cycle Trail is one of a network of special cycle trails throughout the country.

The 64 km cycle trail starts and finishes at the Maling Pass and St James Homestead entrances which are 25 km apart along Tophouse Road.

It is recommended to start at the Maling Pass entrance as there is more downhill this way and the predominant wind comes down the valley behind you.

The trail takes 1-2 days depending on your level of fitness and you will need to be reasonably fit and experienced to undertake the full trail.

The first section from Maling Pass to Lake Guyon is intermediate grade, with steep slopes and rough terrain.

After that the track become increasingly difficult and remote - requiring river crossings and bike carrying in places and is suitable for experienced cyclists only.

All of the St James Cycle Trail can be used by trampers. Some sections are also open to 4WD vehicles and horse-riders. Please respect other users and follow the code of conduct for shared-use tracks.

Times and distances

Note: all times given are walking times only. The numbers C1 - C10 refer to sections highlighted on the map.

Map of St James Conservation Area (PDF, 198 K)The track climbs to Maling Pass (1308 m) then descends down to meet the Waiau River.

C1. Maling Pass entrance car park to 4WD track end - 4 hr / 12 km

Follow the river for 6 km to the turn-off to Lake Guyon. It's 2.5 km up to Lake Guyon Hut - a nice detour for lunch. All major streams along this section are bridged.

C2. 4WD track end to Lake Guyon Junction - 1 hr 30 min / 4.5 km

C3. Lake Guyon junction to Lake Guyon Hut - 45 min / 2.5km

After the Lake Guyon junction the cycleway becomes more advanced and challenging with steep inclines. The track is very rocky and uneven in places. There are two bridges over the Waiau River but a number of smaller streams are not bridged.

C4. Lake Guyon junction to Saddle Spur Bridge 3 hr / 11 km

C5. Saddle Spur Bridge to Pool Hut 2 hr 30 min / 7 km

After leaving the Waiau River, the grade steepens to eventually reach Charlies Saddle.

C6. Pool Hut to Charlies Saddle 1 hr 45 min / 5.3km

C7. Charlies Saddle to Scotties Hut 45 min / 5.3 km

After a short descent into Edwards Valley, the track climbs towards Edwards Saddle.

C.8 Scotties Hut to Peters Pass junction 3 hr 30 min / 10 km

From here the cycle trail branches off onto old farm tracks through Peters Valley to St James Homestead.

C.9 Peters Pass junction to St James Homestead 2 hr 30 min / 7 km

Alternatively, you can continue along Edwards Valley a further 4.2 km to reach Tophouse Road.

C.10 Peters Pass junction to Tophouse Road 1 hr 30 min / 4.2 km

Tophouse Road to St James Homestead 1 hr / 3.4km

Getting there

The cycleway starts and finishes at Tophouse Road.

From Hanmer Springs take Clarence Valley Road over Jacks Pass to connect with Tophouse Road (about 13km from Hanmer Springs). This road follows the eastern boundary of St James Conservation Area as far as Lake Tennyson.

Activities

Plan and prepare

Your safety is your responsibility

While access into St James is relatively easy, this remains a remote back country area. There is no cell phone coverage. Before your trip ensure you have:

• Checked the latest forecast
• Left your intentions with someone
• A PLB (personal locator beacon) or mountain radio
• Enough warm clothing to spend the night out if you have to.

Avalanches

Avalanches can occur every year when there is snow in the mountains. Most occur during winter storms or in spring/early summer when warmer temperatures or rain make the snow unstable. Even if you can not see snow from the track there may be enough snow out of sight on upper slopes to form an avalanche that could reach the track.

Maling Pass can be affected by avalanches when there is more than one metre of snow on the track.