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New Sturt Gorge shared trail open

Mountain bikers, horse riders and walkers will all benefit from a new shared trail network in the Sturt Gorge Recreation Park.

The new trails are in the recently-acquired Craigburn Farm section of the park and link a network of existing walking, cycling and riding tracks in adjacent land owned by the City of Mitcham, City of Onkaparinga and Flinders University.

Since development began in the nearby residential estate, this section of the park has become increasingly popular, with demand expected to intensify as more families move in over the next five years.

Southern Lofty District Ranger Kerri Villiers said this was the first time a shared-use trail for the three recreational groups had been constructed in a DENR-managed park.

“There is a real need to provide recreation trails for different users, because opportunities for horse riders and cyclists have been quite limited in the Adelaide Hills in the past,” Kerri said.

“For example, the cycling trails that we have now are already very much in demand, and that need is likely to rise.

“This new trail will increase the opportunities for people to take part in these pursuits in safe and legal way.”

Kerri said the 10km trail network had been designed in an environmentally sound way, taking into account the area’s often steep and rugged terrain and its remnant native vegetation.

“Before its acquisition, this corner of the park had been used as farmland and DENR’s Urban Forest Biodiversity Unit is involved in an ongoing revegetation project.

“Above all, Sturt Gorge is a very picturesque area where people can simply enjoy being close to nature.

“The new tracks wind through a mix of vegetation along the Sturt River, such as grey box and casuarinas, which attract a variety of native birds and other wildlife.

“There are lookouts offering views across the Adelaide Plains to the ocean and there is even geological evidence that the area saw glacial activity more than 800 million years ago.

“This really is a special place that can be enjoyed by people with diverse interests.”