An unmaintained track at the back of Coronet Forest recreational reserve, part guerilla downhill MTB trail, part desire lines created by local recreational users and trappers. Becomes greasy in the colder months with the silty soil. Canters and narrow sections between Matagouri (NZ native) and broom (pest plant) keeps me on my toes (or off), well scratched up and muddy.

With an average 24% gradient, its up there for steepness.

There’s a trig station at the top (A3KE) and great views of Arrowtown to Queenstown with Remarkables in the backdrop. In the other direction Coronet and Brow Peaks.

From the trig beyond, on the southern face, Coronet Forest has just had all the wilding pines removed as part of a long term revegetation project so it is looking very bare at the moment. Revegetation is on its way with recreational improvements not long after. I’m sure that will eventually have an affect on this little backside of the reserve.

It can be fun in the rain often ending with a muddy arse. Because of the canters, narrow and often greasy terrain this is a great one to put stability, ankles and knees to the test. I find gloves handy as I brush through the prickly stuff, or grab onto a tree or branch if I’ve completely fallen off the track (…it happens).

I’ve seen less than 10 people in ~100 visits so its relatively quiet, which is great for those hard sessions where I become a heaving, snotty, muddy and sometimes bloody mess.

Some of my favourite sessions here:

  • Trot to the top
  • 3x reps, progressing efforts each rep
  • Fartlek

Some variations:

  • Scramble the ridge to the end and loop back onto Bush Creek Trail (tip: duck into southern side of Coronet Forest for the first few hundred metres to avoid the dead wildings which are impenetrable (trust me) - there was some blue marker tape last time I did this)
  • Add Feehly Hill for another little climb and flat rest between hills.
  • Add anything on the other side of Bush Creek.
  • Include it in a ridiculous vert challenge.

A3KE: Views of Arrowtown and Feehly Hill down below: Wilding removals looking west on the southern face of Coronet (no-longer) Forest: Views of Brow Peak looking north:

#trailrunning #trainingground