Copper Rail Trail

The Copper Rail Trail is a rugged 39km rail trail from Port Wakefield to Halbury across South Australia’s Wakefield Plains. Following the former railway corridor, the trail passes through open grain country, pockets of revegetated native bush and historic railway sites on its way through Bowmans, Balaklava and Halbury. Unlike the sealed Copper Coast Rail Trail, this is very much an adventure-style route, with surfaces ranging from compacted earth and coarse gravel to loose rubble and sandy sections. The first 25km runs from Port Wakefield through Bowmans to Balaklava, before continuing for around 11km along the Shamus Liptrot Rail Trail to Halbury. From there, adventurous riders can follow a signed back-road route towards Leasingham and connect with the Riesling and Rattler Trails, creating the potential for a much bigger multi-day gravel journey. RTS Tip: This isn’t your typical smooth rail trail — a mountain bike or gravel bike with wider tyres is the best choice, and expect loose gravel, sand and rough sections along the way. There are no facilities between Port Wakefield and Balaklava, so carry plenty of water, food, tools and spares. For a shorter ride, tackle one section at a time, or link it with the Shamus Liptrot Trail for a bigger adventure through the Wakefield Plains.