Mount Barker Rail Trail

The Mount Barker Rail Trail is an easy 5 km cycling and shared-use trail through Mount Barker and Littlehampton in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia, around 33 km south-east of Adelaide. Running alongside the historic railway corridor used by the SteamRanger Heritage Railway, the trail provides a mostly off-road connection from Childs Road in Littlehampton through Mount Barker to Bluestone Linear Park. The predominantly smooth, sealed surface and gentle gradients make it particularly suitable for families, beginner cyclists, e-bikes, hybrids and recreational riders, although there are a couple of short gravel sections along the way. Starting in Littlehampton, riders pass beneath the South Eastern Freeway before following the railway towards Mount Barker. The route travels beside Purtinga Wetlands, follows creek-side paths into the town centre and passes close to Mount Barker Railway Station and the SteamRanger depot. Continuing south, the trail crosses Alexandrina Road and Wellington Road before finishing at Bluestone Linear Park, where additional paths, playgrounds and picnic facilities provide an easy extension to the ride. One of the best features of the Mount Barker Rail Trail is the number of connecting cycling routes. A 2 km link leads to Laratinga Wetlands, while riders can continue another 3.5 km towards Summit Sport and Recreation Park. The Newenham Linear Park Trail adds another 3.6 km of riding along Western Flat Creek, making it easy to turn the relatively short rail trail into a much longer exploration of Mount Barker. More adventurous riders can also investigate connections north towards the Amy Gillett Bikeway at Oakbank. The railway itself dates back to 1884, when the line connected Adelaide with the railway towards Strathalbyn, Goolwa and Victor Harbor. Regular passenger services ended in 1984, but the corridor remains active today through the volunteer-run SteamRanger Heritage Railway, so riders may even have the bonus of seeing a historic steam or diesel train while exploring the trail. RTS Tip: The Mount Barker Rail Trail is only around 5 km on its own, so make the most of the excellent connecting paths. Add Laratinga Wetlands for an easy scenic detour or link into Newenham Linear Park and the Summit Sport and Recreation Park for more kilometres. There are several road crossings along the route, including busy Alexandrina and Wellington Roads, so use the designated crossings and take extra care with younger riders.