Parafield railside trail

The Parafield Railside Trail is an easy 3 km sealed cycling and shared-use path in Adelaide’s northern suburbs, running alongside the Gawler railway line from Mawson Lakes Interchange to Parafield Railway Station. Around 15 km north of the Adelaide CBD, the trail is wide, predominantly flat and well sheltered by trees and shrubs, making it ideal for families, beginner cyclists, commuters, road bikes, hybrids and e-bikes. Starting at Mawson Lakes Interchange, the trail heads north beneath the road overpass, crosses a small creek and then follows a linear reserve between the railway and Parafield Airport. Trains regularly pass alongside the route, while aircraft movements at the airport add a little extra interest for younger riders. Around 300 metres from Mawson Lakes, a narrow footbridge provides access to Greenfields Railway Station, although riders will generally need to walk bikes across the bridge. At the northern end, the trail reaches Parafield Station and Kings Road. Riders can cross the railway here and follow a combination of cycle paths and quiet streets south to create an alternative return route to Mawson Lakes rather than simply retracing the same trail. The path also continues east from Parafield Station for around 500 metres alongside Kings Road towards Dakota Drive and the Parafield Airport precinct. Although short on its own, the Parafield Railside Trail is particularly useful as part of Adelaide’s wider northern cycling network. At Mawson Lakes it connects directly with the Dry Creek Trail, which provides more than 20 km of additional riding. From Parafield, quiet-street connections towards Salisbury can eventually link riders with the Penfield Railside Trail and Little Para River Trail, making it possible to build a much longer northern Adelaide cycling loop. RTS Tip: At only 3 km one way, Parafield is perfect for a short family ride or as a link in a bigger Adelaide cycling adventure. For more kilometres, connect to the Dry Creek Trail at Mawson Lakes or continue north towards Salisbury and the Penfield trail network. There are no facilities directly along the Parafield trail, but shops, cafés and services are readily available around Mawson Lakes. Both ends also have railway stations, making it easy to incorporate the trail into a bike-and-train trip.