Pisa Mountain Biking
July 2023
Refer Access page for all the main mtb access points and how to find them.
History
The Pisa Range has been a mountain bike riding destination since the late 1980’s when mtb’s started to become more available in NZ. The seminal book ‘Classic New Zealand MountainBike Rides’ first edition from 1991 describes riding to Mt Pisa as the ‘highest riding area’ in the country. And at 1,963m it may well still be. And it contains some of the most legendary Spaniards (Aciphylla colensoi) to be found anywhere.
Top riding tips for the Pisa Range
Watch the weather forecast. If its going to be windy, go to Sticky Forest
Be sure to take spares and we highly recommend using tubeless due to the numerous spiky plants that annihilate tubes
Always take spare warm clothing, even if its25° in Wanaka, it will be under 10° at Mt Pisa
The Rides
The main rides on the range are:
1. Crown Range to Tuohy’s Saddle and down to Cardrona - Grade: Hard/Advanced, Allow 4hrs
2. Mt Pisa from Snow Farm – Grade: Intermediate,Allow 3hrs return
3. Mt Pisa from Snow Farm then via Meg Hut to Cardrona Valley – Grade: Advanced, allow 5-6 hrs
4. Snow farm to Queensbury via Mt Pisa and LakeMcKay – Intermediate, Allow 4hrs
5. Tinwald Burn Ridge Track – Grade: Intermediate– Advanced – Allow 1hr down, 3.5hrs up
6. Little Criffel – Grade: Hard/Advanced, Allow3hrs
7. Little Criffel to Snow Farm – Grade: Intermediate, requires permission to cross private land
8. Snow Farm to Meg Hut via Gorge Trail - Grade: Intermediate, Allow 1.5hrs
9. Snow farm tracks – Easy, Allow 30 mins to 5hrs
The rides have been listed in the preferred riding direction which maximises fun (downhill) and minimises uphill. For more of a challenge, do the trips in reverse, if you dare. All routes can be easily followed on www.topomap.co.nz or similar free mapping apps.
About the Grades: There are a number of trail grading systems in New Zealand. However, these systems are more appropriate for well-formed/marked trails which none of these routes really are. Instead, we have used the perceived exertion/time required to give you an indication of the effort required to complete them. There are no easy routes described here besides the Snowfarm tracks. All routes require some navigation, riding skills and good weather. Carry tools, spare warm clothes and food.
Rides in more detail
Crown Range to Tuohys Saddle and down to Cardrona - Grade: Hard/Advanced, Allow 4 hrs
This popular ride is on the southern end of the range. It can be made into a loop by leaving your car at the Cardrona Pub and riding the road to the Crown Range. Add 1hr for this extra for experts section.
From the saddle car park climb over the stile and head up the obvious 4wd track. It’s mostly lowest gear grovelling until a short flat near Mt Hocken, then its steep to Rock Peak, the first of four main climbs. From Rock Peak the 4wd track dips down onto the southern shady faces, then travers east towards Mt Allen with the last 200m metres very steep but ridable, just. Then a fun fast down towards another steep climb to Quartz Knoll. Then another fun down and along before the last climb to Queensbury Hill.
By now the legs will be feeling the effort. The top of this last hill is a good place to take in the views and check tyre pressure for the downhill to come. It’s a 300m drop to Tuohys Saddle, and the track doesn’t waste time with gentle grades. Hold on tight, look ahead and enjoy a trilling descent. Plenty of ruts, rocks and other things to keep you focused.
At the saddle hop over the stile and head down Tuohys Gully. This section is much better quality 4wd track and has some superb high speed sections. As always keep your eyes open as there are a myriad of small ditches, rocky sections, and so forth, to trap the unwary. After a frantic 600m vertical metres, the track crosses the creek and you head over farmed paddocks. Follow the orange poles around and across the paddock staying near the creek, over another stile and you should be at the car park. From here roll down to the Cardrona Valley Road and turn left to reach the pub and a well earned beer.
Top tips; Do not ride this if it’s windy. It’s a ridge ride and there is no shelter for most of the route. Also expect soft loose ground on the uphill’s if its been raining or frosty. Take warm clothes as its often very cold along the top even when its shorts and T shirts in the valley. You have been warned.
Mt Pisa from Snow Farm return Grade: Intermediate, Allow 3hrs return
In the summer it’s a quiet place. Find your way down the cross country tracks to the roaring meg track and follow this up the valley passing Meadow Hut. Not far past the hut the trail splits. Left is the easier up heading towards the Bob Lee Hut while right is a more fun way down.
Heading left the trail climbs gentle before reaching another junction. Head right and up hill into a series of switch backs that take you easily up the hill to just over 1600m. The track continues along a gentle ridge with ups and downs and the odd bog hole until the 1700m mark where the final slope is laid before you. Thi is also the turn off to the Kirtle urn Hut. Strong legs and lungs will allow some of you to ride this last section with the rest of us connecting the bungy on and towing the bikes to the turn off just below the summit.
On the return journey, take the left turn for Kirtle Burn hut and follow the gully down to rejoin the main track 4km down valley. This route is way more fun mtb riding with challenging little creek crossings, rougher sections and a nice little gorge section.
Return the way you came back past Meadow Hut and back to the Snowfarm.
Top tips; Take warm clothing. It’s usually freezing on the top. If you do not like a bit of spice with your riding return along the uphill route. Make it into an overnighter by staying at Kirtle Burn Hut or BobLee.
Mt Pisa from Snow Farm then via Meg Hut to Cardrona Valley –Grade: Advanced, allow 5-6 hrs
As for above, but instead of heading back down via Kirtle BurnHut, turn south from the summit and follow the 4wd track along the ridge. It’s not well used so keep your eyes out to stay on the track. It’s mostly down hill with two small climbs including one to Column Rocks. About 1km north of MtDotterel there is a junction in the 4wd track. If you head left you will end up having a hike-a-bike section from 700m north of Mitre Rocks to reach Deep CreekHut. If you head right the track will lead you all the way to the Crowell Pack Track and avoid the hike a bike. The turn off is not marked, so you will need to find it.
Once you reach the Cromwell Pack Track just east of pt 1440 its then downhill. The track is fairly rough in places and was never a 4wd track so the formation is spicey in places, with some fun technical challenges near the bottom not far from Meg Hut. See if you can ride it all. Cross the creek and the hut awaits.
From the Hut it’s a steep but ridable 4wd track up to Tuohys Saddle.
Top tips; Take overnight gear and spend the night atMeg Hut. Don’t try this on a foggy or windy day. Its very hard to find the way and riding in a side gale is sub-optimal.
View of Meg Hut
Snow farm to Queensbury via Mt Pisa and Lake McKay – Intermediate,Allow 4hrs
From Mt Pisa, head north and down to Sallys Pinch. Be careful if it’s windy (i.e. most of the time) as the side winds can make crossing the saddle less than ideal. Theres a short climb from the saddle before an extended downhill to Lake McKay. The track is quite rough in places. Lake McKay was carved out by a glacier and is a charming spot to stop. From here it’s a much longer gentle downhill where you can let the brakes go and just hang on.
Just below 1,400m the track splits and to the right takes you to the Locharburn Easement. This is not on the recommended riding list unless you like some hike-a-bike and technical steep descending. For all the rest of us it’ s best to turn left and climb up a soft boggy section towards pt 1444. At the high point check the brakes, its 900m of exciting downhill to Wailana HeightsDrive. Some steep bits, some really fast bits. There is also a remnant Totara forest at point 866 which is worth stopping to look at. The Pisa Range was once covered in this native forest. How different it would have looked. Sadly, they were turned into fence posts.
Top tip; Have a car stashed at Queensbury otherwise it’s a road bash back to the Luggate Pub for your well deserved beverage.
Tinwald Burn Ridge Track – Grade: Intermediate – Advanced – Allow1hr down, 3.5hrs up
From Mt Pisa head south to Point 1896. Keep your eyes open for the orange marker poles. This very old 4wd track is pretty exciting as a down and would be a grovel if you chose to come up. The top section is shady and subject to snow and offers some good technical moments.
This steep farm track winds its way up a spur above the Tinwald Burn. It gains 1,500 m of elevation over 10 km to reach the top of the Pisa Range.
With this in mind make sure you have good brakes and a sense of adventure. The track quality improves around the 1350m where another track joins from the north.
At the bottom you join a well-formed farm road that leads down the valley and past the homestead. Then its out onto Mt Pisa Road then State highway 6. If you were clever enough to think ahead your shuttle is waiting for you here.
Little Criffel – Grade: Hard/Advanced, Allow 3hrs
You want to enjoy a little suffering or own an ebike, as this route is up. Steep, barely ridable for 900m. Turn off and park at the small roadside parking area not far from Wanaka. This is the northern end of what isa walking loop. The southern section of the track is a hike-a-bike and not recommended.
From the car park follow the poled route along the fence, down to the Cardrona River and cross it. Then it is up. NO warmups here it is straight to work. At the 520m mark you join a 4wd track and the track just gets steeper.Keep pushing the lungs and legs and its ridable, just. After 2-3hrs you will make it to the conservation area, and its good place to stop for a bite and to admire the view. You can see Wanaka and Lake Hawea.
From here you can explore the conservation area along the 4wd track. It’s gently up and down and more easily ridable. After 5km the track is marking descending steeply down the hill back towards the valley far below.Turn around and head back if you want to ride. If you prefer taking your bikefor a walk, throw caution to the wind, cross the stile and head down. Bringyour 6” travel freeride bike for this one.
Riding the Criffel Range Track
Little Criffel to Snow Farm – Grade: Intermediate, requires permission to cross private land
As above, but with permission of two landowners, the Gordons andRob Rosa Station (Paterson) it is possible to follow 4wd tracks all the way to the Bob Lee Hut around 8km south. Its easy riding and with the necessary permission makes a great connection to a bigger traverse of the range.
Snow Farm to Meg Hut via Gorge Trail - Grade: Intermediate, Allow 1.5hrs
For a fun and shorter ride, head from the snow farm base building and follow the trail signs for “Gorge Trail”. This benched cross country ski trail winds its way down a pretty gorge, with some fun downs and grovelling up on its way towards Meg Hut. Eventually you come out on a ridge overlooking the Cardrona Valley. Turn left and head downhill towards Tuohys Saddle.
Snow farm tracks – Easy, Allow 30 mins to 5 hrs
There is a range of cross country ski tracks that make for an interesting number of loop options. Read the signs, select your preferred level of challenge and go. The signs will lead you around and around, and the base area is well marked when you have had enough. A very popular ride is down to the Roaring Meg, up past Meadows Hut, to Bob Lee Hut and return to the base area.
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