Main St Crafers to Mt Lofty Summit (4.9km), Cleland Conservation Park, South Australia

Main St Crafers to Mt Lofty Summit is a 4.9km, grade 3 hike located in the Cleland Conservation Park, South Australia. The hike should take around 1.5 hrs to complete.

Length: 4.9km

Duration: 1.5 hrs

Grade: 3

Style: One way

Start: Epiphany Pl

End: Waverley Ridge Rd

Location: Cleland Conservation Park

Closest town: Crafers

South Australia

From state capital: 14.7km

Longitude: 138.7027281

Latitude: -34.99687448

Hike summary

This meandering walking trail from Crafers to Mount Lofty summit was reopened by Adelaide Hills Council in February 2015.

In February 2016 the trail network was expanded, with a new walking and cycling trail constructed through Cleland Conservation Park linking existing fire tracks. This link trail means that walkers can now walk from Crafers to Mount Lofty with no road walking - as they follow the meandering trail through Cleland Conservation Park. The trail is a shared use trail with cyclists (rated as an Easy Ride). The State Government worked with Adelaide Hills Council to formalise the link trail, which included 700 metres of new trail and the resurfacing of 800 metres of existing trail.

This trail is an alternative to the popular and steep Waterfall Gully-Mount Lofty trail. The 4.5km trail starts on Main St, Crafers, before heading to Mount Lofty House and the Mount Lofty summit. It only rises 140m compared with 400m for the popular Waterfall Gully track.

The Crafers to Mount Lofty Trail starts in Crafers, the village once made infamous by bushrangers and tiersmen who frequented the Sawyer's Arms, one of the state's first pubs. It meanders through the eucalypt forest of Cleland Conservation Park, ending at the popular Mount Lofty Summit lookout.

A series of three walking trails starting in Crafers, meandering along quiet country lanes and reserves.

Each trail is well marked with colour-coded trail markers. All three trails begin at the trailhead in Main Street, Crafers, by the roundabout near the freeway exit. It is possible to begin in Stirling and hike all the way to Mount Lofty summit.

GPX file courtesy of Walking SA. File may not contain elevation data and may only represent half the length on return hikes.

Route and GPX file

Total distance: 6035 m
Max elevation: 647 m
Min elevation: 542 m
Total climbing: 177 m
Total descent: -88 m

Download file: Mount-Lofty-to-Crafers-to-Stirling-Trails-Updated-February-2016.gpx

For more information on this hiking trail, please visit Walking SA

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About the region

Cleland Conservation Park is a protected area located in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia about 22 kilometres south-east of the Adelaide city centre.

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Acknowledgement of Country

Trail Hiking Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we hike and pay respects to their Elders, past and present, and we acknowledge the First Nations people of other communities who may be here today.

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