Nick’s Running Adventures – Episode 1: Chambers Gully, Winter Loop Trail Run
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Welcome to Nick Running Adventures
As a coach I am always asked, ‘Nick where should I go running?’
We are going to answer that and cover some of the best running loops in South Australia, Australia and hopefully the world.
- If you are a local to the run location then as we progress the loops we do will hopefully give you a few ideas of new loops to try, or ways to integrate different trails into your current loops.
- If you are going to be visiting a location then it will help you know where you can go on a great run and what to expect.
- Lastly if you are yet to go to some of the amazing locations then the videos will provide the inspiration to plan a trip to a new great run location.
To kick things off we are at one of my favourite loops. The Chambers Gully, Winter Loop. Its one of Adelaide’s all time classic trail run loops.
We are at Chambers Gully Trail head which for Adelaideans is the gateway to the trails. It’s less than a 20 minute drive from the Adelaide CBD so there really is no excuse to get up here.
The loop we are going to tackle today, it a fantastic loop for beginners who want an introduction to trail running. But it also makes a great training loop for those who run more. It has a little of everything, and runners are always telling me how beautiful the loop is.
Heck, we have a group that run it every Thursday morning before work or it works beautifully as afternoon run after knock off.
Some of the highlights of this loop include the Mt Osmond Lookout and the fact you’re nearly 100% guaranteed to see a koala!
Without further or do, let’s get running.
We have just made our way up to the junction with Long Ridge. That’s the hardest bit of the run over and the climbing is all but done. We have enjoyed the eucalypts below and been koala spotting, made our way through the big dipper, and now find ourselves at this key junction. When you are coming up make sure you take a right hand turn and head along long ridge.
It’s a beautiful fast easy fire road that will take us to the lookout.
I don’t always come all the way up to the lookout, but if it is something you have never done before it’s a must! Check out the view! I definitely recommend seeing it at night as well. Take your head torch for a stunning evening run.
If you want a short cut back to the start you can take the Goat Track descent – but be careful on that one there are a couple of exposed sections.
Or we are going to head back up to the Winter Track which makes for cruisy descent back to waterfall gully road where we hang a right and make our way back to the start.
I also like winter track because it doubles our chances of seeing Koalas as they love the gully down there.
Well we have finished off the run. It ended up being XYZ km with the detour to the lookout. It took us about 60-70 minutes naturally that will depend on your stopping time and fitness.
But a trip to the trails wouldn’t be complete without a coffee after. Just back down the road is the local haunt where the trail runners go, Base Camp Café with it’s great outdoor seating area.
So if you are popping though Adelaide for work or travel. Or you are a local looking to get into trail running then Chambers Winter is an absolute must run location.
It’s close enough that you can easily complete the run before work as I do with this group every Thursday morning.
Or you can come along after work and experience the sunset colours or on the weekend. As I mentioned Chambers is also the gateway to Adelaide’s trail mecca. Watch out for future episodes where we tackle some longer loops starting at the same location.
Above all, make sure you enjoy the adventure, embrace the challenge and always have fun.
See you in the next episode.
Nick