Your Guide to Gravel Running Trails in Queenstown.
The launch of Salomon's Gravel Running Shoe all-new range in 2024 has sparked a lot of interest among local runners in the lakeside trails and riverside paths that are such an awesome feature of the Queenstown area.
Gravel running shoes give you sure footed traction on loose surfaces without the weight and burly construction of a full-on trail running shoe. The ability to enjoy running on gravel is a game-changer! Especially when you consider that Queenstown is an absolute haven for gravel runners with an extensive trail network through mountainscenery that people come from all over the world to see. And don’t worry if you aren’t so keen on running up steep hills. Many of Queenstown’s most popular gravel running trails are level or gently undulating, and very easy to access by foot, bike or car.
As you'd expect many of the people at Outside Sports are keen runners. Here are their picks for the best gravel running trails in Queenstown and Arrowtown...
Lake Hayes Lakeside Gravel Running Trail
The 8km Lake Hayes loop trail is a mixture of level ground and small, short hills, circumnavigating a picturesque lake 14km from central Queenstown. On a still morning the reflections on the waterof the surrounding mountains are 10/10, making it a massive favourite among the locals. A good place to start your run is the Lakes Hayes Showground located between the lake and the the main Queenstown-Cromwell highway.
The Arrow River Trail is an easy riverside path takes you back in time to the Gold Rush days when Arrowtown was founded. It’s quite short at only 4.2km one way, but if you’re feeling like a real workout, it links up to Tobin’s Track which will give you your vertical fix.
A good place to start your Arrow River run is at Wilcox Green. Tobins Track heads up the hill at the entry point to the River Trail – cross the bridge, turn left or right, and away you go.
The Wharenui Trail is an easy 20km gravel trail that takes you from Queenstown all the way to Arrowtown. A great spot to start is at our Queenstown flagship store’s backdoor - having bought your new Salomon Gravel running shoes. 😁
Head north through to Arthurs Point, 6 km way. From Arthur's Point you join the Wharehaunui Trail itself to Arrowtown. There are a few short hills between Queenstown and Arthur’s Point, but after that it’s pretty much leasy flat running through amazing scenery. This is a very popular dual use track so look out for bikes.
The Twin Rivers Trail is a great way to discover Queenstown’s rivers on a wide and well-maintained gravel trails that are easy riding for the whole family.
The Twin Rivers Trail starts from the Kawerau Falls Scenic Reserve off Roberson Road in Frankton, near the airport. Head east to the Kawerau River and after about 1 kilometre turn left at the Shotover River. At the lower Shotover Bridge you can either keep going to Tucker Beach which is around 3km each way or go across the bridge and turn right and head out alongside the Kawerau River to Gibbston Valley for a longer out and back ride of 25km.
The Kelvin Heights trail is a great run along the Wakatipu shoreline. This 6km trail starts on the south side of Kawerau Falls and heads to Jardine Park at the end of Peninsula Road.
From there you can either turn around and head back, or join the Jacks Point Trail which runs for another 8km to the Jacks Point golf course.
The trail starts at Jardine Park at the end of Peninsula Road in Kelvin Heights and heads southeast for 12 kms to the Jacks Point golf course, where the trail loops to take you back towards Kelvin Heights.
You can either drive to the car parks at either the start or the end of the trail, or link the Jacks Point trail to the Kelvin Heights Trail, which connects to the Queenstown Trail at Kawerau Falls. Doing all that will give you a one-wayrun of around 30 km from our store in central Queenstown. But that’s not all - you can extend your run by another 3.5 km by adding the Drift Bay track, which starts at Jacks Point golf course.
