Laura Stone Hut Rail Trail

On our way to Melrose, Kathie, Rhonda and I stopped off at Laura to ride the Laura Stone Hut Rail Trail. With a gentle, steady incline over ten kilometres towards Stone Hut, a bakery at the end and a slight roll on the return journey, you could say it’s the perfect ride.

Like the Rocky River Rail Trail, the Laura Stone Hut Rail Trail is part of the Southern Flinders Rail Trail.

It’s easy to pick up the start of the trail from Laura at the sign post on North Terrace.

The start of the Laura Stone Hut Rail Trail at North Terrace in Laura
Starting from Laura

The rain began to drizzle only a few kilometres after we had set out from Laura.

Setting out from Laura on the Laura Stone Hut Rail Trail

As not all of us had rain jackets with us, we rode straight to Stone Hut without stopping, knowing that there would be shelter at the Stone Hut Bakery.

The Laura Stone Hut Rail Trail runs parallel to the Horrocks Highway all the way to Stone Hut. Fortunately, there is enough space between the rail trail and the road that you barely notice the traffic.

The rain stopped just as we arrived at Stone Hut.

There is an excellent historical walking tour at Stone Hut, but our chief interest was to get dry and warm.

Stone Hut Bakery

There is plenty of outdoor seating at the Stone Hut Bakery.

On this occasion, however, we were more than happy to sit inside to eat our lunch.

Kathie and Rhonda get stuck into some pasties

The Stone Hut Bakery has a well-deserved reputation for excellent pies. It’s worth stopping there even if you are just driving through.

Laura Stone Hut Cycle Track

Before leaving Stone Hut, we went to have a look at the Rocky River on the Laura Stone Hut Cycle Track. Unlike on a previous occasion, the river was low at the ford and quite passable.

We had considered returning to Laura along this slightly longer and more challenging track. However, as the weather was still looking unstable, we decided to return the short way back along the rail trail.

Cycling back from looking at the Rocky River

Our return trip to Laura was uneventful, and thankfully, dry.

Returning to Laura on the Laura Stone Hut Rail Trail
Summary of the Laura Stone Hut Rail Trail

All together we had cycled 20 kilometres, including the short detour to see the Rocky River near Stone Hut. With a climb of only 60 metres over the whole distance, it’s quite a flat trail.

Map of our ride

Before I go, here is a picture of me on the Laura Stone Hut Rail Trail in August 2014 with our dog Kenji loving life in the front basket.

Our dog Kenji in the basket on the front of the bicycle on the Laura Stone Hut Rail Trail in August 2014
Along the Laura Stone Hut Rail Trail in 2014 – canola field in the background

Another longer completed section of the the Southern Flinders Rail Trail is the Melrose Wilmington Rail Trail. While you are in the southern Flinders Ranges, why not visit Crystal Brook and try these great rides?