The Copper Trail SA – Leasingham to Balaklava

The Copper Trail connects Leasingham on the Riesling Trail in the Clare Valley to the Shamus Liptrot Rail Trail at Balaklava.

The Gulf Road

The Copper Trail follows the old Gulf Road, a route established by bullock teamsters carting copper ingots from Burra to Port Wakefield between 1849 and 1857.

Auburn to Leasingham

We began our ride from Auburn with a slow uphill pedal along the Riesling Trail to where it connects with the Copper Trail at Leasingham.

Start of the Copper Trail

After seven kilometres, we came to the former siding at Leasingham.

Turning left onto Wakefield Road, we began on the Copper Trail.

The gradient on Wakefield Road was no harder than the Riesling Trail. The vineyards of the Clare Valley continued for another kilometre until we reached the peak elevation for the day at 410 metres.

Skillogalee Valley

Soon we were coasting down for over two kilometres into a beautiful green valley.

Huge, ancient gums bordered the road that led down to Skillogalee Creek.

At Skillogalee Creek, the Copper Trail turned onto Mount George Road. For the next four kilometres we climbed three hills as we crossed the North Mount Lofty Ranges.

Views to Gulf St Vincent

We crested the last hill and stopped for a snack on the verge of the road, enjoying the beautiful views all the way to Gulf St Vincent.

Others made running repairs.

Now we were ready for the descent.

Over the next kilometre the gradient reached twelve percent. I can’t imagine being able to do this trail in the opposite direction.

We rolled for another three kilometres down

and down

and down

into Hoyleton.

Hoyleton

Sadly the historic Hoyleton Hotel, established in 1871, is no longer open.

The Copper Trail also takes you past the Hoyleton Railway Goods Shed, built in 1870.

For six years this building was the terminus of the Port Wakefield Hoyles Plains Tramway. A unique feature of this railway was that the trucks were pulled up to Hoyleton by horses and returned to the port by gravitation.

Hoyleton to Halbury

From Hoyleton, the Copper Trail follows the railway easement along Hoyleton and Catford Roads to Halbury.

It’s worth stopping at the Hoyleton Soldiers Memorial Park to read the plaque about the copper carting re-enactment in 1988.

In the adjacent cemetery, this colourful headstone marks the grave of Howard John Buckskin, an Indigenous cricketer and footballer.

After nine kilometres of easy rolling, we arrived in Halbury. From there, you can follow the Shamus Liptrot Rail Trail into Balaklava.

Here is a one-minute video of our ride:

Conclusions

Although this was my second time on the Copper Trail, I was still enchanted by the beautiful Skillogalee Valley, the amazing views from the top of the range and the historic buildings in Hoyleton.

However, it’s important to note that it would be a tough ride to go in the opposite direction.

Fortunately, on this occasion, our group had organised a car shuttle from Halbury back to Auburn.

Here is the elevation chart from my previous ride on the Copper Trail, when I had ridden all the way to Balaklava.

Even with all the rolling, I had still climbed 338 metres up to Leasingham and over the mountain range. My forty kilometre ride over sometimes corrugated dirt roads had definitely been enough for me for one day.

Another thing to be aware of is that on Mount George Road, a lot of the surface is loose gravel. This can be daunting for some riders.

The best months for riding this trail would be between May and November, when it’s not too hot and the winter rains have greened the paddocks.

I would also choose a day that is not too windy, as the lower half of Mount George Road is quite open and exposed.

The Copper Trail has now been extended a further 25 kilometres from Balaklava to Port Wakefield, using the old railway corridor.

Alternative route back to Auburn

If you plan to also ride back from Balaklava to Auburn or Leasingham, I would recommend the gentler climb on Woolshed Flat Road to Rhynie on the Rattler Trail.

This 32 kilometre route includes some significant points of interest, such as the former site of the Upper Wakefield School, views of the Wakefield River

and the historic Woolshed Flat Methodist Church.

Once you get to Rhynie, you can easily use the Rattler and Riesling trails to ride to Auburn or Leasingham.

Another great ride nearby is the Hamley Bridge Cycling Loop.