Two Great Rides from Crystal Brook SA

In July 2020 we held a camp at the Crystal Brook Caravan Park, cycling over three days. Two of the rides from Crystal Brook were particularly wonderful. So that other cycling visitors to this charming historic town can give them a try, I am sharing the details here.

Crystal Brook

Situated in the Mid North region of South Australia, less than 200 kilometres from Adelaide, Crystal Brook’s colonial settlement history dates back to 1839.

Many historic buildings remain, providing a pleasant streetscape. Also, for your post-ride coffee and food, you can choose from the Kupsch Bakery, Damian and Ginger’s or Vault 35, all of which are good. There are also two pubs.

1. Crystal Brook Merriton Bridge Loop

The ride to historic Merriton Bridge starts out along the Cattle Track (now bitumised!) heading south towards Red Hill. You cross the Rocky River (one of the two main rivers in the area) and then turn off onto Glynburn Road (dirt).

For the next two kilometres, you climb gently at a gradient of around 2 to 3%.

Then, the cyclist’s reward – a beautiful, scenic roll for four kilometres

all the way down to Merriton Bridge on the Broughton River.

Merriton Bridge

Historic Merriton Bridge is one of five wrought iron rivetted bow string trusses built in the colony of South Australia from 1879 to 1880.

Sadly, this one at Merriton is the only one that is being allowed to decay. You can see similar bridges at Burra (Redruth and Kooringa), near Balaklava (on the Shamus Liptrot Rail Trail), and at Undalya near the Rattler Rail Trail.

After your stop at Merriton Bridge, you head north, following an old railway line to the former site of Wurilba siding.

From there it’s a short way to O’Shaunessey’s Bridge, built over the Broughton River in 1907.

The ride finishes with an interesting walk through the Pioneer Women’s Tunnel under the railway. The artwork highlights the lives of pioneer women of the area, including Indigenous women.

This mostly dirt road ride is 37 kilometres long and includes one hill climb.

2. Crystal Brook Heysen Trail Cycling Loop

The Heysen Walking Trail comes into Crystal Brook from Georgetown in the east, follows Crystal Brook for five kilometres to Bowman Park and from there heads north to the Beetaloo Valley.

Our Crystal Brook Heysen Cycling Loop, starts on the section that heads east towards Bowman Park and then breaks away from the Heysen Trail to join it again as it comes in from Georgetown.

Bowman Park was first settled in the 1840’s. You can see the remains of some of the former homesteads and stables on the site.

Additionally, there is an Adventure Playground, a function centre, public toilets and an RV stopover.

Unfortunately we didn’t take many other photos of the ride this day, but Helen Peter’s video will give you some visuals of what to expect.

This mostly dirt 24 kilometre ride includes a few climbs, one of them reaching gradients of around 5%. It’s all worth it for the lovely five kilometre roll at the end .

Other Ride Ideas from Crystal Brook

If you’re looking for more, there are also two excellent and reasonably quiet bitumen rides from Crystal Brook. The first of these is to Gladstone Gaol along Huddleston Road. The second is to Red Hill along the Cattle Track (now bitumised).

While you are in the Southern Flinders Ranges, think about riding the Laura Stone Hut Rail Trail or the Melrose Wilmington Rail Trail.

Top photo by Kay Haarsma