This 36 kilometre Kidman Trail loop from Mount Pleasant provides an excellent introduction to the joys of the Kidman Trail, while modifying a couple of sections to provide for a more enjoyable cycling experience.
Kidman Trail
South Australia’s Kidman Trail is primarily a horse-riding trail that stretches 269 kilometres from Willunga, south of Adelaide to Kapunda in the north.
While cycling is permitted on the trail, some sections are not suitable for the average rider because of very steep gradients and challenging surfaces – particularly loose gravel, sand and sometimes mud after heavy rain.
Kidman Mount Pleasant Loop
The route described here follows the Kidman Trail north from Mount Pleasant for 24 km to Springton Road. I have adjusted the official Kidman Trail in two places to make for a more pleasant riding experience. The return to Mount Pleasant is via Glen Devon Road.
Mount Pleasant
On the eastern side of the Barossa, and just north of the Adelaide Hills region, Mount Pleasant is a charming country town, dating from 1856.
The Soldiers Memorial Hall is a convenient place to start your ride, with off-street parking, public toilets at the back and the Mount Pleasant Bakery over the road.
Heading out from Mount Pleasant, the Kidman Trail takes you past some historic buildings of the town and over a lovely bridge. After five kilometres, you enter Mount Crawford Forest, where the views begin to open up.
Mount Crawford Forest
Once in the forest, the riding is wonderful with a variety of scenery and terrain:
Some challenging hills,
plantation forests on one side of the track, with remnant forests on the other,
nicely compressed gravel tracks through green forests
and quite a few stiles!
It’s worth mentioning, however, that these stiles are much easier than what we had to deal with on the Nurragi Rail Trail.
Eventually, after seventeen magical kilometres, it’s time to leave Mount Crawford Forest. You follow a short bridle track through to Police Paddock Road. On Tungali Road, there are many magnificent old trees, some of which make good picnic seats!
Back to Mount Pleasant
After a total of 25 kilometres, the Kidman Trail continues north, while you double back to your start point at Mount Pleasant.
Take care on the one kilometre bitumen stretch of Springton Road, and then turn onto the dirt again at historic Glen Devon Road, which borders one of the original homesteads of the area.
After a steady climb, the last five kilometres are a well-earned roll back into the township of Mount Pleasant.
Summary of the Kidman Mount Pleasant Loop
- Length: 36 kilometres.
- Difficulty: Moderate due to some sandy and loose gravel surfaces. There may also be some muddy sections after rain. Be aware that you will have to lift your bike over several low stiles (see the picture above).
- Suitable for mountain bikes or eMTB.
- Surface: Gravel/dirt, sand and possible mud.
- Signage: While there are arrows indicating the Kidman Trail, this route deviates from the Kidman Trail in two places to provide a more pleasant riding experience. There is no signage for the return route to Mount Pleasant.
- Best Times: On cooler days, but not after a lot of rain, as the forest sections can be boggy in places. Mount Crawford Forest is closed on days of total fire ban. Check the Forestry SA website if in doubt.
- Coffee and Food: At Mount Pleasant, there is the Mount Pleasant Bakery and Lovell’s Bakery (Mount Pleasant). Once you leave town, there are no coffee shops. However, there are two pleasant picnic stops with dropbox toilets at Ponderosa and Fromms Farm (shown in the map above).
If you would prefer to try a more challenging Kidman Trail loop from Mount Pleasant, try this 47 kilometre route. This ride follows the unadjusted Kidman Trail for 31 kilometres to High Eden Road, looping back via the lovely High Eden and McBean Range Roads.
Another enjoyable eastern Barossa loop is the Wendish Dutton Heritage Loop.
