Adelaide to the Hills
| Location | Glen Osmond to Crafers, Adelaide Hills |
| Start Point | The Old Tollgate, Glen Osmond SA |
| End Point | Crafers West SA |
| Distance | 8.8 km |
| Time | 1–1.5 hours uphill / 20 minutes downhill |
| Difficulty | Moderate (sustained climb) |
| Activity | Cycling |
| Accommodation | Camping, mid-range and premium options — See accommodation options |
| Elevation Gain | 417 metres |
| Average Gradient | 4.7% |
Adelaide’s Iconic Hill Climb
For Adelaide’s cycling community, the Crafers Bikeway holds an almost mythical status. This 8.8-kilometre path climbs 417 metres from the historic Tollgate at Glen Osmond to the outskirts of Crafers, following a route that was once part of the South Eastern Freeway before the Heysen Tunnels redirected traffic in 2000. The old road’s closure gifted cyclists something remarkable — a fully sealed, well-lit, traffic-free path up through the Adelaide Hills that delivers one of the most satisfying climbs in the city.
The Crafers Bikeway is one of the few hill climbs in Adelaide that takes most cyclists more than half an hour to complete. With an average gradient of 4.7 percent and several steeper pinch points, it offers a genuine physical challenge while remaining accessible to any reasonably fit rider. For many local cyclists, the Crafers climb is a weekly ritual — a measuring stick of fitness, a meditative escape from the city, and a gateway to the wider trails of the Adelaide Hills.
The Route
The Tollgate to Devils Elbow
The climb begins alongside the Old Tollgate at Glen Osmond — a heritage site that once collected fees from travellers heading into the hills. The first three kilometres follow a fully bituminised path that runs parallel to the freeway at a safe distance, winding through a gully lined with eucalyptus and a small creek that features wildflowers and native plants during autumn and spring. The gradient is steady but manageable, building fitness and rhythm for the steeper sections ahead.
Near the Mt Osmond overpass, the path narrows and climbs toward what cyclists affectionately call ‘the Kennels’ — the Animal Boarding House that marks the transition to the historic section of the route. Here, the bikeway joins the old road and passes through the once-notorious Devils Elbow — a tight bend that was legendary among motorists for its challenging geometry, and which now offers cyclists a dramatically scenic curve through the hillside, separated from occasional stray vehicles by a concrete kerb.
Eagle on the Hill to Crafers
Beyond Devils Elbow, the bikeway passes through the old township of Eagle on the Hill, where the Old Bullock Track joins the route near Measday’s Lookout. This gravel track — now known as the Pioneer Women’s Trail — is a 22-kilometre path that traces the route 19th-century women walked between Hahndorf and Beaumont, adding a layer of colonial history to the cycling experience. Cleland Conservation Park comes into view to the north as the gradient steepens for one final push.
The last kilometre follows a wide, separated path before ending at a set of bollards near a disused road at the base of a phone tower. From here, riders can either enjoy the exhilarating descent back to Adelaide — an easy roll that makes the climb feel worthwhile — or continue for another kilometre along the disused road into Crafers township. For the ultimate challenge, Shurdington Road leads uphill to Mount Lofty Summit, Adelaide’s highest point at 727 metres.
Connecting Routes
The Crafers Bikeway connects to Eagle Mountain Bike Park, one of Australia’s first purpose-built mountain bike parks, located along the route near Eagle on the Hill. A Crafers–Stirling Bikeway continues from the top of the climb into the Adelaide Hills township of Stirling, extending the off-road riding options. For road cyclists, the descent into Crafers connects to a network of Adelaide Hills roads that offer some of the best cycling in South Australia — through Mount George, Uraidla, and Basket Range to the east, or south toward Stirling, Aldgate, and Mylor.
Planning Your Ride
The Crafers Bikeway is open year-round, well-lit by road lights on most sections, and free to use. It is suitable for road bikes and hybrid bikes, though the gradient and length mean a reasonable level of fitness is required. Carry water and a spare tube, as the climb can be demanding on hot days and the rough surface near Eagles on the Hill can be hard on tyres. The bikeway is popular with commuter cyclists, training groups, and recreational riders, particularly on weekend mornings. Parking is available at the Tollgate end.
The Crafers Bikeway is the climb that defines Adelaide cycling. Born from the re-routing of a freeway, it has become something far more valuable than a road — a 417-metre ascent through history, nature, and the quiet satisfaction of pushing uphill, rewarded at the top by a view of the city below and the knowledge that the ride home is all downhill.
Where to Stay
Planning an overnight trip? See our Adelaide Hills Accommodation Guide for the best places to stay near this trail.