Sturt Gorge Recreation Park – Craigburn Farm Trails
| Location | Sturt Gorge Recreation Park, Craigburn Farm |
| Start/End Point | Trail Head, Craigburn Road, Craigburn Farm |
| Distance | 2.8 km |
| Time | 50 minutes (walking) / 30 minutes (cycling) |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Activity | Walking, Mountain Biking |
| Region | Adelaide & Adelaide Hills |
| Accommodation | Camping, mid-range and premium options — See accommodation options |
| Key Feature | 800-million-year-old glacial rock formations, revegetation site |
Ancient Geology on Adelaide’s Southern Edge
The Sidewinder trail winds through one of the most geologically significant landscapes within any Australian capital city. Located in Sturt Gorge Recreation Park’s Craigburn Farm extension, this 2.8-kilometre trail passes through grasslands and open woodlands that overlay some of the oldest rocks in the park — including sturt tillite, a remarkable formation believed to have been formed from glacial material dropped by ice floating in an ancient ocean that covered South Australia approximately 800 million years ago.
The addition of Craigburn Farm has considerably increased the size of Sturt Gorge Recreation Park, transforming it into both a major revegetation site and a destination for mountain biking and hiking. The park is internationally recognised for its conservation and geological significance, protecting the nationally threatened grey box grassy woodland vegetation that was once abundant across southern Australia but now survives only in scattered remnants.
The Trail
Sidewinder is part of a larger network of trails within Sturt Gorge Recreation Park’s Craigburn Farm area. The trail winds through steep slopes and shrubland, offering opportunities to observe the ancient rock formations and the diverse native animals that come to drink at the waterholes along the Sturt River. The intermediate rating applies to both walking and cycling, reflecting the terrain’s gradients and natural surface.
The revegetation work underway across Craigburn Farm adds another dimension to the trail experience — you can see the process of ecological restoration in action, as native plants are re-established on land that was previously used for farming. Walking or riding through these recovering landscapes, the contrast between the established vegetation and the newly planted areas tells the story of a landscape in transition from farmland back to native woodland.
Planning Your Visit
Sturt Gorge Recreation Park is accessed from Craigburn Road in Craigburn Farm. The trail network is open to both walkers and mountain bikers. Combine Sidewinder with adjacent trails including Gunners Run, Sticks and Stones, and other routes in the Craigburn Farm network for longer outings. The park is free to use and is located just fifteen minutes from the Adelaide CBD.
Sidewinder is a trail that connects you with two of Adelaide’s most remarkable stories — the 800-million-year-old glacial geology that lies beneath your feet, and the ongoing effort to restore native woodland to land that was farmed for generations. It is ancient ground being made new again, one planted tree at a time.
Where to Stay
Planning an overnight trip? See our Adelaide Hills Accommodation Guide for the best places to stay near this trail.