Mountain Biking Through 800-Million-Year-Old Geology in Suburban Adelaide
| Activity | Mountain Biking (Intermediate) / Walking (Intermediate) |
| Distance | 1.59 kilometres |
| Duration | 28 minutes walking / 15 minutes cycling |
| Region | Adelaide & Adelaide Hills |
| Accommodation | Camping, mid-range and premium options — See accommodation options |
| Start Point | Trail Head, Craigburn Rd, Craigburn Farm SA 5051 |
| End Point | Gunners Run, Craigburn Farm SA 5051 |
| Park Entry | Free |
| Dogs Allowed | Yes – on lead |
Overview
Sticks and Stones is one of the signature trails within the Craigburn Farm trail network, a modern addition to Sturt Gorge Recreation Park that has transformed a former agricultural property into one of Adelaide’s most popular destinations for mountain biking and hiking. The trail winds through open grasslands and young revegetation areas, passing over rock formations that rank among the oldest and most scientifically significant in metropolitan Adelaide.
The geological story here is extraordinary. The park is home to Sturt Tillite, a rock formation believed to have been formed from glacial material dropped by ice floating in an ocean that covered South Australia approximately 800 million years ago. This is rock that predates complex life on Earth, and walking or riding across it connects you to a period of the planet’s history so distant that it challenges the imagination. The park is internationally recognised for this geological heritage, and the Craigburn Farm trails offer the best opportunity to see the formations up close.
The Ride
The Sticks and Stones trail covers 1.59 kilometres of flowing single-track through the open country of Craigburn Farm. The terrain is undulating with a mix of grassy surfaces and rocky sections where the ancient tillite formations break through the soil. For mountain bikers, the trail offers a satisfying intermediate-level ride with enough technical interest to keep things engaging without being overly demanding.
The trail connects with several other routes in the network, including Gunners Run, Sidewinder, and the Tapa Turrungka Trail, making it possible to build loops of varying length and difficulty. The broader Craigburn Farm area is also a major revegetation site, and the young native plantings along the trails are gradually transforming the former farmland back into greybox grassy woodland — the nationally threatened vegetation community that once dominated this part of South Australia.
Conservation Significance
Sturt Gorge Recreation Park conserves one of the best remaining examples of greybox grassy woodland in the Adelaide region. This vegetation community was once widespread across southern Australia but has been extensively cleared for agriculture and urban development. The Craigburn Farm addition has significantly increased the park’s area and its capacity for ecological restoration. Over time, as the revegetation matures, the trail experience will become increasingly immersive as the woodland grows up around it.
Planning Your Visit
The Craigburn Farm trails are accessed from Craigburn Road in Blackwood, approximately 15 kilometres south of the Adelaide CBD. The park is free to enter and open from sunrise to sunset. Mountain bikers should carry basic repair tools and water. Walkers should wear sturdy shoes, as some sections are rocky. The trail network is well-signposted and maps are available online. The park is closed on days of Catastrophic Fire Danger.
Sticks and Stones is a trail where geology, conservation, and recreation converge. It carries you across rock that formed 800 million years ago, through grassland that is being returned to its natural state, in a park that proves suburban Adelaide can still hold surprises.
Where to Stay
Planning an overnight trip? See our Adelaide Hills Accommodation Guide for the best places to stay near this trail.