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47.4 miles
Distance
9,359 ft
Climb
-9,632 ft
Descent
15:11:57
Avg time
-273 ft
Altitude change
109 ft
Altitude min
4,417 ft
Altitude max
385 ft
Altitude start
112 ft
Altitude end
-0.1%
Grade
-67.5%
Grade max
90.8%
Grade min
21 miles
Distance climb
23 miles
Distance down
3 miles
Distance flat
15:11:57
Avg time
Old Ghost Road Details
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Activities
- Mountain Bike
- Hike
- Trail Running
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Riding Area
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Difficulty Rating
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Voted DifficultyBlack Diamond (1 vote)
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Local Popularity100 in Mountain Biking [+]
- 100 in Trail Running
- 5 in Hiking
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Global Ranking
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Hiking SAC ScaleT3 Demanding Mountain Hiking
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Trail TypeSingletrack
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Bike TypeAM, XC
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DirectionBoth DirectionsPopular Direction Shown
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Climb DifficultyBlue
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Physical RatingModerate
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Trail VisibilityAlways easy to follow
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Alpine TrailYes
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Dogs AllowedYes
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TTFs on TrailBerm, Bridge, Rock Garden, Other
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Land Owner
In the North West corner of the South Island of New Zealand a ghost is awakening. A long-forgotten gold miners’ road is being revived as a mountain biking and tramping trail – connecting the old dray road in the Lyell (Upper Buller Gorge) to the mighty Mokihinui River in the north. The 85km-long Old Ghost Road will traverse majestic native forest, open tussock tops, river flats and forgotten valleys.
A proud member of the New Zealand Cycle Trail, the volunteer-driven Mokihinui-Lyell Backcountry Trust is partnering with a range of other entities to make The Old Ghost Road a reality. It’s almost as if the engineers from the 1870’s knew we were coming The spirits of the old miners and track builders are inescapable. No less than five ghost towns populate the route. The Old Ghost Road is quite literally an 85km-long outdoor museum.
The Old Ghost Road is a work in progress and is due for completion in late 2015 (refer to our Trail Status page for updates).
Our volunteers and supporters know that each generation grows up in an increasingly urbanised environment. The connection to the land dims. Here, on The Old Ghost Road, heritage, wilderness, accessibility and storytelling come together in an unforgettable way. We invite you to join the journey……
See http://www.oldghostroad.org.nz/ for updated information on trail status and hut booking.
source: Official Old Ghost Rd Website
Access Info
The Old Ghost Road’s trail heads are two hours drive apart – or 4-5 days tramp Various options are available for cyclists and trampers.
Due to The Old Ghost Road’s elevation profile, Lyell is the suggested starting point for through-trampers (and, by late 2015, through-cyclists). 1200m elevation is gained via a steady climb past the Lyell Saddle Hut and up to Ghost Lake, while the descent into Stern Valley and Goat Creek is steeper and more technical. Riders and trampers can enjoy day and overnight trips from this end, which features lush beech forest, historic artifacts, and in the Lyell Saddle to Ghost Lake section, sweeping views.
The Lyell Historic Reserve has ample parking, a Department of Conservation Campground, water and toilet facilities. It is 62km east of Westport, 15km east of Inangahua or 35km south of Murchison on State Highway 6 in the Upper Buller Gorge.
Grid reference: NZTM2000, E1520990-N5372328
Latitude: -41.79697466, Longitude: 172.04899791
Trail Supporters
IMBA Epic
since 2017Sponsor
Local Trail Association
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Please consider joining or donating to the local trail association to supportDonate to earn trail karma!
trail development & maintenance.
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
Recent Activity on Trail
Past Week
- 0 rides
6 Months
- 14 rides
- 65.2 km avg distance
All
- 65 rides
- Last: May 14, 2026
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Directions to old-ghost-road trailhead
(-41.796130, 172.049620)
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Frequently Asked Questions About Old Ghost Road
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Where is Old Ghost Road located?
Old Ghost Road is located in Westport, New Zealand. It is part of the Westport trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates -41.79613, 172.04962.
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How hard is Old Ghost Road?
Old Ghost Road is rated as Advanced difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 0.1%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
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What is the elevation gain for Old Ghost Road?
Old Ghost Road has 2,853 m of elevation gain. The trail has 2,936 m of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 33 m to 1,346 m.
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Is Old Ghost Road a point to point trail?
Old Ghost Road is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
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