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Register for news updatesNew Copper Rail Trail Opened in South Australia
The Wakefield Regional Council, located in the mid north of South Australia, has constructed a 26km rail trail from Port Wakefield inland to Balaklava. This trail will link with the existing 11km Shamus Liptrot Rail Trail and an 18km trail along backroads to Leasingham on the Riesling Rail Trail.
The trail from Port Wakefield to Leasigham will be known as the Copper Rail Trail because it follows the course taken by bullock teams delivering copper from the Burra mine through to the wharf at Port Wakefield. The Copper Trail follows an unused rail reserve from Port Wakefield to Halbury, a distance of 37km.
The construction of the Port Wakefield to Balaklava section of the Copper Rail Trail was made possible through a contribution of $41,900 from the State Government Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing and a Council contribution of $14,000.
The new trail could be best described as a bush track rail trail which is suited to mountain bikes. The trail surface varies from rubble /gravel to a formed natural earth surface. It is a trail for the adventurous who enjoy a challenge of riding on a variable surface. The trail is located between flat, open grain fields however, thanks to the efforts of the local community who planted the rail reserve with indigenous vegetation 30 years ago, the rail reserve now provides cyclists with protection from the elements and great scenery.
The Copper Rail Trail connects on-road to the Riesling Rail Trail in the east, and in the west it will link to the Walk the Yorke cycling and walking trail that follows the coast line of Yorke Peninsula for a distance in excess of 500km.
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