Blue Mountains Running Co. 42km

Hassans Walls Reserve serves up a smorgasbord of cliff lines, epic pagoda rock formations, and cool ferny gullies. It’s the ultimate playground for trail runners looking for a true-blue adventure in the Aussie bush.

The race start is at the Lithgow Pony Club in Sheedys Gully, Lithgow, where the friendly Event Hub buzzes with pre-race excitement. After a quick 100m burst, turn right and follow a four-wheel drive track along ‘Pony Express Gully’. This stretch ramps up with a solid 1km climb to CP1, your first checkpoint.

From CP1, it’s time to leg it downhill on ‘Hassans Walls Road’, veer right while cruising past CP2 (where you can duck into the loos if needed) enroute to the CP3 turnaround point and climb back up to CP2. A sharp right leads you up to the ‘West Ridge’ trails, with a right turn at CP4 marking the start of the 2.7km ‘Channel 6 Ridge’ MTB trail. You’ll bounce down the ridge nose single trail to the Channel 6 water station before hauling yourself up the mountain via the ‘Channel 6 Rise’, a 2.4km single track ending with a right turn onto ‘West Ridge’ toward CP5.

Continue straight past CP5 and into CP6 for a well-earned refuel at the aid station. From there, it’s onto CP7 with right turn onto ‘Littleton Ridge’, tackling a single loop MTB trail that winds down and then grind back up ‘Littleton Rise’ to CP7. A right at CP7 feeds you back onto ‘West Ridge’ heading toward CP8.

At CP8, runners drop onto ‘Grandview Ridge’ for a 1.8km single trail through bushland and open paddocks to the Grandview water station. After rehydrating, it’s time for a 1.5km climb up ‘Grandview Rise’ trail. Another right turn onto ‘West Ridge’ leads toward CP9.

From CP9, veer right onto ‘Strathlone Ridge’ for an exhilarating 4km stretch of single trails that weave down through ‘Corney Lower’ and loop back along ‘Corney Slopes’, where a water station awaits to quench your thirst. The adventure ramps up as you tackle a 1km single trail up and across ‘Corney Upper’ before conquering ‘Corney Ridge’ ascent via a 800m four-wheel drive track, eventually returning to CP9.

From CP9, continue straight ahead for a 2.1km journey along ‘West Ridge’, passing CP8, CP7, CP6, where an aid station offers a welcome break, then CP5, CP4, and CP2, where toilets and drop bags are available, a right turn at CP1 sets you off on a short but rewarding leg toward ‘Hassans Walls Lookout’. This breathtaking spot offers panoramic views of Hartley and Megalong Valleys, the highest lookout vista in the Blue Mountains. After soaking in the scenery, loop back to CP1.

From CP1, take a right onto ‘Hassans Walls Road’ for an easy 2km dirt road run that leads to CP10. Here, turn right and embark on the 1km ‘Ewok Lower’ MTB trail, a path hugging cliff tops with stunning views before descending through a squeeze of rock to CP11, manned by SES traffic controllers with water available. Then it’s a 1.2km climb back up Hassans Walls Road to return to CP10.

At CP10, turn right for an invigorating 600m run along ‘Ewok Upper’ MTB trail, arriving at CP12 where aid station, toilets and drop bags await. Leaving CP12, run down a dirt road for 1km to reach CP13 where you turn right onto ‘Townhouse Ridge’, a four-wheel drive track leading to a 3.8km out-and-back section ending with single-trail ridge nose loop. After completing the loop return back via ‘Townhouse Ridge’ to CP13.

On returning to CP13, runners will turn right down ‘Bracey Slopes’ for a 1.1km single MTB trail stretch that showcases views of Lithgow township. This section is both rewarding and challenging, culminating in an ascent via the steps on ‘Bracey Ridge’ trail. Covering another 1.1km runners pass CP13 once more and continue 1km along ‘Norman Henry Drive’ to CP12.

Arriving at CP12 Aid Station, runners are met with cheers, refuelling opportunities, and the celebratory realization that no more hills stand in their way. After soaking in the moment, a right turn launches you onto ‘Pottery Ridge’ trail, a 900m downhill single MTB gem offering sweeping panoramas in the final stretch. A left turn at the end of Pottery Ridge transitions downhill into the 350m steep ‘Scramble’ trail. Runners take a left turn for the final 900m of the ‘RoundUp’ trail to the Finish line at the lively Event Hub.

Being 42.6kms in length, this course boasts approximately 1950m of elevation gain and loss, making it ideal for trail enthusiasts who relish a blend of real single trails, MTB trails, four-wheel drive tracks, and dirt roads. With the trail having obtained Six Foot Track qualification status, ITRA Rating, and UTMB Index points it open doors for runners aiming to qualify for their dream races. With a generous cut-off time of 11 hours, walkers and runners of all abilities can tackle this Aussie bush adventure with confidence and determination. Hassans Walls Reserve serves up a smorgasbord of cliff lines, epic pagoda rock formations, and cool ferny gullies. It’s the ultimate playground for trail runners looking for a true-blue adventure in the Aussie bush.