Mountainbiking Nelson : Clover Knob

Clover Knob

Clover Knob is an excellent one and a half to two and a half hour ride for all levels of rider.
It is a good introduction to single track. Drive out to Hope and take the first turn left after
the 100kmph sign on to Aniseed Valley Rd. Follow this road over the hill and keep going
to the Hackett picnic area which is at the end of the tar seal.

Note: In November 2010 Clover Knob has been mostly logged and there is still active logging during the week. All of the fords up the Serpentine are now bridged. Follow the road up the hill and at about the 6.5km mark take the left fork which climbs, not the right one which stays level. At 7.5km you reach Skid 9 at the top of the hill and begin to descend. There is a sharp left turn descending off the main road where the road flattens out. If you reach a big skid site you have gone about 100m too far. After the sharp left the road heads down then swings back to the right. Keep following it after it narrows and becomes rougher and you will enter the trees about 300m before reaching the Hackett track.
Most of the photos here are now historical as the landscape has changed dramatically.

From Hacket carpark bike back down the road a couple of K's and turn left on to Serpentine Rd.

Follow the main road up the valley. Don't
turn up the hill but cross a ford and keep to the valley.

This is legal road even though there is a locked gate across it.

The road is easy going through patches of native bush.

After the third ford you come to some old buildings and the road begins to climb.

There is the odd side road to the right. Always take the left fork

There are a couple of steeper pitches but all quite rideable.

From the crest of the hill there is a cruisy downhill with a few ruts to watch before reaching the Hackett walking track. Turn right to go to Hackett Hut or left to the carpark.
There is one steep switchback immediately after crossing an old slip which less experience riders may walk as there is quite a drop off into the river.

A few minutes after the slip there is a short sharp dip in and out of a small creek that can be tricky.

There are a couple of creek crossings that beginners will probably walk.

But apart from that enjoy the gentle downhill cruise to the swing bridge.