Crosslands Run
Back to Hornsby, Galston, Dural, Hornsby Heights
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Run Summary
A steep hill course with some good views over Berowra Creek. Course starts at Oakwood Place, Somerville Rd – flat for 1km, steep downhill for just over 2km, then flat for 1km to creek lookout and back. Run can also be started earlier at the pedestrian crossing opposite Hornsby Heights school for a further 3kms along Somerville Rd to Oakwood Place making 14km total. From Stewart Ave, it is another 3kms to the Hornsby Hts School pedestrian crossing, so this course could be combined with the Quarry Road track starting at the Dural side for a tough 39km.
Run Distance
8km or 14kms.
Topography
Surface is bitumen rd to start off Crosslands road, than a combination of gravel, bitumen finishing off with a short run over the timber boardwalk to the lookout.
Water Stations
Limited access. Near the start of the boardwalk, there are toilets in Crosslands Reserve. Berowra Creek is polluted so drinking and swimming is not recommended here. If doing the 14km run, there is a small park near the bus-stop 1km south from Oakwood Pl with a bubbler.
Facilities
Toilets in Crosslands. There is a corner shop at the start of Somerville Rd and a small shopping center behind with a takeaway store behind the Ampol service station on Galston Rd.
Run Route Details
8km run. Start at south side of Oakwood Place / Somerville Rd intersection and run north to the gate to Crosslands. This first km is fairly flat to the national park sign 50m inside the gate that marks the 1km mark. There are then a series of steep dips, a flat section and gentle uphill and downhill. The 2km mark is the left telegraph pole at the end of the gentle decline before the road turns right. The road then goes downhill steeply to the “Reduce Speed” sign before turning left. This sign marks the 3km point. Run down and follow the road to the right through the carpark and then along the bitumen track through the park with the river on the left. Take the right fork of the path and then turn right at the blank billboard to run a few hundred meters along the timber boardwalk to the lookout that is around 4kms. Touch the handrail at the end and run back. After the lookout, the track continues but becomes very rocky after 200m and is not really suitable for running unless you are an ultra (mad) runner.
The run is best started before 8am since cars will start driving down in numbers after this time on weekends. Also, the early morning is a good time to test the loudness of your breathing and footsteps as you run past the tents in Crosslands and try not to wake the happy campers up.
14km course
Start at the pedestrian crossing near Hornsby Heights Public School, around 100m from Galston Rd. Run for 3km to Oakwood Place and then follow 8km trail and return.
