Lees Valley makes a great day ride from Christchurch. Usually ridden from the Lees Valley end the ride first winds you over hills with some fairly tight corners before dropping down into Lees Valley where the track runs straight up the valley.
Along the valley floor there are several gates which should always be left as found unless specifically instructed otherwise by a notice on the gate. About 2/3’s of the way up the valley the track crosses the Okuku River. The river crossing is quite wide and it’s flow and depth can vary greatly depending on recent rainfall in the catchment area upstream. There is no cell phone reception in the valley, very little traffic and houses are few and far between so riders need to ensure they can pick their bike up, and de-water it if necessary.
Before heading out to Lees Valley you should check the flow of the Okuku River to make sure it is fordable:
http://ecan.govt.nz/services/online-services/monitoring/river-flows/Pages/river-flow-chart.aspx?SiteNo=66213
Contributed by: @eddieb
Track type: Gravel Road
Track composition: Bumpy, Firm, Undulating
Slippery when wet? Yes
Suitable for bikes <650cc? Intermediate
Suitable for bikes >650cc? Intermediate
River crossings? Yes
Lees Valley – Okuku Pass is open again, with caution.
Hi…does anyone know if you get from okuku rd to stock road. Thanks
About an hour ride from Christchurch, Lees Valley makes a great day ride.
Enjoy some fantastic scenery while winding through 75 km of gravel roads. Native forest, wild rivers, gorges, farmland, with the majority of the route exposed to the Southern Alps Mountains.
The route is relatively easy and safe that includes many small stream crossings. The Okuku River may be a bit technically challenging.
Please check the video from my recent ride
https://youtu.be/tcJ7ok36DbA