The Rimutaka Hill Pylon Access Track is exactly that, a track to allow maintenance crews access to the power pylons that run along the top of the Rimutaka range. The track is accessed from a small layby next the bridge at the bottom of the Rimutaka Hill Road just before Featherston.
This track starts very steep with lots of fist sized loose rocks and at the end of winter or after a storm can be very deeply rutted right across the track. Once at the summit the track opens out to lovely undulating straights and ends at a locked farm gate looking back towards upper Hutt. This is a one way in, one way out track so the exit is back down the steep tracks you came up.
Contributed by: @eddieb
Track type: Gravel road
Track composition: Bumpy, Loose, Steep
Slippery when wet?: Yes
Suitable for bikes <650cc? Intermediate
Suitable for bikes >650cc? Experienced
River crossings? No
In this aerial shot of the Rimutaka Hill you can see the top of the Rimutaka Hill Pylon Access Track running along the ridgeline to the left of the main road.
Track in pretty good condition, a little overgrown near the start but nothing to hinder progress. I concur with the rock comments as there are some good size rocks to avoid.
Took the 1200 up the track on Saturday.It was a dry and fairly straightforward ride. There are some rocky sections, but nothing scary. The track gets a little slippery toward the end. The only bit that caused any hassle was the small stream/culvert crossing at the bottom on the way out. The rocks are very slippery at the moment and you need a bit of muscle power to get up the small incline on the journey out of the stream (especially on the 1200). It was a fun conclusion to a day of riding.
if u planning an more rides over the hill let me know cheers
I’ve ridden past the entrance for decades. Finally got curious, and a Heidenau K60 Scout to push me up there. Weather was right, timing was right (early morning). Clearly the time had arrived to explore.
My photo album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/zxFSCi57PtavdER62
Good photos, thanks for sharing. Will have to add that track to the list next time I am down that way.
Here’s my trip up the rimutukas did a solo one was great until got a wasp under the visor a sting in the temple so quick trip back but all good .buck
I have been up there too recently, fun ride, struggled a bit in few places due to big stones/rocks but pretty good going.
On way down I had to be super slow in few places as I didn’t want to loose the bike to the ground 😉
I have been up recently too, few big rocks to get around and couple of hairy moments, little bit disappointed that there is a gate up to, I was already dreaming about descending to the hutt. But still fun ride.
O did this on the DR – just a bit of it. Must have gone right at the turn off – uphill. Where do you come out? or is it a loop?
Rode up there today. Not too rutted although the loose parts were pretty rocky after a dry summer and the smooth parts were greasy after yesterday’s rain. Still, loads of fun.
Two of us did this today for the first time on KTM 790 and new Tiger 900 on road tires. Stunning views and interesting ride over the varied surfaces and among the scrub and more mature bush. Surface was damp in places which made the large mossy rocks and clay sections a bit tricky but with a bit of care and keeping up the momentum was all doable. Loads of fun!