On-leadEasy
Ashley Gorge Loop Track
Oxford · Canterbury · Loop
↑ 50 m gain↓ 49 m descenthigh 272 msteepest 19 %
DISTANCE1.8 km
ASCENT50 m
DURATION0.5–1 hr
STEEPEST19 %
ROUTELoop
RATING · HIKERS 4.6 · 41
DOG EFFORT2.4 /5 paws
Nearest emergency vetChristchurch After Hours Veterinary Centre, Christchurch
03 366 1052
The route
Good to know
On the lead here. Keep it to two metres or less and watch for ground-nesting birds, as on most NZ tracks.
Waimakariri District Council maps a no-dogs zone at Ashley Gorge Reserve. Dogs are not allowed inside it, so check the local signs to see if your route runs through it. How we check dog rules.
Check the water before the dog swims. Toxic algae blooms in NZ rivers and lakes can kill a dog within hours. Scan the LAWA water quality map in warm months and keep dogs away from dark slime on rocks.
About Ashley Gorge Loop Track
Ashley Gorge Loop Track covers 1.8 km, near Oxford in Canterbury, walked as a loop.
It sits at the easy end and gains roughly 50 m, pitching up to 19 % at its steepest, and takes about 0.5–1 hr to walk.
The track takes in native forest, river frontage, waterfalls, and wildflowers. Dogs are welcome here on the lead. Hikers rate it 4.6 / 5 across 41 reviews.