The third and final event in the Dirty Northern Trail Running series is an epic in itself.  In the Daintree region, Mount Lewis National Park protects upland rainforests and a variety of rare and threatened wildlife, including the Golden Bowerbird, Southern Cassowary, Mount Lewis Spiny Cray, Lemuroid Ringtail Possum and Daintree River Ringtail Possum. Mount Lewis NP contains some of the most accessible and scenic upland rainforest in the area and is part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. With altitudes of more than 1200 metres, Mount Lewis NP is home to many species of birds and mammals not found in the lower altitude rainforests.

Mt Lewis Road bisects this reserve and presents the opportunity for a naturally air-conditioned canter through this stunning location.

The Spiny Cray Ultra is a simple out and back event over Mt Lewis Road. The total elevation gained (and descended) is 1553 meters in the premier event.

This event starts and finishes at Julatten’s renowned Highlander Tavern. Initially bitumen (for 1km), Mt Lewis road soon becomes a single vehicle-width dirt road, mostly suited to 4wd vehicles. This track meanders up to more than 900meters high before entering cloud forest, so named because the forest is often shrouded in cloud, mist and fog. The high moisture level and cool year-round temperatures of this type of forest foster plant communities that are rich in mosses, ferns and epiphytes.

Winding through rainforest-clad ridges and spurs, Mt Lewis Road climbs to more than 1200 metres before following the contours of the chain of peaks that form the watershed of the Mossman and Mitchell rivers.

The 21k event turnaround is near the ‘grassy patch’, which is also a wildlife mecca (as is the majority of Mt Lewis Road). Try to spot the Mount Lewis spiny crayfish in the creeks and blue-faced parrot-finches in grassy clearings and glades. Red-bellied black snakes are commonly seen sunning themselves on the road and huge (up to 2m) blue earthworms come to the surface during wet weather.
The 58k event continues to the end of the road, and an old shed that is the turnaround point.

The Spiny Cray Ultra event is a serious tropical test. While the large majority of the course is shaded and regular watercourses provide relief, safety precautions require that entry is at the discretion of the Race Director.

10km Course

A quick jaunt along Mt Lewis Road to a marked turnaround and return to the Highlander Tavern.

21km Course

The half marathon will also start at the Highlander Tavern in Julatten and head up Mt Lewis Road. The first 1km or so is on bitumen before leading onto single lane dirt road which meanders up to ‘the grassy patch’, just beyond the turnaround. There is approx 600m elevation gained over this leg to the turnaround then a nice trot downhill back to the finish line.

58km Course

Includes the length of Mt Lewis Road and return. Simple! See the course profile above.