Running on the treadmill is like going round the hamster wheel. Sure, you get your daily exercise but you always finish up in the same place. And let's face it, it's about as interesting as a
Big Brother contestant.
Which is why outdoor workouts offer a great change of pace and scenery. One of the best on the southside is the thigh burning stairway located in Springwood Conservation Park.
Stairway to exercise heaven
Known as 'The Springwood Stairs of Death', this thigh burning ascent is a great way to enjoy a bit of outdoor time and burn off some serious calories.
Or maybe exercise hell
The Stairs of Death are located in Springwood Conservation Park in the northern Logan City suburb of Springwood and can be most easily accessed via Jardine Street or Plateau Drive. The Jardine Street entrance offers a small carpark, information gazebo and is smack bang at the bottom of the stairs. The Plateau Drive entrance sits atop the stairs and includes a small playground and grassed area.
At first glance, the Stairs of Death look pretty steep but it's not until you stumble to the top that you appreciate the gradient involved. A metal rail is provided for safety and, although varying in size and shape, each step offers a firm and quite level tread.
Fight the pain and skip the seat
The hike up and down only takes about 5 minutes at a moderate pace. For a truly muscle burning workout, try repeating the trip 5 times. By the fifth, muscles you didn't know you had will be on fire.
Watch your step on the steep decline
For the exercise junkies, the Stairs of Death are a great HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) workout. Go up the stairs as fast as you can, rest as you walk down them, then repeat multiple times.
Explore the shaded trails
Springwood Conservation Park also offers a few other walking trails to add to your workout. The subtropical plants combined with Aussie bush land and rock formations make it a surprisingly scenic exercise destination.
So give the hamster routine a miss and enjoy a bit of exercise in the great outdoors on the Springwood Stairs of Death. Your thighs and glutes won't thank you the next day, but it will be pain well earned.
