Australian Capital Territory Bike Track
Kowen Forest/Sparrow Hill
Kowen Forest/Sparrow Hill
Sparrow is timeless, old-school pineforest singletrack riding. It is smooth, fast- flowing and well worn with many of the trails being old favourites from past Mont 24hr races.
In contrast, there is always something new at Kowen. The raw trails are churned out over an increasingly varied mixture of terrain. Many newer trails are venturing into the native bushland, giving a stark riding contrast to the pineforest trails.
Kowen and Sparrow are now fully interconnected, but be prepared to still stop and hop a few wire fences and gates.
Need to Know
Getting There 30 minutes from Canberra CBD. Kings Hwy out of Queanbeyan. Left onto old Kings Hwy or Left onto Hibernian Road. Both are no- through roads and have parking
Technical Nature Mostly pineforest singletrack. Lots of corners and tree roots. Some native and rocky area, but mostly untechnical and beginner friendly
You’ll Need Water and food. There’s no water out there!
Distances Over 100km of singletrack! Signposted loops from 15-50km
Local Knowledge Ride out through Molongolo Gorge. Nudist colony close by
Best Time of the Year Any! Pine forests are warm in the winter and cool in the summer
While in the Area Check out the wildlife: kangaroos, wombats, snakes and echidnas
Local Bike Shops No. Head back to Canberra.
Local Club Contacts selfpropelled.com.au/kowalski-brothers/ or www.corc.asn.au
Regular Events Mont 24hr, Kowalski Classic Marathon, CORC XC & 3hr rounds, CORC Gravity rounds
Bruce Ridge
Bruce is native eucalypt forest and the majority of Bruce Ridge is relatively tame, but you need your cornering skills. There are hundreds of open- radius turns that require you to pay attention.
Whilst Bruce Ridge is easy to ride, if you are pushing your speed, it does become a bit more of a handful due to the drifty soil.
Need to Know
Getting There Dryandra St, O’Conner, 4km from the city center. Park just after the entrance to the Alivio Tourist Park. Ride up the bikepath and entries to the trails are on your left.
Technical Nature Non technical but drifty singletrack
You’ll Need Food & drink. closest pubs at O’Conner and Lyneham shops, both 5 minutes roll down the bikepath. A good memory will also assist you recognising where you have and have not been!
Distances Bruce Ridge may be contained in a pretty small area, but it is a rabbit warren
of trails. It will take 60-90 minutes to ride around 30km of singletrack
Local Knowledge Head counter-clockwise for the best flow of the trails. If in doubt, turn right!
Best Time of the Year Bruce is a good option after rain, as it drains really well
While in the Area Grab a coffee from Lonsdale Street Roasters
Local Bike Shops The Cyclery in Braddon
Local Club Contacts corc.asn.au or mtb@biblys.org. Group ride usually at Bruce on Friday mornings.
Stromlo Forest Park
Stromlo Forest Park needs little introduction. It is Canberra’s premier MTB facility established and maintained by the ACT Government. It regularly hosts national and international events, having facilities for every type of MTB riding – XC, downhill, trials, jumps, 4X track and even a northshore style skills park!
Being established after the fires, the soil is quite sandy. This results in quite a loose and drifty top surface. As the trails have worn, a lot of underlying rock has been exposed. These can shred a tyre quickly and makes for some rough riding.
Need to Know
Getting There 18km from the City centre. Full facilities are onsite including toilets, showers, drinking water, communal bike tools and named trails.
Technical Nature All skill levels, from beginner to World Cup Elite
You’ll Need Tyres with grip, plenty of suncream and a Strava account
Distances Over 50km of varied singletrack, XC, DH and Freeride await you
Local Knowledge The ‘Red’ loop is a must-do. “Skyline” is one of the best descents in the country. Make sure you brake before the berms, not in them. Run a tough rear tyre for the rocks
Best Time of the Year All except the depths of Summer, in which case you want to be finished by 9am. Stromlo is always 5°c hotter on the mountain then what it is in the carpark
While in the Area Grab a coffee from Lonsdale Street Roasters
Local Bike Shops The Woden Town Centre has a few bike shops that will get you sorted
Local Club Contacts corc.asn.au
Regular Events Scott 24 hour, National 24hr Solo Champs, Australian Mountain Bike Titles, CORC XC, gravity and downhill club rounds, RTE & STE enduro
Centenary Trail
The Centenary Trail is the latest edition to Canberra’s wealth of riding areas. As part of Canberra’s Centenary year celebrations, the ACT Government has pieced together a 145km self-guided loop for cyclist and walkers.
The loop takes riders through a variety of urban and rural Canberra, using fire road, freshly cut trails and existing bikepath. The trail is not technical and any climbs are generally under 10 percent. The challenge is just how far you want to go in one day. Most of the trail is well- signposted, and work is underway to have it signed the entire way.
Watch out for the signs pointing in multiple directions. The loop includes optional walking sections only, but these are detours off the main trail, so there is no need to get off your bike.
There are also designated campgrounds on the route, so the budding XCO racer can turn this into a 45km/day stage race.
For the more experienced endurance rider, the full route can be completed in around nine hours. Ed McDonald and Scotty Chancellor have notched up the fastest full loop so far with 8.5 hours elapsed time. Check it out at strava.com/activities/95315238#.
Need to Know
Getting There Join at various locations around Canberra. Ssee TAMS website for start locations
Technical Nature Mostly fireroad, gentle climbing gradients
You’ll Need Water, food and sunscreen. The trail will regularly take you through urban areas, but be prepared for at least two hours between stop.
Distances 145km. It’s easy to add more or less depending on your fitness or the amount of time you have
Local Knowledge Ride up Mt Ainsle road and rejoin the trail at the top for an awesome descent. The Spring Bank descent into Hall is like five Skyline’s in a row!
Best Time of the Year Any! Pack the woolies in winter as parts of the route are quite exposed
Contacts tams.act.gov.au/parks-recreation/recreational_activities/centenary-trail
The Brindabella Ranges
The ‘Brindies’ and surrounding ranges are a massive area, and you quickly find yourself in the high country. Most of the trails are either fire road closed to vehicle traffic, or unsealed roads with 4WDs and dirtbikes. You will get epic long rides, with some huge vertical gain and spectacular views.
The secret of riding in the Brindies is to start out by going with those who know the area and be prepared for any weather. You can be a long way from home out there, and the weather can turn in an instant. There have been days in summer starting out with 30 degrees, and finishing in five.
The most popular and easiest accessible areas include riding up to the Mt Franklin Road and through to Piccadilly Circus. From there you can either drop down to Gentle Annies for a mega climb out via Webbs Ridge, or head over to Mt Coree.
Need to Know
Getting There The best way out is either down Blue Range or Two- Sticks: the later is by far the best, with a 40-minute fire road descent! Easy entry points are: Uiarra Homestead: Parking on the side of the road, and ride up Warks Rd
Cotter River: Parking below the Dam, and ride up through Pierces Creek and onto Pipeline Stromlo: Park at Stromlo Forest Park and ride to the above – ~ 20 minutes to the dirt
Technical Nature Taking advantage of the 6000km of fire roads in the ACT, the technical nature is not too difficult. But be prepared for 20 percent ascents and brake- boiling descents.
You’ll Need Food and water for a big day out, plus a map or a good GPS. Pack spares and clothing for a long day. Water is good at Cotter River campground, Pipeline Causeway crossing, Corin Dam, Honeysuckle campground, Apollo Road
Distances Over 100km of singletrack! Signposted loops from 15-50km
Best Time of the Year If it is winter, be prepared for snow. If it is summer, bring a truckload of water
