Mount Stromlo trail information

Trail features (October 2011)

Trail type: All - XC, DH, 4 Cross, Trials, even roadies…. 

Summary: Huge array of trails for riders of all disciplines and abilities, from world class DH and 4 Cross tracks to tens of km's of XC trail.  Multiple obstacles on most tracks; 99% singletrack.  The 'front' of the hill is more novice friendly, 'back' of the hill has some more technically challenging trails with some reasonable drops and numerous rocky sections.  Trail surfaces are a mixture of hardpack, gravel, sand and rock - you'll get a bit of everything (except loam) here.  Trails are graded from green (easy) to blue (intermediate) and black (hard), with a couple of double black diamond runs.

Novice score: Green trails: 5/10 if unfit, 8/10 if fit (some rocks, some loose sections) - if you want to do any distance you will need to get to the top of the hill or across the northern saddle, which means climbing.  Stay on the front of the hill or stick to the northern trails for less tricky bits.

Climbs: Shallow grade to steep hardpack or loose singletrack with some rocky sections.  Size and frequency of rocks increase with the grade of trail, with some decent sized rock steps to negotiate even on some of the blue trails.  Occasional very steep sections.  Easy to get off and walk if needs be.  Nearly all ride-able but for real tough climbing head for Heartbreaker (blue) and Cardiac Arrest (black) - the names should tell you enough.  

Descents: Green trails mainly shallow to mild grade, switchbacks, some small obstacles, occasional loose corners; some outstanding descents!  Blue trails generally have steeper sections with tighter turns and more rocks (some trails very rocky at the 'back' of the hill.  B lines available at one or two obstacles.  DH course = world championship standard and requires a full on DH bike, full face helmet and protection.

Tricky bits: Lots on blue and black tracks, many unavoidable.  Mainly rocks, ledges, rollovers, occasional man made feature (see-saws etc) to enjoy.

There are no shopping facilities at Stromlo but local shops & Woolies are only 15 minutes drive away at Cooleman Court (Brierly Street, Weston).

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Stromlo Forest Park is a multi-use park with a world class mountain bike trail network which has something for everybody, having hosted World Cup and World Championship races in Cross Country, Downhill, 4X, Trials. It also hosts 24 hour races including the 2010 Solo 24 Hour World Championships and the Scott 24 hour.  

Stromlo has a highly developed network of marked mountain bike trails ranging from easy UCI graded Green to Double Black Diamond sections. The trails are centred around Mount Stromlo, one of Canberra's most visible landmarks and only a 20 minute drive from the centre of the city. If you like your history, have a look at this link.

Right now there are basic facilities at the Park including plenty of parking, toilets, water and showers.  A cafe has recently opened at the top of the "mountain" which to date hasn't balked at accepting grubby mountain bikers.  Good coffee, food and views to be had here either during or after your ride.

There is water, toilets and showers (they may even be hot), but apart from that you'll have to BYO.  There is a kiddie's playground and BBQs so it's a good place to bring the family - they cook, you ride! 

There are plans to develop the Park into a much more sophisticated venue with further trails, accommodation and even a chairlift mooted in the Draft Masterplan.

Before you head to the Park, check the resources below, or if you've already been, chuck a note in Trail Status Updates to let everyone else know how the tracks are looking.

Can I ride Stromlo today?

A number of mountain bike events, trail maintenance and yes, even weather, can affect the rideability of some of Stromlo's tracks throughout the year. So before you pack for that weekend away at Stromlo, check out the following links:

• Rider trail status updates.

• Click here to see if any large events will affect your day at Stromlo.

• Check that planned trail maintenance isn't going to ruin your day here.

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How do I get there?

Stromlo Forest Park is just a 20 minute drive from the centre of Canberra, but make sure you've got your spares.  Check your A to Z or Satnav ("Urriara Road") for directions if you can't get to the big hill with the white domes on top, or follow the reasonable signage from Civic.

View Stromlo Forest Park locality & parking in a larger map

Trail map Click on the map for a larger version

 

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