Mountain Bike Trails in the Southern Downs
The Southern Downs is fast becoming a mountain biker’s paradise, with new mountain bike trails, plenty of town facilities and a growing mountain biker community dedicated to creating new trails.
The mix of granite rock and numerous soil types make the Granite Belt a truly distinctive destination for mountain biking. Read on for our top trail recommendations to conquer this year.
1. Mount Marlay Mountain Bike Trail
Discover the fun of mountain biking on granite at Mount Marlay, where you’ll find trails to match all levels of difficulty. Mount Marlay is conveniently located just 1.5 kilometres from the beautiful town of Stanthorpe, making it a short trip from the town’s shops and cafes to wind down after a day working up a sweat.
Since opening in 2018, the Mount Marley trails have been attracting both pro enthusiasts and less experienced mountain bikers giving it a try for the first time.
The Southern Downs is known for its spectacular granite boulders and interesting granite outcrops, which are traditionally admired from a view. These mountain bike tracks on the other hand, let visitors experience the thrill of riding on that granite to experience the Southern Downs & Granite Belt in a completely different way.
There are beginner friendly mountain bike trails that are suited to families and teenagers or more challenging trails for those looking to pushing their skills with the ‘black’ rated tracks. These are the most challenging mountain bike trails and attract experienced mountain biking enthusiasts.
2. Girraween National Park Mountain Bike Trails
Image by @darlingdownsoutdoors
The Peak Trail and the Creek Trail are two mountain biking trails that are a must to experience for mountain bikers within the Girraween National Park. The Peak Trail offers 10.6km (return) of spectacular views of Mount Norman as you peddle through the forests of Girraween. For a more leisurely mountain biking experience, be sure to check out the 3.5km (circuit) Creek Trail, which will take you across slight inclines and creek crossings.
As a bonus, these trails are connected. So, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous and one track isn’t enough to scratch your mountain biking itch, then you’re more than welcome to try and tackle both tracks one after the other.
3. Passchendaele State Forest and Broadwater State Forest Mountain Bike Trails
In the Stanthorpe area there are two popular fire trails to ride at Passchendaele State Forest and Broadwater State Forest, both lovely and shaded trails for mountain biking.
A distinct advantage is that these trails are comprised of sand, whereas other trails around Queensland are typically clay based making them unsuitable to ride on after rain. Fortunately, for passionate mountain bikers, Stanthorpe’s sand-based mountain bike trails are ready to ride pretty much straight after a rain event.
For more information visit Trailforks website page that profiles the Stanthorpe trails and follow The Stanthorpe Mountain Biking Club on Facebook.
4. Mountain Bike Trails near Main Range National Park
Main Range National Park is an area of great natural beauty, offering panoramic mountain views and magical water crossings along its mountain bike trails.
Main Range National Park is home to four main mountain bike trails that wind through various scenic and historical sites to stop and admire on your way through:
Keep in mind parts of these trails are on public roads that are also used by motor vehicles. Remember to take care, stay safe, and be aware of your surroundings.
5. Durikai State Forest Mountain Bike Trail
Image by @darlingdownsoutdoors
Durikai State Forest is 40 kilometres west of Warwick along the Cunningham Highway and offers 14.5km to 16.5km of mountain biking trails. There are three entry points into the forest, but the main one is the unsealed Durikai Road. Turn left off the highway onto Durikai Road and continue for around 700 metres to where Thane E W Road departs to the left. This intersection is the trailhead for the Durikai State Forest MTB Trails, and Thane E W Road is where you will be headed as soon as you get on the bike. It is worth noting that none of the roads on this trail are sealed and hardly any are signposted.
A quick break down of the different mountain bike trail colours and difficulties:
- Green Granite (green – beginners)
- Rusty (green – beginners)
- The Grape Escape (blue – a little more challenging)
- Hammerhead (black – experienced riders)
- Tank Slapper (black – experienced riders)
- Zoolander (black – experienced riders)
- Under the Radar (double black – experienced riders)
For more information, check out the Trailforks website trails or contact Southern Downs Mountain Biking Club Inc.
While You’re Here
Make a weekend of it by checking out these other things to do in the area:
- Here’s a local’s guide on spending 24 hours in Stanthorpe.
- Travelling in Spring or Summer? Here’s our top 7 must visit waterholes to check out.
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