From Western Sydney to the Northern Beaches, the Blue Mountains and beyond, we have found the best mountain bike trails in Sydney.
Mountain biking is booming in Sydney with new and upgraded tracks springing up all over the city.
Whether you still have the training wheels on or you’ve been darting down mountains for years, these trails are sure to thrill you.
Bare Creek Bike Park, Northern Beaches
Distance: 1.6km of downhill bike trails
Difficulty: Beginner – Advanced
How to get there: The best access point is 2819 Crozier Road, Belrose where 40 parking spots and overflow street parking is available. See a trail map here.
The park features 1.6 km of downhill bike trails, flow trails, skills and dirt jump areas, a pump track, walking trails, a dedicated access road, as well as toilets, drinking fountains and bike maintenance stations.
Less experienced riders can warm up with their bike on the pump track and skills area before working through a progression zone and then taking on the advanced gravity trails.
Wylde MTB Trail, Cecil Park
Distance: 12km circuit
Difficulty: Beginner – Advanced
How to get there: The entrance is located on Range Road, off Elizabeth Drive in Cecil Park, parking is available. See a map of Wylde MTP trail.
Wylde MTB trail caters to beginner, intermediate, competent and advanced mountain bikers. You can cut the course at 3km, 6km or go the full 12km if you’re looking for a challenge.
The Western Sydney mountain bike trail has a kids loop making it perfect for families. It also has a pump track (perfect for warm-ups) and a jump run with two separate take-off mounds for those really wanting to perfect their craft.
The amenities at Wylde MTB trail is what makes it one of the best mountain bike trails in Sydney. Toilets are a short ride from the trail and nearby bubblers and picnic areas mean you can treat yourself to a post-ride refreshment.
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Hornsby Mountain Bike Trail
Distance: 6km
Difficulty: Intermediate- Advanced
How to get there: Parking is available on Quarry Rd or in the Dural Street car park. Alternatively, you can catch the train in with Hornsby Station close by. See a map of Hornsby Mountain Bike Trail.
Known as Old Man’s Valley to regular riders, Hornsby Bike trail is a short distance from Hornsby in Sydney’s upper north shore. You’ll find the entrance behind the local swimming pool.
The single-track trail is a combination of wide one-metre trails and narrower bushland trails.
Less experienced riders should begin on the green trail. However, it is best suited to competent riders with some off-road experience as it is not as easy to ride as it seems.
Old Man’s Valley has enough technical bits of the track for those who want to test their skills. This is one of the best mountain bike trails in Sydney for being able to transport yourself from a scrambling Sydney suburb to peaceful bushland in a matter of minutes.
Manly Dam Mountain Bike Trail
Distance: 11km loop
Difficulty: Beginner – Advanced
How to get there: There best access points are Gibbs St, Manly Vale, Upper Clontarf St, North Balgowlah, Kirkwood St, Bantry Reserve, Seaforth and both Roosevelt Ave and Nyrang St at Allambie Heights. Parking is available at all of them.
With scenic views of Manly Dam and Middle Harbour, it’s no surprise Manly Dam mountain bike trail is one of the most best mountain bike trails in Sydney. Manly Dam’s popularity means that the track can erode a little faster than others so be cautious when riding.
There’s a little something for everyone, with short bits of paved road and long cruises for beginners and steep, rocky slopes for advanced mountain bike riders.
Once your legs are wobbling like jelly and you’ve worked up quite the appetite, you’ll find four picnic and barbecue areas to relax at. The area has a kids playground, and on-leash dogs are allowed, so you can bring the whole family along.
Gahnia and Serrata, Bantry Bay Valley, Garigal National Park
These two trails on Sydney’s northern beaches actually connect up to Manly Dam via a bridge across Wakehurst Parkway. This is challenging terrain with sandstone rocks, jumps and steep climbs.
Gahnia
Distance: 2km (one way)
Difficulty: Advanced
How to get there: Street parking is available on Grattan Crescent, from here travel to the start of the Bluff track. Follow the track along to the start of the Gahnia mountain bike trail.
Serrata
Distance: 1.5km (one way)
Difficulty: Intermediate – Advanced
How to get there: Park on Currie Road near the head of the Currie Street Trail and follow it south until you hit the start of Serrata.
The Gahnia and Serrate single-tracks take Sydney’s mountain bike trails to the next level. They were hand-built to minimise the environmental impact of the track. The result is a natural track full of rugged features and lush greenery.
Serrata is shorter and generally easier than Gahnia. It has a variety of track sections including steep drops as well as smoother detours so that mountain bikers can build their skills.
Gahnia is a rocky trail that has lots of challenging sections and so is best suited to advanced riders. If you’re not sure how your skills rank up, there is a 50m test track so that you can be sure.
Take a look at the POV video of these Sydney mountain bike trails below to see if you are up for it.
Lake Parramatta MTB Loop
Distance: 8.2km loop
Difficulty: Beginner – Advanced
How to get there: There is access on Illawong Road, North Parramatta, with plenty of free and paid parking available. Or you can catch a bus or train in, as it is a short walk from Parramatta Station.
Lake Parramatta MTB Loop features a great forest setting that is suitable for every type of mountain bike rider. The Lake Parramatta Reserve is open all year round, with the main gate opening at 6.30 am and closing at 5.30 pm (7.30 pm during Summer).
Part of what makes this one of the best mountain bike trails in Sydney is the off-track features. There are plenty of picnic tables and barbecue spots available and cafes are just a stone throw away if you don’t feel like BYO.
Yellomundee Mountain Bike Trail, Hawkesbury Heights
Distance: 19km (total)
Difficulty: Beginner – Advanced
How to get there: Access to the reserve and trail is off of Springwood Road, Hawkesbury Heights. See a map of Yellomundee Mountain Bike Trail.
A great network of single tracks, Yellomundee Mountain Bike Trail is the perfect place for beginners to really improve their skills.
The track is between Yellow Rock Lookout and Hawkesbury Lookout, so there are plenty of scenic lookouts to relax at post mountain biking.
The well-maintained tracks have a steady flow but enough technical up and downhill bits to keep your ride interesting. There is little signage along this Sydney mountain bike track so remain cautious.
Mill Creek Mountain Bike Trail, Lucas Heights
Distance: 14km (total)
Difficulty: Beginner – Advanced
How to get there: There is one access point at 1839 Little Forest Rd, Lucas Heights NSW. Park in the ANSTO car park and ride towards the tip (left out of the car park). Follow the fire trail for a few hundred metres until you reach a sign reading ‘Lucas Heights Conservation area. This is the trailhead. See a map of the track route.
The Mill Creek Mountain Bike Trail is a work-in-progress under construction by a team of volunteers. Working bees are held on the first Saturday of each month. You can volunteer yourself by contacting Sutherland Shire Council Bushcare.
Originally ridden without permission by mountain and motorbikers for years, Mill Creek has always been a rough-around-the-edges track, free of man-made features. However, volunteers have reinforced the track for a more welcoming riding experience.
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Hanging Rock, Blackheath, Blue Mountains National Park
Distance: 15.6km (return trip)
Difficulty: Beginner
How to get there: Follow Ridgewell Road to the locked gate where you’ll find a small car park and the beginning of the Burramoko Fire Trail. Alternatively, you can catch a train to Blackheath Station, Ridgewell Road is 1km away. See a map of the trail.
Burramoko Fire trail is mostly flat with a few short steep inclines to test your strength. Scenic views of open Blue Mountain bush sit either side of the trail.
Continue exploring even once the bike trail ends. At the end of the trail is a large clearing which you can follow to find a path to Baltzer Lookout and views of the Grose Valley.
Hanging Rock and Baltzer Lookout are rough unfenced clifftops so we advise extreme caution and that children should be supervised at all times.
Narrow Neck Trail, Blue Mountains National Park
Distance: 19km (return from gates)
Difficulty: Intermediate to advanced
How to get there: If driving, head west from Sydney on the Great Western Highway to Katoomba, follow Lurline St and Cliff Drive towards Scenic World, then turn onto Glenraphael Drive where you must follow the unsealed road around 2km to reach the locked gate and the start of the trail. Parking is available at the locked gate.
If you’re using public transport, Katoomba train station is 5km from the start of the trail. See a map of Narrow Neck trail.
Starting from the locked gate, the trails travels through the length of the high plateau to Clear Hill. The middle of the trail enjoys views of Jamison Valley on one side and Megalong Valley on the other. By the end of the trail, you’ll feel on top of the world as you take in the landscapes stretching across the Wild Dog Mountains, Kanangra Wilderness and Lake Burragorang.
It’s a challenging ride, with rocky and gravel surfaces and so is best suited for experienced mountain bikers.
The mountain bike trail in Greater Sydney will treat you to plenty of photo opportunities, with native birds, wildflowers and open forest and swamplands.
Cascades Trail, Garigal National Park
Distance: 3.2km one way
Difficulty: Intermediate
How to get there: The trail has two access points. In St Ives, the trail starts on Douglas Street near Acron Road. The other trailhead is on Stone Parade, Davidson. Both access points have nearby street parking. See a map of the trail.
Go chasing waterfalls along this Sydney mountain bike trail. The trail gets its name from a series of little waterfalls and rockpools at the junction of Middle Harbour Creek and French’s Creek – a great place to pause and enjoy a break on your ride.
Along the trail you’ll see native Australian trees such as Sydney red gums, Red Bloodwoods and Scribbly Gums.
While mountain biking keep in mind this is a trail shared by walkers and horse riders too.
