WHERE TO RIDE?
Important note. This is not the place to learn to ride a bike. When we refer to beginner, it is given that you know how to ride a bike.
Discovery Trail – Roads
Hanging Rock – Dirt trail
The Oaks Fire Trail – Dirt trail
Narrowneck Plateau – Dirt
GBMT – Roads/Dirt – Beginner
Anvil & Pulpit Rock – Roads/Dirt
Mt Hay – Dirt
Falconbridge Point – Dirt
Discovery Trail (BMD) – Road
*Beginner Friendly*
There are just so many beautiful locations to visit on the Katoomba, Leura and Wentworth Falls Blue Mountains Discovery Trail, you just can’t get in all done in one day, or can you?
YES, YOU CAN!! Grab an urban or mountain E-Bike and you will have the freedom to take in all the sights at your own leisure. Visit all the lookouts and be treated to the spectacular views of the famous 3 Sisters at Echo Point, Megalong Valley, The Great Divide, Narrowneck Peninsula, Jamison and Kedumba Valleys, Mount Solitary, Katoomba Falls park, Leura Cascades Park, Sublime Point and Wentworth Falls, just to name a few.
Don’t forget stop along the way and enjoy some delicious food and coffee from the outstanding local Blue Mountain café community.
Hanging Rock Trail – Dirt
*Beginner Friendly*
16km return, 2 to 3hrs
The Hanging Rock look out is nothing short of SPECTACULAR. It is an absolute must do! You get yourself to Blackheath via the GBMT trail or the train and then pick up the Burramoko Ridge dirt fire trail to start your awe-inspiring ride to the edge of the magnificent Grose Wilderness and Hanging Rock. The Burramoko dirt cycle fire trail leads you along a ridge to a dramatic rocky bluff. With scenic valley views and crisp mountain air, it’s a sublime ride for any adventurer who wants to feel how small we truly are next to mother nature. You meander through heathlands, open forests and dramatic views on route to Baltzers lookout, in search of Hanging Rock.
Upon arrival, we have no gates and no fences (totally raw), so expect your tummy to clench and the heart rate to elevate. You’ll feel on top of the world as you gaze across the scenic tree-lined enormous gorge fringed by golden cliffs to Mt Banks. On a clear day you can view the Sydney CBD! Here you enjoy your snacks and relax to enjoy the moment! This is a great ride for most skill and fitness levels.
The Oaks Fire Trail – Dirt
*Confident Beginner Friendly*
30km one way, 3-4hrs
This trail has it all and is the best mountain bike specific ride the Blue Mountains has to offer. A great point A to point B scenic mountain bike trail that is 85% downhill, starting from Woodford train station (650m above sea level) and finishing at Glenbrook train station (100m above sea level). The first 11km will give you some good hills and great views over the sweeping valleys, gorges and views back to the Sydney CBD before you get into a 7km downhill fire trail descent...AWESOME FUN!
After this you head into 5.5km -1% gradient single track and then into a 1km professional built gravity style track (if you are up for it). When you hit the bottom of the gorge, you then test your endurance with the climb out to the gorgeous cosmopolitan village of Glenbrook.
Narrowneck Plateau - Dirt
*Intermediate Friendly*
33km return – 3.5-5hrs
If you want to test your endurance, this is the one. Of all the rides listed here, this one is physically the hardest. It has lots of big hills! On the other side of the big hills are loose rocky downhills, so you should be confident in your ability.
As with everything in adventure, its risk/effort versus reward and in this case, the reward is worth it! On the trail, you will be riding out on a narrow peninsula that divides the Megalong and Jamison Valleys and at some points, you will nearly have 360 degree views. At the end of the trail, you can sit for lunch and take in all the awesomeness of the Kanangra and Grose Wildernesses. On a clear day, out to the east, you will be able to spot Lake Burragorang.
GBMT – Dirt/Road/Path
*Beginner Friendly*
25-45km Return, 2.5 to 4hrs
The Great Blue Mountains Trail was an ambitious project to develop a regional trail from east to west across the Blue Mountains ridgeline, accessible from all towns, villages and train stations along the way. It’s currently open from Leura to Blackheath, and is well signposted the whole way.
This ride is perfect for beginners who are not looking for anything too technical. It follows a combination of quiet roads and purpose-built trails that shadow the highway and rail line. As with most rides in the mountains, you’ll experience amazing scenery, passing though some lovely forest canopy and popping out for some captivating clifftop views. The Hydro Majestic Hotel at Medlow Bath is a perfect place to stop for some food and amazing photos of the Megalong Valley looking back toward Jenolan Caves.
There’s plenty to check out in the historic township of Blackheath, as well as plenty of options for lunch or coffee before the return trip. If you’re starting out from Katoomba, the ride back has a little more downhill to make it easier on tired legs. Of course, you can always jump on the train too if you’ve already emptied your tank!
This ride has so many options and All in all, this is a super day out. Surely there’s no better way to explore the Blue Mountains than to hit a purpose-built trail on a mountain bike or e-Bike!
Anvil and Pulpit Rock Trails – Road/dirt
*Beginner Friendly*
16km Return, 2.5-3.5hrs
You get yourself to Blackheath via the GBMT trail or the train and find Hat Hill Road. Another classic Blue Mountains “out and back” adventure, the Anvil Rock Trail (Hat Hill road) follows a tar road to just after Pulpit Rock road, then turns into a well-graded dirt road/trail along a ridge line out to 2 fantastic lookouts – one taking in Anvil Rock and the other at Perry’s Lookdown. On your way back, pop down Pulpit Road to see the Pulpit Rock lookout or another spectacular vista!
This ride is a great semi off-road introduction for new riders as there are no major climbs, and the reasonably smooth dirt road makes for a fast, easy ride. Fantastic views of the Blue Mountains are on offer for most of the ride and on a clear day the Sydney skyline is clearly visible. You can expect to encounter some traffic, as the trail is also open to cars.
Mt HAY ROAD TRAIL – Road/Dirt
*Beginner Friendly*
35km Return, 3-4 hours
Mt Hay Road leaves from Leura. The return trip from the train station is approximately 35km. Once the road turns to dirt, you follow the well graded trail all the way out to the Mt Hay and Butterbox lookout car park. The trail is open to vehicles, so take care. The smooth trails and undulating terrain allow for some good riding speed with the hills certainly testing the legs. As the trail takes you closer to the lookout carpark, the landscape absolutely opens up and the views over the Grose Valley Gorge are breathtaking. You will also enjoy gazing at the basalt rock peak of Mt Hay which is over 15million years old!
This is recommended for the fitter adventurers or mountain e-Bikers!
FALCONBRIDGE POINT – Road/Dirt
*Beginner Friendly*
25km Return, 3hrs
Leaving from the Falconbridge train station, you are riding to another amazing lookout over the wild Grose Valley and its river system. This trail is a pretty easy ride without any big hills and is a good introduction to mountain biking whilst being nearly impossible to get lost. It does have some short loose sections that you need to keep a lookout for.
