PLACES TO RIDE IN TOWNSVILLE
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Douglas Mountain Bike Reserve – Cross Country & All Mountain Some of the best single track in Australia. 23km of trails catering for the spectrum of riding abilities from beginners thru to advanced. Come and check out for yourself what mountain bikers from all over the country are raving about. These trails are in the hills up behind the James Cook University and opposite the Water Treatment Plant. Best entry points are: 1. From the Rockwheelers Car Park near corner Angus Smith Drive & Freshwater Drive. Nearest trails are Scrub Pythons & Easy Street; & 2. Monkhouse Road beind John Flynn College, James Cook University. Neareast trail is Wobbegong; & 3. Windarra Avenue at the top of Riverside Ridge estate. Nearest trail is The Long Way. 24/7 access during drier months of April to December, limited access on dry days during the wetter months. Walkers and joggers who use these trails so please be aware and take care. Remember also, riders travelling downhill GIVE WAY to riders climbing uphill. Useful links: Douglas Mountain Bike Reserve Trail Maps Galleries of photos from Douglas trails available here. Join other folks for a ride via our FORUM. |
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Mt Stuart Downhill Track - Downhill The DH track at Mt Stuart was Townsville's first official mountain biking dedicated venue with permission from Townsville City Council to hold regular events and training here. This track has been built by many hardworking volunteers and under the steerage of Rockwheelers MTB. To reach the start of the track, drive up Mt Stuart Rd until you reach the second plateau which is roughly 5km from the turn off on Flinders Highway. You'll see a large sign with the Rockwheelers logo and you can park on the right hand side of the road. The track is fast and flowy with lots of berms, a couple of drops and some nice big jumps. You'll see lots of like minded riders out having a blast most days of the week. Site layout map is availabe here |
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Lake Ross (Ross Dam) - Cross Country In 2007 Rockwheelers secured a 10 year permit to access the Lake Ross storage area for holding XC club rides and events, and to build a network of sustainable trails that are suitable for the beginner to intermediate rider. This area is only open to mountain bikers during Rockwheelers club organised rides or events, or to Rockwheelers members on weekends. It IS NOT OPEN TO RIDE WHENEVER YOU LIKE. Riders caught by Rangers on the trails outside of a Rockwheeler event risks hefty fines - ouch! How to get there - at the Willows Shopping Centre, Kirwan, turn into Riverway Drive (a.k.a. Upper Ross River Rd ) and follow the road all the way to Kelso. Keep going and you'll get to Ross Dam Park on your left – it is just beside the Ross Dam. The gate to get into the trails is locked and only opened for club rides at the beginning and end of the ride. This gate is not the one leading up the dam wall - it is on the left (goes down the gully) before the parking area. Read the XC Ride Briefing for specific info on riding at Lake Ross. |
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Alligator Creek (Bowling Green Bay National Park) - Cross Country More details soon |
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Townsville Town Common - Cross Country More details soon |
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Bluewater Forestry Road – Cross Country This has been a good place to head out into the bush close to Townsville and with some consistent hill climbs for training. QPWS have been keen to reduce the number of motorbikes using the track and have recently installed a great many water-bars - so catch some big high speed air on the descent. Head north out of Townsville for about 30 minutes until you reach the Bluewater Creek and bridge. A service station is on the right, over the bridge. Take the first left passed the bridge; this is Forestry Rd and is opposite the Toolakea turn off. Follow the bitumen road until it turns to dirt – about 6 k. This is where riders meets to for any of the club advertised rides - keep an eye on the calendar. From here it is flat riding for about 6.5k to the causeway at the bottom of the range then another 6.5k uphill to the shed. The ride up the range is pretty straight forward, however it can be long and tiring in summer (fit riders won't have too much problem) and takes about 45 - 60 minutes to the Hut. From here you can continue on forestry track to Keelbottom Creek which is about 14k from the Hut. The track is clear of growth but arduous from Keelbottom onwards. Turn around and have some great downhills on the way back to your car. This can be a pretty demanding ride and the track conditions can change dramatically after rains. Map of track from Bitumen Road to Keelbottom Creek here. Map of track from Hut, thru Keelbottom Creek to the Loggers Caravan here. |
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Paluma Dam - Cross Country Go north out of Townsville for about 45 minutes, to the Paluma turn off on your left, then another 20 minutes to half an hour up the range to Paluma. Rides can start either in the township of Paluma , ride about 5 km on through to the Paluma Dam turn off on the right (there is no sign that says Paluma Dam it says "Lake Paluma" instead). The road to the dam (Lake Paluma) is accessible most of the year by 2 wheel drive vehicle and is approx 11km to the dam where you get to have a swim when you are finished. Most of the riding will be in rainforest or wet to dry scheropyhll type forest. It can be a bit cold in winter (understatement!) and a bit wet or very hot in summer. The club runs a number of social rides on the forestry trails beyond the dam wall which Rockwheelers have gained permission to access – see the FORUM for details. Map of Paluma Dam loop here. |
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Castle Hill – bitumen
The ride to the lookout car park is bitumen all the way (3km uphill) and is a fairly even grade up the hill. It takes 15 to 25 mins for reasonably fit mountain bikers to ascend. The road is popular with walkers and is a scenic drive so there are always pedestrians, dogs and pushchairs (all over the road) and cars to contend with, both on the way up and back down. There is a good view from the top.
Map of the climb here.
Mount Stuart – bitumen
Take the road to Charters Towers (Flinders Highway) and you'll find Mt Stuart Rd on your right when you get into the 100k zone out of Stuart. The road to the TV towers is bitumen all the way but is a steep climb up three hills. The up ride usually takes about an hour and has a good view of Townsville once at the top. The first twenty minutes or so is the worst, steep and continuous, so hang in there. The rest isn't too bad except for the last short pinch to the top. However these steep grades make for an exciting down ride that can take less than 20 minutes.
This ride is very strenuous and not for the novice or unfit rider.
Map of the climb here.
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Townsville Rainfall Map
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If >10mm at Black Weir or Ross River Dam, trails too wet. Leave 6-8 hours sunshine to dry before riding Douglas or Ross Dam or you may damage the trails. |
