Bicycle SA has been a leader in the development of mountain biking trails and events for many years, and its work has ensured that South Australia is seen as a leader in the development of this recreational biking.

Mountain Bike Code of Practice

• Plan your ride
  

• Obey 'No Bicycle' signs

• Ride only on formed trails designated for cycling
  

• Do not take short cuts or form new trails

• Share the trail

• Respect the rights of others

• Avoid riding in wet, muddy conditions

• Ride lightly and leave no trace or rubbish

• Control your bike

• Do not disturb plants and animals

• Clean your bike, don't spread weeds or plant diseases

• Tell other people about this code
  

How can mountain bikers minimise their impact?
Adhere to the MTB Code of Practice!
Be aware of Phytophthora - the soil borne root fungus that's killing our native vegetation. It spreads through the bush by the movement of mud and water, so help prevent its spread by heeding 'no access' & warning signs, staying on designated trails, and keeping your bike clean. Hygiene stations for walkers have been installed throughout the Mt Lofty Ranges; use them and look out for bike-specific ones planned for introduction
Share the trails and respect other users, maintain control of your bike, and leave
no trace

How do we design a low maintenance trail that won't erode, widen or collapse?
The key is to use trail design features that ensure effective drainage, such as:

• Full bench construction in mineral soil, with rock armouring where possible

• Appropriate trail routing (for instance along contours rather than across them) at reasonably gentle gradients (around 10% average)

• Out sloping tread surface with frequent undulations (grade dips) to improve drainage

• Good trail flow to reduce the need for the heavy braking that can create ruts

Involving the community in planning, building and maintaining trails, and helping to enhance the host environment is integral to managing recreational trails for sustainability.

The MTB community of SA is working towards providing sustainable trails.
Sustainable trails are those that have been planned appropriately for their environment and built to last! Sustainable design features minimise a trail's ecological footprint by resisting erosion, and providing users with a higher quality trail experience, while discouraging inappropriate use.

South Australia's State MTB Plan
Maps a path towards a sustainable future for mountain biking in SA, through:

• The provision of well integrated sustainable trails and trail networks

• Community education

• Enhanced partnerships between stakeholders including cycling organisations, governments, environmental groups and other trail user groups

Active initiatives include:

• Trails projects such as the Mawson Trail Network featuring the Cudlee Creek Forest MTB loops, and Eagle MTB Park
  

• Trail Standards (for planning, design and construction) and Classifications

• MTB Code of Practice

Cudlee Creek Forest is not only a region of exceptional natural beauty, it is also home to one of Australia's best Mountain Bike trail networks.

The Cudlee Creek sustainable trail network is situated in what was once a timber production forest that is slowly being transformed into a conservation area. The Cudlee creek Sustainable Trail network has been developed with environmental sustainability as a priority to ensure the area's long term future for recreation use is compatible with its conservation values. The project has been negotiated between stakeholders including Bicycle SA, ForestrySA, Inside Line, Adelaide Mountain Bike Club and the Office for Recreation and Sport, in consultation with local residents and other interest groups.

Designed for beginners, intermediate and advanced riders, trails have been assigned specific classifications to each ability level - green circle for beginner, blue square for intermediate and black diamond for advanced. Signage also assists with navigating the network and finding facilities.

KEEPING IT CLEAN AND GREEN - we would like to remind all users along Croft Road to slow down to reduce the effect of dust on those that live in the area and ensure all waste is removed from the riding areas as well as the roadside.

CUDLEE CREEK IS AN INTEGRATED NETWORK INCORPORATING

• New cross country trails built to best practice design standard

• Existing cross country trails popular for racing and recreational mountain biking

• Downhill trails with new sections designed and built for greater sustainability

• A selection of existing management tracks deemed appropriate for recreational use

• Links to the Mawson Trail

• Improved car parking and turn around facilities

• Trailhead signage and facilities

The network is fully sign posted with Mawson Loop Trail markers showing the trail classifications and directional arrows. The network provides the opportunity for a diversity of high quality off road riding experiences. Cudlee Creek Sustainable Trail network has been the host of a range of national and local Mountain bike, X-Country, downhill and endurance races since it's inception, and has developed a reputation as having some of the best trails in Australia.

Bicycle SA thanks the Office for Recreation and Sport and ForestrySA for providing funding to undertake this project, and all other stakeholders for their commitment and cooperation.

Click HERE for the network Trailhead

Click HERE for directions to the network

Eagle mountain bike park

Mt Barker Road, Leawood Gardens 

The Park provides a network of trails that cater for a variety of mountain bike disciplines and abilities. Approximately 21kms of cross country trails, a specifically designed downhill trail, a skills development park, a jumps park and a trials area.

The Park provides a network of trails that cater for a variety of mountain bike disciplines and abilities.

Approximately 21kms of cross country trails
A specifically designed downhill trail
A skills development park
A jumps park
A trials area

HOW TO GET THERE
The Park is located in the Adelaide Hills, approximately 12km South East of the Adelaide CBD.
The Park entrance for those arriving by car is on Mt Barker Rd, Leawood Gardens.

There is parking available at the Pastor Kavell lookout (UBD ref 132 C16) adjacent to the entrance.
To get to the lookout take the Eagle on the Hill exit (Mt Barker Rd) from the Adelaide to Crafers Highway.

From Adelaide
The lookout is approximately 1.5km along Mt Barker Rd.
Note: There is no right turn into the parking area for those travelling from Adelaide. Please make a safe u-turn approximately 100 metres further on.

From Crafers
The lookout is approximately 2.5km along Mt Barker Rd. 

A second entrance for bikes only is available on Hawk Hill Rd, via Hillcrest Avenue, Crafers West (UBD ref 144 K5). There is no turnaround area for cars along this road.

PARK ENTRY
Gates will be opened at sunrise and locked at sunset, 7 days a week.

PARK CLOSURE
The park will close on Christmas Day, total fire ban days and days of extreme weather in the Mount Lofty Ranges. Contact the fire ban hotline 1300 362 361.

Trail closures for individual trails will also occur at different times due to maintenance, unsafe conditions and to limit the spread of plant diseases such as Phytophthora cinnamomi (also referred to as Pc - see useful link below for further information)

EVENTS
Events will be held at the Park throughout the year. If you wish to ride the trails as part of an organised ride or event, contact Bicycle SA, Adelaide Mountain Bike Club or Inside Line Mountain Bike Club.

PARK MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE
Please obey signage within the Park. Some sections of the Park and certain trails may be closed for events, maintenance or management. Contact Park Management to report any management or maintenance issues. Phone 8416 6677 during business hours or 0423 029 873 at other times.

Pleae note that due to safety and management issues, dogs are not allowed in the Park.

A trail map has been provided for download by clicking here

Check out these shots taken by Bill Doyle - they're 'directory' pieces giving an idea of the tracks and surrounding bushland of the park (shot locations are mapped onto the official guide) click here

Kidman trail

The Kidman trail is a recreational trail for horse riders, cyclists and walkers. The trail extends over 255 kilometers from Willunga in the Fleurieu Peninsula to Kapunda in the Barossa. Features overlays of the Heysen, Mawson, Lavender Federation and Battunga Trails.

There are five maps in total comprising of the following sections:
Willunga to Echunga
Echunga to Nairne
Nairne to Mt. Crawford
Mt Crawford to Stockwell
Stockwell to Kapunda

Maps cost $9 each and can be purchased from Bicycle SA and Horse SA.

For more information on the Kidman Trail CLICK HERE

KIDMAN TRAIL - PERSONAL REPORT

Mogan, Tina and Andy have just returned from riding on the Kidman Trail. They spent five days on the trail and have been kind enough to send through their trip notes and tips for other cyclists. They chose to be self sufficient but did camp in a caravan park in Mt. Pleasant and stayed in a cabin in Nuriootpa, and stopped at several pubs along the way. Please see below their notes from the trip and tips for other cyclists.

DAY 1
From: Willunga
To: Rocky Creek Hut (Kuitpo Forest)
Distance: 35km (approx.)
Terrain: Very hilly in places but tracks were very good.
Comment: Great scenery, very peaceful. It was a little difficult lifting the bikes over the log barriers.

DAY 2
From: Rocky Creek Hut (Kuitpo Forest)
To: Hope Watts Road (east of Nairne)
Distance: 60km (approx.)
Terrain: Very hilly in places and some tracks were not so good.
Comment: after Macclesfield some of the off road tracks were quite difficult to push bikes up (each bike weighed about 60kgs). We got off the trail near Wistow and road the bitumen to Nairne.

DAY 3
From: Hope Watts Road (east of Nairne)
To: Mt Pleasant.
Distance: 52km (approx.)
Terrain: Good roads, some a little bit sandy. Some steep hills but not so steep you couldn't ride them. 1st gear of course. A bit of pushing bikes through sandy spots.
Comment: Got a little bit lost after following a track off Kubenk Rd, after Rockleigh. We must have missed a trail marker. Managed to get back on track with the aid of a GPS. We were quite tired at Tungkillo so we took the bitumen to Mt. Pleasant. Camped at the Mt. Pleasant Caravan Park.

DAY 4
From: Mt. Pleasant
To: Nuriootpa
Distance: 40km (approx.)
Terrain: Good road. No steep hills
Comment: The consensus of the group was to take the bitumen to Nuriootpa. We did not follow the trail. We went through Springton, Eden Valley and Angaston to get to Nuriootpa.

DAY 5
From: Nuriootpa
To: Kapunda
Distance: 20km (approx.)
Terrain: Gentle hills. Had some rain which made some of the tracks a bit claggy.
Comment: Decided not to go through Stockwell (still tired). Got back on the trail NNE of Nuriootpa.

ADVICE TO OTHER BIKE RIDERS

1. don't ride with too much weight
   
   
2. we didn't get any punctures due to prickles or thorns (in NOVEMBER)
   
   
3. I would recommend taking seven days to do the whole trail (although I don't know about the bits we missed, may even need more). We had a moving average of about 10kph!
   
   
4. don't attempt it unless you are reasonably fit
   
   
5. the stretch between Macclesfield and Mt. Pleasant doesn't seem to have many or any places to camp.
   Overall, the trail is very picturesque and peaceful.

Mawson trail

MAPS
High quality detailed maps of the Mawson Trail are available from Bicycle SA.

The maps complement the redeveloped trail and include all of the new re-routes, accommodation, route profiles and loop trails. For your convenience, the maps have been produced on durable, weather resistant and 100% recycled paper.

The maps are divided into three sections:
SECTION 1 - ADELAIDE TO BURRA
SECTION 2 - BURRA TO QUORN
SECTION 3 - QUORN TO BLINMAN

Each section includes three maps and each map covers approximately 100km of the trail and is conveniently folded to DL size. All maps contain Mawson Trail overview, ride tips and advice, full colour 1:75 000 map with terrain profile and legend, distance indicators, close-up town information with facilities and amenities, tourist information and contacts, loop trails along the route are also identified.

Copies are available from Bicycle SA at a cost of $8.50 inc GST per map. Total cost of all nine maps is $76.50

GETTING THERE

Download the following document on how to get to the Mawson Trail:

 Transport_to_the_Mawson.pdf 

EVENTS 

Not too keen on riding the Mawson trail alone but not into hardcore riding either?

Why not join us for Bicycle SA's 2011 Outback Odyssey ride along the Mawson Trail?

Exact dates yet to be confirmed but keep late April/early May 2011 free in your diaries for the amazing and challenging experience.

Click Here for more information on the Outback Odyssey

The town of Melrose in the Southern Flinders Ranges lies three hours drive north of Adelaide.

Melrose is fast becomming a jewel in SA's crown for single track mountain biking. With the Melrose FAT TYRE FESTIVAL held annually, take a weekend to explore the trails of Mt Remarkable and Bartagunyah.

On the way, why not take a detour at Wirrabarra (twenty minutes from Melrose) and ride in the natural beauty of Wirrabbara Forest.

Maps for Mt Remarkable and Bartagunya are available from Bicycle SA

More trails in South Australia

Check out this website to find detailed information on all South Australian Trails including Kuitpo Forest, Mt Crawford Forrest, Clare Valley, McLaren Vale, etc:

http://www.southaustraliantrails.com/trail_experiences.asp?type=cycling