Rising up as a beacon of singletrack adventure amid the flatlands less than an hour west of Melbourne, You Yangs Regional Park has emerged as a mountain bike mecca. Riders of all competency levels are drawn to a concentrated network of cross country and downhill trails that cut through a distinctive landscape of giant granite boulder fields.
Chock full of variety, the park’s two distinct areas boast a 44-kilometre web of purpose-built trails of varying lengths and difficulties that caters to all abilities. Trails range from open dirt roads and fast, flat and flowing routes, to tight, technical singletrack and some of the most demanding downhill runs in Victoria. Riding the You Yangs is always a memorable experience.
Kurrajong Plantation and Stockyards
Trails are located in Kurrajong Plantation near the main entrance in the south and Stockyards in the north. Kurrajong trails are largely easier to ride, while Stockyards makes the best use of crater-like topography to provide plenty of rollercoaster rides on more challenging terrain. Stockyards still has trails that cater for the less experienced.
The two areas are joined by the 12-kilometre Great Circle Drive touring route, a non-technical all-day ride experience. It's shared with vehicles, though still a quality riding challenge with some great views. The Stockyards features the Stockyards Track, an outer loop maintenance trail that links up the various trails in that section of the park. The Kurrajong Plantation has numerous internal maintenance roads that create many riding loop options.
Easy rides and faster fun on Kurrajong
The Kurrajong Plantation trails provide a perfect introduction to mountain biking while also offering some fast, flowy fun for more experienced cross country riders. The trails are mostly flat, with small dips, dry creek crossings, bridges and boardwalks featured. A car park inside the park entrance with Parks Victoria offices and toilets makes an ideal starting point. Alternatively, you can base yourself at the Kurrajong Avenue car park, a more central trail access point.
Junction Track
Linking the Kurrajong trails to those at Stockyards in the north on the western side of the park is Junction Track. For a free-flowing ride interspersed with some decently technical rock garden sections, this trail is best ridden north to south (Stockyards to Kurrajong). As a consistent climb ride, it can be ridden south to north, with a fun and fast descent section in the middle. Either way, it features great views to the west and towards Federation Peak, the pinnacle of the You Yangs. A second linking trail, the Eastern Epic, combined with Great Circle Drive, has created a whole of park loop.