Lapstone Zig Zag rail trail

The Lapstone Zig Zag is a short but fascinating heritage rail trail at Glenbrook and Lapstone in the Lower Blue Mountains, following sections of the original railway built to carry trains up the steep eastern escarpment of the Blue Mountains. At around 1.5km, the rail trail is more about history and exploration than big kilometres. The original Knapsack Zig Zag opened to railway traffic in 1867 and was an extraordinary piece of engineering for its time — the first complete zig zag constructed on a main railway line anywhere in the world. It was bypassed after only 27 years when the original Glenbrook Tunnel opened. One of the highlights is the spectacular Knapsack Viaduct, a huge sandstone railway bridge constructed across Knapsack Gully. When construction began in 1863, it was the largest stone viaduct in Australia. The lower section follows a gentle concrete path towards and across the viaduct, while other sections retain more of the original railway character with gravel, ballast and historic cuttings. At the upper end, a newer smooth asphalt shared trail from Knapsack Street follows the old railway formation through impressive rock cuttings, past the remains of Lucasville Station and down towards the upgraded Top Points Lookout. This section is particularly accessible and gives riders a great opportunity to experience the historic railway corridor by bike. The trail sits within Knapsack Reserve, so riders can also connect with the wider network of MTB trails, fire roads and lookouts around Glenbrook and Lapstone for a much bigger ride. For riders searching for Lapstone Zig Zag cycling, Blue Mountains rail trails, Glenbrook bike trails, Knapsack Reserve cycling or historic railway rides near Sydney, this is a brilliant little piece of Lower Blue Mountains cycling history. RTS Tip: Not every trail branching from the historic railway formation is rideable. In particular, the dirt paths descending beneath Knapsack Viaduct towards Elizabeth Lookout are walking-only. Stick to cycling-permitted sections and use current mapping to explore the wider Knapsack network.