Middle Earth

Middle Earth, at Metricup in Western Australia’s Margaret River Region, is a 24 km technical cross-country mountain bike loop located on Gale Road between Busselton and Cowaramup. Built by local riders Rod Lakelin and Pete Battye, the network packs an impressive amount of riding into relatively gentle terrain, using almost every rise, dip and natural feature to create a twisting maze of singletrack. Expect fast and smooth sections, rocky technical riding, log obstacles, berms, rock gardens and small-to-medium jumps, with constant pedalling making the full loop a surprisingly solid workout. Rated intermediate to advanced, Middle Earth is particularly well suited to confident XC and trail riders who enjoy maintaining momentum and tackling technical features rather than relying on long gravity-fed descents. The complete network generally takes 2+ hours to explore, and despite the relatively modest elevation, a full lap can be physically demanding thanks to the almost continuous pedalling. Middle Earth has also become well known through the Cape to Cape MTB race, where it has featured as part of the event’s final stage. Middle Earth sits within the wider Margaret River mountain biking scene, with other riding areas including Wooditjup, The Pines, The Creek and the Wadandi Track providing plenty of options for riders planning a dedicated MTB trip to the region. The trailhead is accessed from Carbunup Road near Gale Road at Metricup, making it an easy addition to a Margaret River, Cowaramup or Busselton riding itinerary. RTS Tip: Don’t let the lack of big hills fool you — Middle Earth is a proper XC workout, with 24 km of twisting singletrack and very little opportunity to switch off the legs. The network can also feel like a maze on your first visit, so download a current map before riding and allow at least a couple of hours to explore. Check current trail conditions before setting out, and build your speed gradually through the rocky sections, log obstacles and jumps.