Return of the Jedi

Return of the Jedi MTB Trails is a compact mountain bike trail network near Margaret River in Western Australia’s South West, offering around 8 km of singletrack through natural bushland north of town. It is one of the three main Margaret River MTB riding areas, alongside the Wooditjup Trails (The Pines) and Creek Trails / South Carters, and is particularly well suited to beginner and intermediate riders, families and anyone looking for a cruisier Margaret River mountain bike ride. The Margaret River Region describes the network as predominantly beginner-friendly green riding, with free entry. Despite the name, Return of the Jedi is actually a trail area rather than a single trail, with a collection of playfully Star Wars-themed singletracks weaving through the forest. Trails include Forest Moon of Endor, Spank It Luke Skywalker, The Dark Side, Dark to the Light, Fly Casual and Darth Vader, with the network combining flowing natural singletrack, gentle climbing and enough twists and turns to keep the riding interesting without the bigger technical features found elsewhere around Margaret River. Forest Moon of Endor is a blue-rated climbing trail of roughly 1 km and is commonly used after Darth Vader to regain elevation and return towards the main loop. Spank It Luke Skywalker is another blue-rated trail of around 1.1 km, adding a little more challenge while remaining accessible to capable recreational riders. The interconnected layout means riders can combine several short trails rather than committing to one long loop. Return of the Jedi is also useful as part of a much larger Margaret River MTB ride. The network sits close to the Wadandi Track and can be incorporated as a singletrack detour when riding the former railway corridor. Riders can then continue towards the extensive Wooditjup / Pines trail network, creating a ride that combines relaxed rail-trail kilometres with purpose-built and natural singletrack. Return of the Jedi has even featured in the Cape to Cape MTB, with race routes linking the Wadandi Track, Jedi trails and The Pines. Spring is an especially good time to ride, when the surrounding Margaret River bushland comes alive with Western Australian wildflowers. The relatively mellow terrain also makes Return of the Jedi a good stepping stone before progressing onto the more extensive green, blue and black trails at Wooditjup. RTS Tip: If you're new to mountain biking in Margaret River, Return of the Jedi is a great place to start. Ride a few of the shorter loops first, then connect onto the Wadandi Track and Wooditjup Trails if you want more distance. The network is compact but has plenty of intersections, so download the current trail map before heading out. For the full experience, embrace the Star Wars theme and link together Darth Vader, Forest Moon of Endor and Spank It Luke Skywalker — the trail names are almost as much fun as the riding.