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Stretching for around 80 km from Laura to Wilmington, the Southern Flinders Rail Trail is a fantastic way to experience the landscapes, country towns and railway history of the Southern Flinders Ranges by bike. Following sections of the former railway corridor, the trail travels through Laura, Stone Hut, Wirrabara, Booleroo Centre and Melrose before finishing at Wilmington, with Mount Remarkable and the Flinders Ranges providing an increasingly impressive backdrop as you head north. The route is divided into several sections, each with its own character. Riders will encounter everything from open farmland and peaceful rural riding to sections following the Rocky River, views across the Appila Plains and the spectacular final approach towards Mount Remarkable. The trail surface varies between fine and coarse gravel, with stock grids, rougher patches and several creek crossings adding a little adventure to what is otherwise a relatively gentle rail-trail experience. While sections can be enjoyed by riders of most abilities, a mountain bike or capable gravel bike is a good choice if you're planning to explore the full route. The trail can easily be broken into shorter out-and-back rides or individual town-to-town sections, making it just as suitable for a relaxed morning pedal as it is for a bigger point-to-point adventure. Melrose makes an ideal base for exploring the northern end of the trail and combining it with the area's mountain biking. The Melrose to Wilmington section runs for around 20 km beneath Mount Remarkable and through open plains and creek crossings, while the rail trail also provides a cycling connection into the Willowie Forest trail network. If you're turning the ride into a few days away, bike-friendly Under the Mount provides a convenient base in Melrose, while Beyond the Mount can help take some of the hassle out of rider and bike transport. That makes it much easier to plan point-to-point rides or combine the rail trail with Melrose, Willowie Forest and a wider Southern Flinders riding adventure. With historic railway remnants, small country towns, rugged Flinders scenery and some of South Australia's best mountain biking sitting right on its doorstep, the Southern Flinders Rail Trail is a great ride in its own right—and an even better backbone for a multi-day cycling trip through the region. Distance: Approx. 80 km Surface: Fine & coarse gravel Difficulty: Easy–Intermediate Best for: MTB, gravel, recreational riding & bike touring Route: Laura – Stone Hut – Wirrabara – Booleroo Centre – Melrose – Wilmington Location: Southern Flinders Ranges, SA RTS Tip: This is remote-country riding, so plan your route and resupply points carefully. Carry more water than you think you’ll need, food, first aid, repair gear and offline navigation, as mobile reception and reliable water supplies can be limited. April to November generally offers the best riding conditions, while the extreme summer heat is best avoided. Check weather and road conditions before setting out — heavy rain can quickly make unsealed tracks difficult or completely impassable.

The Mawson Trail is one of Australia's most iconic bikepacking adventures, stretching almost 900 kilometres from the Adelaide Hills to the historic outback town of Blinman in the Flinders Ranges. Designed primarily for mountain bikes and sturdy adventure bikes, it weaves through forests, vineyards, farming country and rugged outback landscapes, delivering an unforgettable journey across the very best of South Australia. The route passes through many of South Australia's most recognised cycling destinations, including the Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, Bundaleer Forest, Melrose, Quorn and the spectacular Flinders Ranges. Along the way you'll encounter quiet back roads, forest fire trails, rocky four-wheel-drive tracks and remote station tracks, with scenery changing dramatically as you head north into the ancient red ranges. While many riders tackle the trail over 10–14 days, the Mawson Trail is also commonly ridden in sections, making it accessible for long weekends or shorter bikepacking adventures. Towns along the route provide plenty of accommodation, food and resupply options, while a number of local operators offer shuttle services and rider logistics. Melrose is a particularly popular base, with options including cycling-specific accommodation at Under the Mount and shuttle services from Beyond the Mount. The trail is well signposted with green and white Mawson Trail markers, but riders should still carry official maps or offline navigation. A good level of fitness, mechanical knowledge and self-sufficiency is recommended, particularly through the Flinders Ranges where water, phone reception and services become limited. Whether you're chasing the challenge of completing Australia's premier long-distance off-road trail or simply exploring one of its many incredible sections, the Mawson Trail is a true bucket-list ride that showcases the diversity and beauty of South Australia. Ride Highlights: Nearly 900 km of epic bikepacking from the Adelaide Hills to Blinman. Ride through the Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, Bundaleer Forest, Melrose and the Flinders Ranges. Mix of forest trails, gravel roads, station tracks and remote outback riding. Plenty of accommodation, food and resupply options along the route, with local shuttle operators available to assist with transport and section riding. Suitable for full end-to-end adventures or shorter sectional rides. One of Australia's premier long-distance mountain bike and adventure cycling experiences.

Nestled at the base of Mount Remarkable, Melrose is one of Australia's premier mountain biking destinations, boasting around 80 kilometres of purpose-built singletrack through spectacular South Australian landscapes. With flowing cross-country trails, technical descents, rocky challenges and breathtaking scenery, it's the kind of destination that keeps riders coming back. The trail network caters to a wide range of abilities, from beginners discovering mountain biking through to experienced riders looking for technical challenges. Popular trails including Greener Pastures, Hellrose, Throwing Copper, The Big Rhua and Dodging Bullets showcase the variety on offer, combining flowing singletrack, rocky terrain, rewarding climbs and exhilarating descents. Many of Melrose's trails traverse private property, generously made accessible by local landowners. Riders are asked to respect this access by staying on marked trails, following signage, helping prevent the spread of weeds and leaving dogs at home where required. One of Melrose's greatest strengths is the community built around its trails. Visitors can connect with the friendly locals from Bike Melrose through regular social rides, while Over The Edge Melrose offers bike hire, guided rides, skills coaching and maintenance support, making it easy for first-time visitors to get out and experience the network. Melrose is also incredibly easy to turn into a full riding getaway. Much of the town's accommodation is within riding distance of the trails, including Ride The State Foundation Partner Under the Mount, offering bike-friendly accommodation right at the foot of Mount Remarkable and an ideal base for exploring the area. Want to explore beyond what you can reach straight from town? Fellow RTS Partner Beyond the Mount can help with bike transport and shuttle options, including connections between Adelaide, Melrose and further north towards Blinman—particularly handy for riders incorporating Melrose into a bigger Flinders Ranges or Mawson Trail adventure. With trails on the doorstep, a passionate local riding community and plenty of bike-friendly places to stay, eat and explore, Melrose is much more than somewhere to squeeze in a ride. Whether you're planning a weekend escape, tackling the 18/6/3 Hours of Melrose or making it part of a longer South Australian riding road trip, it's a destination well worth putting on the list.

The Southern Flinders Rail Trail is an 80 km gravel adventure running from Laura to Wilmington, taking riders through the changing landscapes, small towns and railway history of the Southern Flinders Ranges. Following much of the former railway alignment, the trail passes through Stone Hut, Wirrabara, Booleroo Centre and Melrose, with Mount Remarkable and the Flinders Ranges providing an impressive backdrop along the way. While predominantly an easy-going rail trail, this isn't necessarily smooth cruising from start to finish. Surfaces vary between fine and coarse gravel, with rougher sections, stock grids, creek crossings and exposed stretches adding a little adventure. Mountain bikes are particularly well suited to the full route, although some of the smoother sections are suitable for hybrids and other capable gravel bikes. The trail can be tackled as one longer journey or broken into individual sections, making it easy to build into a Southern Flinders riding getaway. Highlights include the Rocky River around Stone Hut and Wirrabara, views across the Appila Plains, railway remnants around Booleroo Centre and the spectacular approach towards Mount Remarkable and Melrose. The final 20 km between Melrose and Wilmington runs beneath Mount Remarkable before crossing open plains and small creeks, with views towards the wider Flinders Ranges. Melrose makes an excellent base for exploring the northern sections of the trail, particularly if you want to combine the rail trail with the town's extensive mountain bike network. Bike-friendly Under the Mount is one accommodation option right at the foot of Mount Remarkable, while Beyond the Mount can make the logistics easier with rider and bike transfers, including pick-ups and drop-offs along the rail trail. Rail Trails Australia specifically lists Beyond the Mount as a transport option for the route. Autumn through spring is generally the best time to ride, particularly around the more exposed northern sections where summer temperatures can be high. Riders tackling longer stretches should carry plenty of food and water, allow extra time for creek crossings and wind, and be aware that mobile coverage can be limited. Distance: Approx. 80 km Surface: Fine & coarse gravel Difficulty: Easy–Intermediate Best for: MTB, gravel/adventure riding & bike touring Route: Laura – Stone Hut – Wirrabara – Booleroo Centre – Melrose – Wilmington Location: Southern Flinders Ranges, SA

Located just north of Melrose in Mount Remarkable National Park, the Willowie Forest Mountain Bike Trails add a distinctly Flinders Ranges flavour to the wider Melrose riding experience. The purpose-built network was designed and constructed by TrailScapes and features around 17 km of one-way singletrack, using a stacked-loop layout that allows riders to progressively take on more challenging terrain as they move further from the trailhead. The riding here feels a little different to the trails immediately surrounding Melrose. Expect raw, rocky terrain mixed with sections of fast, flowing singletrack, with less of the steep, rolling character of the town trails and more of the rugged landscape you'd expect from the Southern Flinders Ranges. The network caters for beginner through to intermediate riders, with family-friendly options alongside progressively more challenging features for riders wanting to step things up. One of the best things about Willowie is how easily it can be incorporated into a bigger Melrose ride. Rather than driving, riders can reach the network from town via an approximately 9 km cruise along the Southern Flinders Rail Trail, linking two very different riding experiences. Alternatively, there's parking at the dedicated trailhead just off the Horrocks Highway, with toilets, shelters, picnic tables and a bike repair station available. If you're making a few days of it, Melrose makes a great base for exploring Willowie alongside the town trails and wider Mount Remarkable network. Bike-friendly Under the Mount puts you right amongst the action for accommodation, while Beyond the Mount can help with rider and bike transport if you're looking to explore further afield or incorporate Melrose into a bigger Southern Flinders or Mawson Trail adventure. With purpose-built singletrack, rugged Flinders Ranges scenery and easy connections back into Melrose, Willowie Forest is well worth adding to the itinerary rather than treating it as an add-on to the town trails. Trails: Approx. 17–20 km Difficulty: Easy / Green to Intermediate / Blue Style: MTB singletrack, flow, natural & rocky terrain Best for: Beginners, families & intermediate MTB riders Access: Trailhead off Horrocks Highway or approx. 9 km ride from Melrose via the Southern Flinders Rail Trail Location: Willowie Forest, Mount Remarkable National Park, SA

The Remarkable Epic Trail is the big-ticket backcountry ride of Melrose—a challenging 39 km loop beginning and finishing in town before heading deep into the rugged landscapes of Mount Remarkable National Park. With around 1,100 metres of climbing and descending, this is a proper adventure ride that showcases just how spectacular the Southern Flinders Ranges can be from the saddle. Rated Intermediate (Blue) with difficult sections, the Epic is less about manicured bike-park flow and more about natural, adventurous riding. Expect long stretches of singletrack, rocky and variable surfaces, loose scree, exposed trail edges and gradients generally reaching 10%, with short, steep sections of up to 15%. Difficult features have intermediate alternatives, but the overall physical challenge means riders should arrive with a good level of fitness and confidence on technical terrain. And then there are the views. The route climbs away from Melrose into the ranges, opening up spectacular outlooks across the Willochra Plains and Black Range, with glimpses towards Spencer Gulf before eventually looping back beneath the impressive Gibraltar Rock formations. It's a ride that feels genuinely remote despite starting and finishing right from one of Australia's best-known mountain bike towns. Allow at least 4–6 hours, and potentially longer depending on fitness, conditions and how often you stop to take in the scenery. Riders shouldn't start the full loop after midday and should carry sufficient food, water, repair equipment, first aid supplies and extra clothing. Mobile reception can be limited and conditions on the range can change quickly, so this is definitely a ride to plan properly rather than squeeze into the end of the day. One of the best parts is rolling straight back into Melrose when you're finished. If you're making a riding trip of it, bike-friendly Under the Mount provides a convenient base close to the trails, while Beyond the Mount can help with rider and bike transport if the Epic is just one part of a bigger Melrose, Mawson Trail or Flinders Ranges adventure. Distance: Approx. 39 km loop Climbing: Approx. 1,100 m Difficulty: Intermediate / Blue with difficult sections Physical rating: Hard Ride time: Allow 4–6+ hours Style: Backcountry MTB / XC / All-Mountain Start & Finish: Melrose, SA Best for: Fit intermediate and experienced mountain bikers looking for a big adventure ride The Remarkable Epic is not just another trail in the Melrose network—it's a destination ride in its own right, combining a big day on the bike with remote terrain, technical riding and some of the best scenery in the Southern Flinders Ranges. As of July 2026, all designated MTB trails within Mount Remarkable National Park, including the Remarkable Epic, are open following recovery from the 2025 Wilmington fire.