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Knapsack MTB Trails – Glenbrook Knapsack Reserve is one of the Lower Blue Mountains’ key sanctioned mountain bike areas, sitting at Glenbrook/Lapstone on the eastern escarpment. The reserve combines purpose-built MTB singletrack and a dedicated downhill trail (Stringline Knapsack DH) with historic fire trails and old railway infrastructure, all within easy reach of Western Sydney. Ride Blue Mountains describes Knapsack as having the longest sanctioned MTB trail and the only sanctioned downhill trail in the Blue Mountains. The riding has a distinctly old-school Blue Mountains character. Expect sandstone, rocks, roots, tight natural singletrack, technical sections and plenty of elevation change as trails work their way down the escarpment. The downhill trail provides the more gravity-focused option, while the surrounding trails allow riders to put together shorter XC and trail-style sessions. One of the great things about Knapsack is the setting. The reserve contains remnants of the historic Lapstone Zig Zag railway, including cuttings and the spectacular sandstone Knapsack Viaduct, built in 1867 as part of the original railway crossing of the Blue Mountains. This gives the area a mix of MTB, bushland and railway history that’s pretty unique. Knapsack is also brilliantly positioned for a bigger day on the bike. Nearby Glenbrook provides access to the famous Woodford–Oaks Trail, including its purpose-built technical singletrack section, while Bennetts Ridge and other authorised riding in the Glenbrook area provide plenty of opportunities to extend the adventure. The main reserve access is from Barnet Street, Glenbrook, and the location is relatively easy to reach from Glenbrook and Lapstone stations. For riders searching for Knapsack MTB, Glenbrook mountain bike trails, Blue Mountains MTB, downhill mountain biking near Sydney or mountain biking in the Lower Blue Mountains, Knapsack is an important local network to have on the ride list. RTS Tip: Knapsack is one where current mapping is worth having with you. Ride Blue Mountains notes that signage can be poor and the return route from the downhill trail isn’t particularly obvious until you know the network. There are also many unsanctioned trails elsewhere in the Blue Mountains, so stick to the recognised Knapsack trails rather than assuming every piece of visible singletrack is legitimate.

Stringline is one of the gravity-focused trails within Knapsack Reserve at Glenbrook in the lower Blue Mountains, offering a short but action-packed descent for riders looking for something more technical. Expect steep sections, rocky and loose terrain, technical lines and features that reward confident bike handling. It’s a trail designed to be sessioned, with plenty packed into the descent and easy access to the wider Knapsack trail network for riders wanting to build it into a bigger day. RTS Tip: Take your first run slowly and inspect unfamiliar features before committing — Stringline can be loose, rocky and unforgiving when ridden at speed. It’s best suited to confident riders with appropriate equipment, and conditions can change quickly after rain or trail maintenance. Water is available at Knapsack Football oval.

The Woodford to Glenbrook ride is one of the Blue Mountains' must-do adventures, offering something for almost every level of rider. Simply catch the train to Woodford Station and roll onto the trail from there. Don't be fooled into thinking it's all downhill though! There are a few solid climbs early on, including the ascent to the helipad, but they're well worth the effort. The panoramic views are spectacular, and once you've reached the top you'll be rewarded with kilometres of fun descending all the way towards Glenbrook. Be prepared before you leave. There is a water tap at the top gate, but after that there are no facilities until the Glenbrook National Park entrance. Carry plenty of water, snacks, basic spares and sunscreen, as the first half of the ride offers very little shade. When you reach the gate, you can choose to continue on the classic Oaks Fire Trail (now sealed) or take the 7km Oaks Singletrack alternative (see the Oaks Singletrack ride card for details). From there you continue all the way into Glenbrook via the sealed road, the gorge crossing is usually shallow enough to keep dry if you roll through at the correct speed! — just remember to save a little energy for the final climb out of the gorge. If you're looking to extend your day, the surrounding National Park offers plenty of fantastic add-on rides, including Nepean Lookout (10km return - turn right before the singletrack), Red Hands Cave (10km return - turn left a few hundreds meters after the gate), Bennetts Ridge, Portal Loop, Portal Lookout and, for those still chasing more kilometres and Singletrack, Knapsack Reserve on the Glenbrook side of town. Strong riders can comfortably complete the ride in around 1 to 1.5 hours, while beginners, families and riders wanting to stop for the views should allow 3 to 4 hours to fully enjoy the experience.

The Coathanger Loop is a popular mountain bike circuit in the lower Blue Mountains, combining some of Glenbrook's best-known fire trails and singletrack into one varied ride through Blue Mountains National Park. Linking sections of Bennetts Ridge, The Oaks, Ironbarks and surrounding trails, the loop delivers a great mix of rolling ridgelines, fast fire trail, bushland scenery and more technical singletrack. One of the best things about the Coathanger is how easily it can be extended or adapted depending on how much riding you want to do. Add-ons can include the Portal Loop & Lookout for views across the Nepean River, a run out to Nepean Lookout, exploring The Oaks Fire Trail and Oaks Singletrack, or incorporating a visit to Red Hands Cave for a completely different Blue Mountains experience. Expect plenty of climbing and descending, loose and rocky surfaces and some more technical sections depending on which trails you include. It's best suited to intermediate mountain bikers, although experienced riders can easily add distance and difficulty by linking additional trails throughout the Glenbrook network. Starting from the Glenbrook entrance to Blue Mountains National Park gives riders access to parking and facilities and makes it easy to build anything from a shorter local loop to a substantial half-day adventure. National park vehicle entry fees apply if driving into the park. With so many options branching from the main route, the Coathanger is less about following one exact lap and more about linking together some of Glenbrook's best riding into your own adventure. Add the Portal, Nepean Lookout, Red Hands Cave or extra Oaks kilometres and you can make the ride as short—or as epic—as you like.

Glenrock MTB Trails – Newcastle Glenrock Mountain Bike Trails are one of the Hunter region’s best-known mountain biking destinations, tucked into Glenrock State Conservation Area between Newcastle and Lake Macquarie. Despite being only around 8km from Newcastle CBD, the network delivers genuine bush riding through coastal forest, gullies and ridgelines, with opportunities to ride all the way towards Burwood Beach, waterfalls and scenic lookouts. The official network offers around 34km of riding, made up of approximately 14km of purpose-built MTB trails and 20km of linked management trails. Trails range from green beginner routes through blue intermediate and black advanced riding, making Glenrock suitable for newer riders while still offering plenty of technical terrain for experienced mountain bikers. Expect classic Newcastle sandstone-country riding with flowing singletrack, rocky technical sections, roots, short punchy climbs and fast descents. The management trails can also be used to link different parts of the park together, so riders can create anything from a quick session to a much bigger day exploring Glenrock. One of the things that makes Glenrock special is the setting. The trails wind through open forest and woodland before providing connections towards Burwood Beach, Leichhardt’s Lookout and waterfalls, giving the network a distinctly coastal feel that sets it apart from many inland MTB parks. There’s also significant work underway to shape Glenrock’s future. A new Glenrock State Conservation Area Mountain Biking Plan was released in April 2026, setting out the long-term development and management of sustainable MTB riding in the park, including dedicated Northern, Middle, Southern and Brunker loop areas and skills zones. Navigation is relatively straightforward, with large trail maps at the major entrances and individual MTB trails signed and graded. Importantly, NSW National Parks operates a clear rule here: if there’s no cycling sign, don’t ride it. Some other tracks within the conservation area are walking-only or otherwise closed to bikes. For riders searching for Glenrock MTB, Newcastle mountain bike trails, Hunter MTB, mountain biking near Lake Macquarie or coastal MTB trails in NSW, Glenrock is an essential network to have on the ride list. RTS Tip: With 34km of trails, Glenrock is worth giving more than a quick lap. Use the purpose-built singletrack together with the management trails to explore different parts of the park and make a proper day of it. There are currently park alerts affecting parts of Glenrock, so check the latest NPWS alerts and trail information before heading out.

A fun and casual Singletrack loop that can be ridden in either direction then a steep sealed road climb that pays off with a magnificent view is certainly worth the addition to your Glenbrook national park riding trip. Tag it onto The Oaks Singletrack, The Oaks fire trail (Woodford to Glenbrook), Bennetts Ridge Loop (Coathanger), Red Hands Cave or Nepean Lookout. You can start the ride from any of the carparks but the singletrack loop start is what we have pinned to maps

The Oaks Singletrack is a dedicated mountain bike trail in the Glenbrook section of Blue Mountains National Park, providing a fun, technical alternative to staying on The Oaks Fire Trail as riders descend towards Glenbrook. The trail packs plenty into a relatively short distance, with flowing singletrack, sandstone rock features, tight corners, rollers, small drops and technical sections. It has a distinctly old-school Blue Mountains feel, using the natural rocky terrain to create a playful descent rather than the smoother, heavily machine-built style found at modern bike parks. The trail is predominantly intermediate riding, although individual features can provide additional challenge. Riders should be comfortable on uneven surfaces, exposed sandstone and rocky trail before carrying too much speed. While commonly ridden as part of the longer Woodford-to-Glenbrook Oaks ride, or adding on from Bennetts ridge loop, The Oaks Singletrack is a worthwhile trail in its own right and can be accessed as part of shorter MTB sessions within the Glenbrook area. One of its biggest appeals is simply how much fun it adds to a ride. After kilometres of wider fire trail, dropping into narrow singletrack immediately changes the experience, with plenty of corners and features to keep riders engaged all the way through. For riders searching for The Oaks Singletrack, Glenbrook MTB, Blue Mountains singletrack or technical mountain bike trails near Sydney, this is one of the Lower Blue Mountains’ best-known sanctioned MTB trails. RTS Tip: This Ride Card covers The Oaks Singletrack only, not the wider Oaks Fire Trail or Woodford-to-Glenbrook ride. It’s a relatively short trail, so think quality rather than kilometres — a brilliant section to add into a bigger Glenbrook MTB session. Check current NPWS alerts and trail conditions before riding, particularly after heavy rain.