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The Brassall Bikeway Rail Trail is a family-friendly cycling and shared-use path through Ipswich in South East Queensland, combining easy riding with a fascinating piece of Queensland railway history. Following part of the route of the first railway line built in Queensland, the rail trail section runs between Wulkuraka, Brassall and North Ipswich, providing around 3.5km of high-quality, traffic-free pathway suitable for cyclists, walkers, families and recreational riders. The wide, sealed path makes this an easy and accessible ride, with railway-themed features and pieces of Ipswich's industrial history to discover along the way. Highlights include Mihi Junction, an impressive bridge across Mihi Creek and remnants of the historic coke mine that once supplied Queensland's railways. The wider Brassall Bikeway extends the riding possibilities further, linking neighbourhoods around Ipswich through predominantly off-road cycling paths. Riders can also visit The Workshops Rail Museum at North Ipswich, making it easy to turn a short ride into a bigger family day out. One of the biggest attractions for touring and adventure riders is the connection at Wulkuraka with the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail. From here, riders can continue north towards Fernvale and beyond, opening up one of Queensland's best-known long-distance cycling adventures. Whether you're looking for cycling in Ipswich, family-friendly bike trails near Brisbane, Queensland rail trails or a starting point for the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail, the Brassall Bikeway is an easy one to add to the list. RTS Tip: The dedicated Brassall rail trail section is relatively short, so it's perfect for a relaxed ride or for combining with Ipswich's wider bikeway network. If you're chasing a bigger adventure, use the connection at Wulkuraka to explore the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail. The path is shared with walkers and other users, so keep speeds appropriate and give way where required.

Castle Hill Blackstone Reserve near Ipswich is a compact but seriously fun mountain bike network built across the rugged remains of a historic coal-mining landscape. The reserve has around 16km of dedicated MTB trails, with more than 15 IMBA-rated trails ranging from beginner-friendly loops through to steep and technical singletrack. Start out on the flowing Blackleg Gully Circuit, then explore a maze of short trails that make clever use of the reserve’s sharp climbs, gullies and rocky terrain. More experienced riders can seek out technical options including Inca, while remnants of old mine tunnels, shafts and mining infrastructure give Castle Hill a character completely different to your typical bushland MTB park. RTS Tip: The individual trails may be short, but don’t underestimate Castle Hill — the steep terrain means you can quickly rack up plenty of climbing by linking repeated loops together. Download the trail map before you ride and keep an eye out for the historical mining features as you explore. It’s a great network for sessioning different trails rather than chasing one long continuous loop.

Hidden Vale Adventure Park at Grandchester, around 30 minutes from Ipswich, is one of Queensland’s biggest privately owned mountain biking destinations, with an 80km+ trail network spread across a spectacular 12,000-acre nature refuge. The network caters from beginners through to experienced gravity riders, mixing relaxed touring trails, technical singletrack, big climbs and some seriously long descents. Highlights include the 7.5km 500 Above, one of Queensland’s longest descents, along with Devine, Skyfall, Dialled Inn, Fire Break, Jalapeno, Treedom and Remnant. Add a skills park, bike hire and shuttle uplifts and there’s easily enough here for a full day — or a whole weekend — of riding. RTS Tip: Hidden Vale is a private, paid-entry bike park, so grab your trail pass and check current trail conditions before heading out. If you want to maximise the descending, the HVAP High 5 shuttle service accesses several of the park’s major gravity trails, including 500 Above, Devine, Dialled Inn and Skyfall. Otherwise, earn your turns and explore the huge network under pedal power — just make sure you sign in and out at the trailhead.

Spring Mountain Forest Park MTB Trails Spring Mountain Forest Park, in Logan’s western suburbs near Springfield and Greenbank, Queensland, offers a growing network of mountain bike and shared-use trails through a large area of lowland eucalypt forest. The park connects directly with Ipswich’s White Rock–Spring Mountain Conservation Estate, forming part of the important Flinders–Karawatha Corridor. The riding combines purpose-built singletrack with wider multi-use and fire trails, giving riders plenty of scope to create anything from a short beginner ride to a longer backcountry-style loop. The official MTB network includes Thornbill (1.1 km) and Sheoak (800 m) as the main easy trails, while intermediate riders can explore Batwing (400 m), Horseshoe Loop (1.9 km), Pinto Path (1.6 km), Monarch (2.7 km) and Surefoot (1.8 km). Together, these trails provide a good mix of flowing singletrack, climbing, rocky sections and natural bush riding without the large jumps and gravity-focused features found at dedicated bike parks. For a first visit, Thornbill and Sheoak provide the easiest introduction. Thornbill creates a playful singletrack entrance into the park before connecting with Sheoak and the wider trail network. Sheoak follows gentler slopes through stands of sheoak and large eucalypts before joining Horseshoe Loop, where rocky outcrops and undulating terrain start to add more challenge. More experienced riders can combine Monarch and Surefoot for approximately 4.5 km of backcountry-style singletrack. These trails contour through varied terrain with switchbacks, creek crossings and granite boulders before connecting with Mountain Creek Break in the valley below. Pinto Path provides another useful connection through the network, with a mix of easy and moderate gradients and some rewarding descending when ridden in the opposite direction. One of Spring Mountain’s strengths is the ability to build much longer adventure rides using the surrounding multi-use trail network. The neighbouring White Rock–Spring Mountain Conservation Estate contains additional cycling routes and bush trails, allowing capable riders to put together substantial loops through the broader conservation corridor. RTS Tip: Spring Mountain is a great option for riders who enjoy natural XC and exploratory trail riding rather than a jump-focused bike park. Newer riders should start with Thornbill and Sheoak, then add Horseshoe Loop before progressing to Monarch and Surefoot. Distances may look short on the map, but the hilly terrain, rocky sections and repeated climbing can make a bigger ride surprisingly demanding. Download the official trail map before heading out, and remember that many routes are shared with walkers and horse riders, so ride accordingly.

The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (BVRT) is Australia’s longest rail trail, stretching 161km from Wulkuraka near Ipswich to Yarraman through the heart of country Queensland. Following the former Brisbane Valley railway line, the traffic-free route rolls through farmland, forests and historic railway country, linking towns including Fernvale, Lowood, Coominya, Esk, Toogoolawah, Moore, Linville, Benarkin and Blackbutt along the way. Most of the trail is compacted gravel, although riders will encounter rougher and rockier sections, creek crossings and a decent climb through the Blackbutt Range. Ride a short section for the day or load up the bike and tackle the entire trail as a multi-day gravel adventure, stopping at country cafés, pubs and accommodation along the way. RTS Tip: You definitely don’t need to ride all 161km to enjoy the BVRT. Pick a town-to-town section that suits your fitness, or use one of the local shuttle services to create a one-way ride without doubling back. A gravel, hybrid or mountain bike is the best choice rather than a road bike, and carry plenty of water between towns. Check current trail updates before setting off, particularly after heavy rain when creek crossings, flooding or washouts can affect sections of the route.

The Fassifern Valley Rail Trail is a short but scenic ride through the Scenic Rim near Boonah, around 90 km south-east of Brisbane. Currently covering approximately 2.6 km, the trail follows remnants of the former Dugandan railway line through open countryside, offering views across the surrounding ranges and a taste of the region’s railway history. The trail is split into two sections. The Boonah to Hoya section runs for around 2 km along a mostly grassed and compacted corridor, passing a historic cemetery and railway cutting. The shorter Dugandan to Boonah section is approximately 600 m and follows an asphalt path along the route once used by steam engines accessing the local timber mill. The Fassifern Valley Rail Trail, also known as the Fassifern or Boonah Rail Trail, is a short slice of railway history on the outskirts of Boonah in Queensland’s Scenic Rim. The currently open rail-trail sections total around 2.6km, following remnants of the former Dugandan railway line that once connected the district’s timber mill, butter factory and market gardens with Ipswich. The main 2km Boonah–Hoya section follows a mostly grassed and compacted corridor past a historic pioneer cemetery, while a separate 600m sealed section between Boonah and Dugandan traces the old line near the former timber mill. It’s an easy-going ride best enjoyed for its rural scenery, railway history and views towards the mountains of the Scenic Rim rather than as a long-distance cycling challenge. RTS Tip: Turn the short rail trail into a bigger Boonah loop by continuing from the Hoya end along the connecting paths and quiet local roads back into town. A mountain bike, gravel bike or hybrid is a good choice for the grass and coarse-gravel surfaces. Boonah is also a great place to finish, with plenty of cafés and supplies for a post-ride stop.

Lockyer Valley Gravel – Backroads & Gravel Cycling Sitting between Brisbane and Toowoomba, the Lockyer Valley is a brilliant destination for gravel riding, with quiet country roads, steep gravel climbs, farmland and rugged ranges creating plenty of opportunities to explore by bike. Around Gatton, Helidon, Laidley and the surrounding Lockyer Valley, riders can leave the busier roads behind and discover a network of rural backroads and gravel routes winding through one of Queensland's most productive farming regions. Don't assume it's all flat farmland though. Head towards the ranges and the terrain changes quickly, with some serious climbing available for riders chasing a bigger challenge. Routes around Helidon climb from the valley floor into the surrounding hills, combining long gravel ascents with fast descents and expansive views back across the countryside. The variety makes the Lockyer Valley a great base for everything from a shorter gravel spin to a challenging full-day adventure. It's also well positioned for riders travelling from Brisbane, Ipswich or Toowoomba, making it an easy addition to a South East Queensland gravel riding weekend or road trip. For those wanting to explore further, the wider region opens up even more riding towards the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail, state forests and the extensive network of gravel roads throughout Queensland's inland ranges. RTS Tip: There isn't one single Lockyer Valley gravel route — this is a region with plenty of backroads and cycling adventures to discover. Ride The State will work on getting the best routes added as individual Ride Cards over time. Until then, use the mapping and route links provided to explore your options and always check current road, weather and access conditions before heading out.

Mount Joyce MTB Trails Mount Joyce Mountain Bike Trails, at Lake Wyaralong in Queensland’s Scenic Rim, offer around 25 km of purpose-built IMBA-standard singletrack in a spectacular lakeside setting north-west of Beaudesert. Accessed from the Eastern Trail Access at Wyaralong Dam, the network ranges from beginner-friendly green trails through blue and black terrain to serious double-black riding, making Mount Joyce a destination for everything from recreational cross-country riding to technical gravity sessions. The event-standard network includes steep climbs and descents, rocky terrain, technical trail features and longer flowing sections, with impressive views across Lake Wyaralong and the surrounding Scenic Rim. The dedicated MTB trails sit within a much larger recreation network at Wyaralong, where riders can also access multi-use trails around the lake. More than 40 km of multi-use tracks and trails extend through the wider area, providing opportunities to combine the purpose-built singletrack with longer cross-country and adventure rides. The Shoreline Trail is another option for riders wanting to explore beyond the main MTB network. What makes Mount Joyce particularly appealing is the progression available within one trail system. Newer riders can stay on the easier trails while experienced mountain bikers can tackle steep grades, rocky technical sections and advanced gravity terrain. The combination of substantial elevation, purpose-built singletrack and the Lake Wyaralong backdrop makes it one of the standout mountain biking destinations between Brisbane, Ipswich and the Scenic Rim. RTS Tip: Mount Joyce can be hot, exposed and physically demanding, so carry plenty of drinking water and don't underestimate the climbing between descents. Double-black trails are intended for very experienced riders, so check the current trail map and grading before dropping into an unfamiliar line. Access conditions can also change due to weather, fire management or maintenance, so check the latest Seqwater Wyaralong recreation alerts before travelling.