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Boonah, in Queensland’s Scenic Rim, is an outstanding base for gravel riding, with a maze of quiet country roads winding through rolling farmland, ridgelines and the foothills of the Border Ranges. Rather than one fixed trail, riders can build numerous gravel loops from town, ranging from around 50 km to 150 km, combining maintained gravel roads with quieter sealed backroads. Expect spectacular mountain views, remote farming country and plenty of climbing — this is scenic riding, but it definitely isn’t flat. One of the best-known options is Mini Dirty Boonah, a roughly 97 km mixed-surface loop designed for experienced gravel riders. From Boonah, the route heads through the countryside towards Cannon Creek, Lake Maroon, Carneys Creek and Mount Alford before returning to town. The ridgeline along Cannon Creek Road is a highlight, with expansive views towards the Border Ranges, while the country around Lake Maroon delivers some of the ride’s most remote and spectacular scenery. Don’t underestimate the climbing. The ascent from Fletcher Road towards Carneys Creek Road includes gradients approaching 15%, and many of the smaller backroads feature repeated short, steep pinches. Alternative Boonah gravel routes can be equally demanding — an 88 km variation of Dirty Boonah has around 1,400 m of climbing and 46% unsealed surfaces, while longer adventures can quickly push beyond 100 km. For riders wanting a serious adventure, Boonah can also launch much bigger Scenic Rim bikepacking routes. One option heads from Boonah past Lake Maroon and White Swamp towards the Southern Downs and Stanthorpe, with a 162 km stage accumulating around 3,730 m of climbing. This is advanced riding through remote country with rough gravel, steep gradients and limited opportunities to resupply. RTS Tip: Boonah’s gravel riding is best suited to confident riders with good fitness and self-sufficiency. Carry plenty of water and food — on some loops there can be 70 km or more between reliable resupply points — and download your route before leaving town. A gravel bike with 38 mm+ tyres, low gearing and good brakes is a sensible setup. Avoid the hottest part of summer where possible, and for a classic first taste of the region, build a loop incorporating Cannon Creek Road, Lake Maroon and Mount Alford.

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.

Kooralbyn Valley MTB Park, in Queensland’s Scenic Rim, is a historic mountain biking destination with a network spanning everything from approachable green trails to serious black and double-black gravity riding. The park currently features more than 20 trails plus a skills area, with rocky natural singletrack, short punchy climbs, flowing descents, berms, jumps, drops and technical features providing plenty of variety for XC, trail, enduro and downhill riders. Kooralbyn also has an impressive place in Australian mountain bike history. The original trails hosted national-level racing and were once used as a training facility by the Australian MTB team, with Cadel Evans racing here at the 2001 National XCO Championships. After the original resort closed in 2008 and the trails became overgrown, local riders formed the Kooralbyn Valley Mountain Bike Club and began restoring the old network and developing new trails. Today the park once again hosts downhill, cross-country and gravity enduro racing, including the famous Black Snake downhill course. Located on Routley Drive at Kooralbyn, the park is within reach of Brisbane and the Gold Coast and makes a great Scenic Rim MTB day trip or riding weekend. The combination of progressive trails, technical gravity riding and genuine Australian MTB history makes Kooralbyn particularly worthwhile for riders wanting something beyond a manicured modern trail centre. RTS Tip: Don’t assume Kooralbyn is only for advanced gravity riders. There are green and blue options for developing skills, but the network progresses all the way to black and double-black trails with substantial jumps, drops and technical features. Check the trail grading before dropping in, and check the park’s latest updates before travelling as events can affect normal trail access.

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.

Tamrookum Creek Bike Park is a privately owned gravity-focused mountain bike park in Queensland’s Scenic Rim, around 90 minutes from both Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Set across an impressive 835-acre property with around 270m of elevation, the park has been built and managed by the team at All Mountain Solutions, with a strong focus on challenging enduro and downhill riding. The network features a mix of fast natural singletrack, steep descents, rock gardens, berms, drops and technical terrain, with trails including Turkey Run, Trap Door, Waterfall Way and Flat Out. Uplift shuttles operate during designated ride days, making it possible to maximise laps without having to pedal back to the top. RTS Tip: Tamrookum Creek is private property and isn’t open for casual riding every day — access is currently limited to designated open days, events and organised ride days. Check upcoming dates before making the trip. A full-face helmet and appropriate AusCycling licence are required for open days, and there’s no internet reception onsite, so organise everything before you arrive.

The Bethania to Beaudesert Rail Trail is an exciting developing cycling route in South East Queensland, following the corridor of the historic railway line that once connected Bethania with Beaudesert. The long-term vision is for approximately 43km of shared trail, creating a cycling and walking connection from Bethania through Logan Village, Jimboomba and the surrounding countryside towards Beaudesert and the Scenic Rim. While the complete Bethania to Beaudesert route is not yet open, sections of the old railway corridor are progressively being transformed for cycling and recreation. The established Logan Village to Yarrabilba section currently provides around 3.5km of sealed shared path, travelling through native bushland between Logan Village Green and Buxton Park at Yarrabilba. Further development is underway, with plans to extend the trail north from Logan Village towards Bethania, eventually providing a valuable connection with Bethania railway station and Brisbane's public transport network. Advocacy and planning also continue for the longer-term connection south towards Beaudesert. Once completed, the wider trail has the potential to become a fantastic Brisbane and Scenic Rim cycling experience, linking communities, countryside and the history of the former Beaudesert railway corridor while providing riders with an increasingly traffic-free way to explore the region. Whether you're searching for rail trails near Brisbane, cycling in Logan, bike trails around Beaudesert or family-friendly cycling in South East Queensland, this is definitely a trail to keep an eye on as the network grows. RTS Tip: The full Bethania to Beaudesert Rail Trail is not currently rideable as one continuous rail trail, so don't use the proposed 43km corridor as a cycling route without checking access first. Ride The State will update the Ride Card as new sections officially open. For now, check the mapping and latest trail information before heading out and enjoy the completed sections that are available.

The Canungra Tramway Tunnel Heritage Trail is a short cycling and walking experience near Canungra in Queensland's Scenic Rim, following part of the formation of the historic Lahey family's timber tramway. The highlight is the impressive Lahey's Canungra Tramway Tunnel, a roughly 90-metre tunnel cut by hand through solid sandstone in the Darlington Range. Constructed around the turn of the 20th century, the tramway was built to transport timber from the Coomera Valley to the Lahey family's large sawmill at Canungra. From the signed parking area beside Beaudesert–Nerang Road, a compacted-earth trail leads towards the tunnel and picnic area. Riders can then follow approximately 500 metres of the former tramway formation north towards Duncan Street and Canungra, making this more of a short heritage exploration than a traditional long-distance rail trail. The old tramway has a fascinating story. Despite using a tunnel to cross the range, trains still faced exceptionally steep gradients, with specialised Climax and Shay geared locomotives used to haul timber through the rugged country surrounding Canungra. Today, the tunnel is one of the most significant surviving reminders of Canungra's timber and railway history and is recognised as a local heritage attraction by the Scenic Rim Regional Council. For riders searching for cycling in Canungra, Scenic Rim bike trails, historic rail trails near Brisbane or cycling attractions around the Gold Coast hinterland, the Canungra Tramway Tunnel makes an interesting little stop to combine with a bigger day exploring the region. RTS Tip: The tunnel is currently fenced and cannot be ridden through. You can approach the entrance and explore the accessible former tramway trail, but don't plan this as a continuous tunnel ride. The most recent visitor report from February 2026 confirms the tunnel remains blocked, with a newer protective barrier allowing visitors to walk right up to the entrance.