THE OAKS FIRE TRAIL
The most famous and most popular ride in Sydney and the Blue Mountains
Distance: 28km one way from Woodford commuter carpark (lower). Catch the train back up
Descent: 1014 meters (super fun)
Time Required: 3-5 hours, depending on skill level, lunch and sightseeing stops
Grade: Medium
Fitness level: Average fitness required. Expect to walk some hills – it’s all part of the fun! It’s also a great excuse to stop and check out the views
Experience: Beginner and up. Always ride within your ability
Terrain: Graded fire trail, with an 8k single track option towards the end
Trail surface: Graded, Rocky, Gravel, Sandy, Clay
Notes: Mobile reception is variable. Weather can change rapidly so pack clothing accordingly. Always have a minimum of 2 litres of water on you (bottle fill up is at the start gates).
TRAIL DESCRIPTION
One of the most popular mountain bike tracks in Australia, “the Oaks” Fire trail has all the elements of a great ride and experience. The trail runs between Woodford (altitude 607 m) and Glenbrook (altitude 163 m). The ride is downhill 80% of the way with a steep final kick as you climb the road out of the National Park to Glenbrook Village.
While there is a decent amount of climbing in the first half of the ride, once the helipad is reached at the halfway mark, it’s one long fun downhill run. As the trail winds its way along ridge tops make sure you take the time to have a look around as some excellent views of the lower Blue Mountains can be had. On a clear day you can see all the way to Sydney CBD.
If it’s been recently graded, the smooth wide trail allows for a sustained thrilling high speed blast. The icing on the cake is the fantastic single track section towards the end, which is one of the best in Sydney.