The 16 trails that make up the Southern Trail Network have been built with real mountain bikers in mind and offer experience for beginners, intermediate and hardcore dirt fanatics alike.
The first must-do is to head to the Forrest Southern Mountain Bike Trailhead Skills Park. Here you will find a large asphalt pump track as well as a kids and adaptive rider friendly asphalt pump track, three skills lines and two (beginner and intermediate) jump lines. It is the perfect spot to start your mountain bike adventure and to test out your skills before hitting the trails.
Beginners or those new to the Forrest area might like to tackle one of the ‘easy’ trails first to get a feel for the area and the day ahead.
The Forrest Loop is a wide, two way shared walking and MTB trail and is perfect for those dipping their toes into the world of mountain biking. It travels from the trailhead to the new Flow Trails, then down to the West Barwon Valley. It’s a fun beginners trail with some long flowing corners and for those more advanced this will have you pumped up and ready for action.
Other beginner-friendly trails include: Rollercoaster, Sideshow Alley and Stomp Wallaby – check them out on the trail map below.
By now you will have had a taste of what the world-class Forrest mountain bike trail network is all about and are ready to take on the next challenge.
Our tip is to follow Barlidjaru – this shared trail runs off the Forrest Loop, past Barwon Dam and climbs most of the way to the Lake Elizabeth carpark. The trail climbs for 6 kms the trail will also connect you to upper, middle and lower Red Carpet. Either follow all the way to the Lake Elizaeth carpark or find your way onto Red Carpet Upper. Red Carpet Upper starts its way winding through lush, green fernery before beginning the descending through drier, scrubby bush. The fast descending section of Red Carpet Upper is one of Forrest’s signature experiences; it’s high-paced and full of jumps, banked turns, berms and off-camber sections.
Both of these trails are known as ‘more difficult’ and suitable for those more intermediate riders.
Beginner riders look away but experienced riders keep on reading!
Follow the Dog and Miller’s Mongrel are the Southern Networks ‘very difficult’ trails, suitable for advanced riders. Follow the Dog isn’t for the faint hearted; it’s a high quality advanced trail that takes you through tall open eucalypt forest and dense fern gullies. Physically Follow the dog is challenging; there’s a good long climbs and even better fast following descent with lots of gnarly features and steep sweeping berms.
Miller’s Mongrel is not man’s best friend. Crafted from the guts on the Follow the Dog, this black-rated trail throws you down sheer pinches and large falling banked corners….odds are after a few runs, this trail might be your loyal companion.
No matter your skill level we guarantee you can spend a day…or two or three out on the trails of the Southern Network Trails.
The 16 trails have been built with real mountain bikers in mind and offer experience for beginners, intermediate and hardcore dirt fanatics....always choose a trail that suits your riding ability.
Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Great Ocean Road region the Wadawurrung, Eastern Maar & Gunditjmara. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. We recognise and respect their unique cultural heritage and the connection to their traditional lands. We commit to building genuine and lasting partnerships that recognise, embrace and support the spirit of reconciliation, working towards self-determination, equity of outcomes and an equal voice for Australia’s first people.
