Jutting out amongst the flat plains, on your way to Geelong, is the You Yangs MTB Park. One of the original locations to ride, near Melbourne.
Whilst trails have been here for many years, during the mid 2000’s, it was one of a small handful in of trail networks to recieve funding and support.
As a result, trail building commenced and maps & trail markers were created. A build it and they will come scenario.
What riders have at the You Yangs is quite unique and specific to the topography and flora of the area.
Utilizing the elevation and the rocky, granite terrain, the trails feature span technical, through to smooth and fast. The variety here keeps you dialed in, as you sharpen your skills.
Overview of the You Yangs MTB Park
The You Yangs are just over an hour from Central Melbourne and easily accessed for riders from Melbourne or Geelong. The You Yangs are one of the premier mountain bike trails near Melbourne.
Located 50 minutes west of Melbourne or 30 min north of Geelong, the You Yangs mountain bike park offers riders 50Km of singletrack. Split between two areas, (Kurrajong Plantation and Stockyards), the trails suit a wide variety of riders and skill levels.
The park has ok facilities, to handle various day-trippers, but more work needs to be done here.
A recent report of a Master Plan for the You Yangs is to update the You Yangs MTB Park from a trail network, into a trail Centre. This would include kiosk/café, end of trip facilities, change rooms and bike storage.
If the master plan moves forward to construction, this would be significant step up in the facilities, to cater to the already growing number of visitors that ride at the You Yangs.
Trail Network at You Yangs MTB Park
The You Yangs mtb trail network is split into two distinct areas, each with their own entry points and carparks, but also linked with a trail between them.
Kurrajong Plantation MTB Trails
The Kurrajong trail network is made up of about 30km of singletrack that weaves it way through a eucalypt forest.
The trail is mainly flat in elevation and makes for an ideal introduction to singletrack riding for beginners. With trail riding features such as rollovers, log jumps and bridge, the trails provide a great introduction to mountain biking and leave you wanting more.
For more experienced riders, the Kurrajong trails can be ridden at speed. Given the length of the trail and combined with the Stockyards, it can provide a long loop for training & riding.
The best way to access these trail is via the south MTB car park on Brand Rd, near the main entrance of the Park. Follow the signs to reach the trail.
Stockyards MTB Trails
The stockyards are the home of You Yangs Mountain biking, at the northern end of park. A mish mash of trails over the years, the trails were eventually recognized by Parks Victoria. With investment and the assistance of the local mountain bike community, they have created one of the more visited mountain bike destinations in Victoria.
The stockyards trail network, utilizes the elevation and granite rocky outcrops to full advantage, with a good representation of Blue (Intermediate) and Black (Advanced) trails to ride.
Accessed via the car park off Drysdale Road, the trails are marked from the trailhead. To access the steeper technical Blue’s and Black’s you need to ride the uphill, to get to the top of park and access trails like Cressy’s or the Junction Track.
There are weekends that the local club offers shuttle days to make the uphill more manageable. Check out their site for more information.
Planning Your Mountain Biking Trip to You Yangs
The rocky terrain and trail building efforts have made the You Yangs a year-round, accessible trail network. Despite times of heavy rain, the trails, particularly the Stockyards area, drain well with minimal mud.
There have been times where the Kurrajong trail network has been closed due to weather events, so best to check in with the You Yangs Park page for the latest information and change of conditions.
Generally an All Mountain, long travel, trail bike will be suitable for most of the trails across the Stockyards and Kurrajong. Only a handful of trails require specific Downhill bikes and gear.
The Kurrajong trails are more forgiving and a variety of kids bikes and more recreational bikes, could be used.
Best to bring enough water/hydration for your ride as there is none available at the trailhead.
For riders requiring emergency medical care, the closest hospital would be in Geelong.
You Yangs Post Ride Activities
The You Yangs do not offer any post ride eating or drinking options at the park (not yet anyway). Until the planned café/kiosk is built, please see below for some options nearby.
Options are a little sparse, but enough to get you by.
Little River Post MTB Ride Options
For those heading back to Melbourne, you can get your drinks and snacks fix at the Little River General Store. For a more substantial pub lunch, head to Little River Hotel (open 10am – 1pm).
Lara Post MTB Ride Options
In Lara, there are a couple more options, including Ana’s Café, Founders & Co, Xpresso Café and Routley’s Bakery. For more of a post-ride pub vibe, try Lara Hotel.
Mountain Bike Community – You Yangs MTB
The efforts of two clubs assist with trail maintenance and trail building activities, in conjunction with Parks Victoria.
The first is the You Yangs MTB club and the second is the Geelong Mountain Bike Club. For those that want to assist, there are a number of ways, including memberships, races and events, and trail build/maintenance days.
Further information can you be found on their respective websites.
Final Thoughts of MTB Riding at the You Yangs
With 50 km of rideable singletrack, the MTB trails at the You Yangs offer riders from both Melbourne and Geelong, an excellent network to hone their skills.
The future master plan of the You Yangs recognizing mountain bike riders as significant visitors to the park and the plan of creating a trail center for riders and visitors, is welcomed news.
With easy access and split trail areas to cater for all riders, the You Yangs MTB park is ideal for riders of all levels and provides trails & features that will please beginners through to expert riders.
