Riding difficulty
Castle Hill has a wide variety of tracks for all skill levels, from pros to beginners. The tracks are fast-flowing and have many different line choices. You can roll most jumps and attempt most features at your own speed. This allows the tracks to be accessed by most riders while also creating a place where riders can progress their skills.
Favorite Tracks: World Cup and Inca
Trail Review- World Cup
World Cup is one of my favorite tracks at Castle Hill. It starts with a bang, dropping down a small rock ledge that you can either roll over or jump, depending on your skill level. You then follow the track to the right. It is important that you stay right, as going left will take you down Rowies, which is another good black trail. The continuation of World Cup takes you for a ride through a series of roots, flat corners, and small drops. One-third of the way through World Cup, it crosses a fire road. It is important that riders slow down before passing through the fire road. After crossing the fire road, it is a fast-paced run to the bottom of the track. This incorporates many features such as berms, small jumps, a very tame rock garden, and some loose corners.
When you arrive at the bottom of World Cup, the start of the main fire road heading up to the trailhead will be on your right, and the car park will be up the hill in front of you. It is also important to watch out for other riders coming up behind you, as Rowies finishes next to it. Riders will come out very fast from Rowies, as it is a more fast-paced downhill track. For the record, I do not recommend accidentally trying to use it as a climb track, as it is very steep. Overall, World Cup is a fast-paced, technical trail that most intermediate riders can ride. It is up there on my favorite tracks list.
Trail review- Inca
Another track to highlight at Castle Hill is Inca. Inca is a black trail that starts just off the main fire road, next to Phil’s (another black trail). Inca is a flowy trail and features lots of corners, small climbs, small jumps, and sprint sections. Inca starts halfway up the hill, and the first hundred meters are relatively downhill until the trail starts to slowly level out. This change in gradient eventually takes the trail through a series of small gullies and dips. Inca can be ridden at most speeds, and most beginner to intermediate riders will enjoy the trail. Toward the end of the trail, it throws you out at a large open area. The track finishes once you cross a small stream before the clearing. This clearing is at the bottom of the fire road and near the ending of most trails. There is also a small jump park there, consisting of a few table-top jumps in various sizes but nothing too extreme. Overall, Inca is my go-to for the first track of the day when I go to Castle Hill.
What MTB races are in Ipswich?
For the more race-oriented riders, Castle Hill is a great place to train for enduro racing. Once a year, the Fox Superflow and Rocky Trail Academy races are held there. The Fox Superflow is a timed stage race. It consists of racing a number of timed stages and a non-timed transfer stage (uphill climb). The Fox Superflow is a race for all ages and skill groups; there is a class for every rider. Similarly, the Rocky Trail Academy races are held there. These are school-based races and have the same format as the Fox Superflow. The idea is that you enter as a school team and race to win overall as a school. This is through a points system. However, Rocky Trail Academy is exclusive to school students and caters to riders who are in grades 7-12.
What facilities are at Castle hill MTB trails?
Parking
There is a decent amount of parking, but if it’s full, you can park down the road to the right past the train line. Or near Blackstone Reserve if you don’t mind a small ride to the start of the trails.
Available facilities
- Toilet block
- Tap and drink fountain
- Bike wash station
- Trials Park
- Small skill / jump park
Conclusion
In conclusion, Castle Hill has well-built and well-maintained tracks that are enjoyable for all ages and riding abilities. However, I recommend taking some spares or tools plus a decent amount of water, as going back to the car park mid-ride is a bit annoying. Finally, after all that riding, there is a nice park around the corner with tables and shade. I recommend this park as a place to meet friends pre-ride and to relax in the shade post-ride. Click here for other great MTB tracks in Queensland