ORS Facilities - Eagle Mountain Bike Park

In late 2006 Eagle Mountain Bike Park featured on Channel 7 Adelaide's 'Discover' television show. The story can be viewed here.

LATEST NEWS

Wednesday 3rd December

No matter where you’re riding, with a hot & dry summer approaching its timely to remember a few tips to help make sure your recreation time in the great outdoors is trouble-free.

Ensure that you have plenty of drinking water onboard and are adequately protected from the sun. Avoid riding during the hottest part of the day if possible.

Remember that as well as being a great place to ride, Eagle MTB Park is home to a great variety of flora and fauna, including of course quite a few Psuedonaja textiles and Pseudechis porphyriacus, more commonly known as Brown Snakes & Black Snakes.
Snake activity in Eagle Park will increase during the Summer months so please exercise caution at all times.

Bushfire is always a very real risk throughout the Mt Lofty Ranges so please respect Park closures on Total Fire Ban days, report any fires immediately and be aware of Emergency Assembly locations.

Carry a mobile phone. In the event of an emergency dial 112, which is the 000 equivalent for mobiles. For other (non-emergency) matters the Eagle Park Caretaker can be contacted on 0423 029 873.

As always, adhere to the MTB Code of Practice (see below) and enjoy your ride!

PARK INFORMATION

The South Australian Government developed this Park with the valuable assistance of local councils, cycling organisations, mountain bike clubs, vegetation management groups and volunteers.

The Park provides a network of trails that cater for a variety of mountain bike disciplines and abilities.

• Approximately 21kms of cross country trails
• A specifically designed downhill trail
• A skills development park
• A jumps park
• A trials area

HOW TO GET THERE

The Park is located in the Adelaide Hills, approximately 12km South East of the Adelaide CBD.

The Park entrance for those arriving by car is on Mt Barker Rd, Leawood Gardens.

• There is parking available at the Pastor Kavell lookout (UBD ref 132 C16) adjacent to the entrance.

• To get to the lookout take the Eagle on the Hill exit (Mt Barker Rd) from the Adelaide to Crafers Highway.

From Adelaide

• The lookout is approximately 1.5km along Mt Barker Rd.

Note: There is no right turn into the parking area for those travelling from Adelaide. Please make a safe u-turn approximately 100 metres further on.

From Crafers

• The lookout is approximately 2.5km along Mt Barker Rd.

A second entrance for bikes only is available on Hawk Hill Rd, via Hillcrest Avenue, Crafers West (UBD ref 144 K5). There is no turnaround area for cars along this road.

PARK ENTRY Gates will be opened at sunrise and locked at sunset, 7 days a week.

PARK CLOSURE will occur on Christmas Day, total fire ban days and days of extreme weather in the Mount Lofty Ranges. Contact the fire ban hotline 1300 362 361.
Trail closures for individual trails will also occur at different times due to maintenance, unsafe conditions and to limit the spread of plant diseases such as Phytophthora cinnamomi (also referred to as Pc - see useful link below for further information)

EVENTS will be held at the Park throughout the year. If you wish to ride the trails as part of an organised ride or event, contact Bicycle SA, Adelaide Mountain Bike Club or Inside Line Mountain Bike Club.

PARK MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE

Please obey signage within the Park. Some sections of the Park and certain trails may be closed for events, maintenance or management. Contact Park Management to report any management or maintenance issues. Phone 8416 6677 during business hours or 0423 029 873 at other times.

Pleae note that due to safety and management issues, dogs are not allowed in the Park.

A trail map has been provided for download here. (2.36mb PDF)

SCHEDULED EVENTS

*This event will be utilising a PA system

Listed below are the answers to a number of common questions that may be asked about this major project.

Why develop a mountain bike park?

The development of Eagle Mountain Bike Park was identified in the State Mountain Bike Plan for South Australia 2001–2005 as a key priority project. The State Government recognised that the development of a dedicated mountain bike park would be a key strategy in the management of unauthorised and inappropriate riding in the Mount Lofty Ranges, particularly in National Parks and Local Government reserves.

The Park will also provide an opportunity to showcase best practice in the design, construction and maintenance of sustainable recreation trails in varying soil types and vegetation conditions.

The establishment of Eagle MTB Park will also provide a strategic recreation and biodiversity link between Cleland Conservation Park and Brownhill Creek Recreation Park as part of the Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH) ‘Yurrebilla - Greater Mount Lofty Parklands’.

Who is responsible for the management of the Park?

The Office for Recreation and Sport (ORS) is responsible for the development and management of the Park.

A reference group comprising of State and Local Government agencies and cycling organisations has been established to assist in the development and management of the park by providing technical and specialist input.

When will a management plan for the Park be developed?

A draft management plan has been developed which guides the development and future management of the Park. The Plan has been developed with the assistance and input from State Government and Local Government agencies as well as recreational and environmental organisations and clubs. The plan has recently been through a public consultation process and ORS has been encouraged by the responses. Close to 90 submissions were received with many showing support for the plan and the development of the Park. The Plan will now be reviewed in the light of the submissions received.

Where else can I ride?

There are shared use trails now available for mountain bike riding in Belair National Park and Brownhill Creek Recreation Park. Mountain bike riding is also allowed on the fire roads in Shepherds Hill Reserve. These reserves and trails are managed by the Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH). The riding experiences in DEH Parks are designed to provide opportunites for people to enjoy the ambience of riding in a natural locations rather than on technically challenging mountain bike trails. More information can be obtained from the DEH, Sturt District Office on (61 8) 8278 5477.

Click on this link for a  Belair National Park Trail Map (853 kb).

Further afield there are mountain bike trail networks established in Forestry SA Reserves. These include areas such as Cudlee Creek (aka Fox Creek), Cromer and Prospect Hill. For the directions to these areas contact; Adelaide Mountain Bike Club or Inside Line Mountain Bike Club.

While riding please remember the Mountain Bike Code of Practice:

• Plan your ride.
• Obey 'No Bicycle Signs'.
• Ride only on formed trails designated for cycling.
• Do not take short cuts or form new trails.
• Share the trail.
• Respect the rights of others.
• Avoid riding in wet, muddy conditions.
• Ride lightly and leave no trace or rubbish.
• Control your bike.
• Do not disturb plants and animals.
• Clean your bike, don't spread weeds or plant diseases.
• Tell other people about this code.

Keep trails open by setting a good example of environmentally sound and socially responsible mountain biking.

USEFUL LINKS

Mountain Bike Australia http://www.mtba.asn.au/
International Mountain Bicycling Association http://www.imba.com/
Bicycle SA http://www.bikesa.asn.au/index.php
Inside Line Mountain Bike Club http://www.ilmtb.com/site/
Adelaide Mountain Bike Club http://www.amtbc.com/
Phytophthora cinnamomi environment sa/Phytophthora cinnamomi

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