Stromlo Forest Park Facilities

Mt Stromlo, situated about ten minutes drive west of central Canberra, is about 770m above sea level.

Mountain Biking has a long association with Mt Stromlo with National Champions being decided on the slopes for the first time in 1988.

Prior to 2003, Mt Stromlo provided the backdrop for the Australian 24hr Championship, the largest 24hr hour endurance mountain bike race in the world. Since it’s inception in 1999 the 24 hour race course headed east towards Black Mountain, looping through many kilometres of singletrack before this area was destroyed by fire in 2001. 2002 saw the event cross Uriarra road onto the slopes of Stromlo itself, as race organisers frantically cut trails into the undisturbed pine trees on the mountain’s eastern flank.

The mountain has a history of being a popular venue for a variety of other recreational activities. It is part of the Bicentennial National Trail (BNT), the longest marked non-motorised self-reliant multi-use trekking route in the world, stretching an extraordinary 5,330 kilometres from Cooktown in tropical North Queensland, to Healesville in Victoria.

Mt Stromlo is also well known as the home of the Mt Stromlo Observatory (owned by the Australian National University), the birthplace of many outstanding contributions to astronomy.

Mt Stromlo's life of leisure, adventure, and star gazing was abruptly halted by the Canberra bushfires of January 2003. Almost 70% of the ACT's pasture, forests, and nature parks were severely damaged in the widespread blaze, and much of the Mt Stromlo observatory was destroyed.

Acknowledging the history and significance of Stromlo Forest remained important for Canberra residents, and mountain bikers in particular. The ACT Government made a commitment to re-establish Stromlo, creating something far better than what was previously there. The goal was to develop a world class recreation forest of more than 1,500 hectares, with facilities for major sporting events that would attract local, national, and international visitors.

Now known as Stromlo Forest Park, the area boasts a memorial to the 2003 Bushfires designed by local artists, and has been subject to considerable replanting at the hands of Greening Australia and community volunteers. Government expenditure is estimated at over $6 million, giving the community a plethora of sporting facilities.

These include a world class mountain bike venue incorporating trails that accommodate the SCOTT 24hr's return from Kowen Pine Forest. Designed by Glen Jacobs, one of Australia's best known and successful trail builders, in partnership with Canberra Off Road Cyclists (CORC). Construction progressed with the help of local volunteers. Over fifty kilometres of mountain bike trails have been created in the first two stages of construction, and further plans include a skills park for beginner mountain bikes to gain the experience and techniques to take on some of the more challenging circuits in the park.

CORC regularly runs cross country, downhill, 4 cross and other events on these trails. Check the CORC <link> website for details and a calendar.

Stromlo Forest Park also includes a sealed criterium bike circuit. Designed with input from Olympic and six-time Tour de France competitor, Steven Hodge, the criterium circuit bears his name and was completed in December 2006. It is regularly used by several of Canberra’s cycling clubs, including CORC, which has utilised the sealed surface as a dust-free transition area for the Scott 24 hour race.

Construction of an international class cross-country running circuit designed with input from Robert de Castella is nearly complete, and equestrian facilties including improvement of existing trails traditionally enjoyed by recreational horse riders has been undertaken.

Stromlo Forest Park is an outstanding venue for national and international-level long distance (endurance) horse riding events

Shared use facilities including:

  • An events pavilion building
  • A large staging area to accommodate spectators for national and international sporting events
  • Parking areas
  • Picnic grounds
  • Trail heads

With a stirring history, Stromlo Forest Park's redevelopment is already offering an abundance of tourist destinations, picnic areas, and sporting facilities. It is well worth the visit.

For more information, visit www.stromloforestpark.com.au