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LATEST NEWS
Wednesday 6th January 2010
Australian MTB Championships preparations
With the big event rapidly approaching the fine tuning jobs are now being completed to have Eagle MTB Park primed and ready for 6 days of heavy-duty MTB action. The Australian MTB Championships kicks off at the park on Tuesday 12th January; full event details are available at www.eaglechamps.com.au
The SA MTB Consortium, organiser of the Championships, is still looking for more volunteers to help out with a variety of tasks throughout the event.
Volunteering is a great way to get involved and entry to the event is free to volunteers that contribute a half-day or more. If you are interested please visit the volunteer sign-up page of the event website: www.eaglechamps.com/cms/index.php/content/faq/volunteers
The site set-up begins on Saturday 9th Jan and the park is officially in the hands of the event organisers until Monday 18th Jan.
If you are planning to go for a casual ride in the park during this time, please be wary of the numerous vehicles that will be using the access road and high volume of pedestrian traffic on many trails. Much of the park’s trail network will be closed to non-competitors or designated for spectator access.
Please follow the directions of event volunteers that will be on-site during that period.
Please note that from Friday 15th Jan to Sun 17th Jan an entry fee applies ($5 per day or $10 weekend pass).
The park as always is closed on days of Total Fire Ban. Visit the CFS website www.cfs.sa.gov.au for up to date fire danger information.
Four-cross course
The 4X course is now open for general use. It has been rated with a double-diamond ‘extreme’ classification and is suitable for advanced riders only who are well-equipped and capable of riding difficult terrain.
Eagle MTB Park 4X Course -view from the start gate
Eagle MTB Park 4X Course - looking down the 2nd straight
Eagle MTB Park 4X Course - 3rd straight rhythm section
Eagle MTB Park 4X Course - 4th straight
Eagle MTB Park 4X Course - looking back up the 4th straight
Eagle MTB Park 4X Course - the bird's eye view!
SCHEDULED EVENTS
Tuesday 12 – Sunday 17 January 2010
PARK IMAGES AND FOOTAGE
For a sample of what to expect on the Eagle Park trail network, follow the link to local rider Bill Doyle's photo set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/liamjon-d/sets/72157612574698125/
In late 2006 Eagle Mountain Bike Park featured on Channel 7 Adelaide's 'Discover' television show. The story can be viewed here.
PARK INFORMATION
A trail map has been provided for download here (4.4mb PDF).
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 Road, 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 Road) from the Adelaide to Crafers Highway.
From Adelaide
- The lookout is approximately 1.5km along Mt Barker Road.
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 Road.
A second entrance for bikes only is available on Hawk Hill Road, 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 7424 7788 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.
BUSH FOR LIFE VOLUNTEERS
The Eagle MTB Park Bush For Life Team has been pulling weeds and protecting conservation areas in the park since before any singletrack was developed. The group works on the first Saturday of the month (unless there is a public holiday on that weekend), meeting at 9am at the Main Gate on Mt Barker Rd and finishing around lunchtime. The main activity is controlling broom, boneseed, blackberries and gorse. It’s the nature of the work that results aren’t seen right away, but after more than 4 years of working bees considerable natural regeneration of native vegetation is apparent at the sites, which were previously infested with weeds.
There are 4 main sites in the Park looked after by the group: 2 sites along the top section of Hills Hoist, an area under the powerlines near Tunnel Vision, and the triangle opposite the DH start.
The work undertaken by the Bush For Life group is very important because it helps protect the regionally significant conservation values of Eagle MTB Park, and demonstrates the commitment of the MTB community to ecological sustainability.
If you are interested in lending a hand, contact Park Management on 7424 7788 during business hours or the Caretaker on 0423 029 873 at other times.
The Bush for Life program is managed by Trees For Life. For further information visit http://www.treesforlife.org.au.
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 provides 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 also provides 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.
Where else can I ride?
There are designated mountain-bike trails and shared-use trails now open in the City of Mitcham, as the first phase of implementing the Council’s Mountain Bike Strategy nears completion. These trails are located in the Lynton and Windy Point areas. Information is available at the City of Mitcham website: http://www.mitchamcouncil.sa.gov.au.
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 PDF).
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.
Please contact us to obtain a copy of a document in an alternative format.
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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