Bruce RidgeLast Update: 27/2/2016

Notes:

Bruce Ridge Nature Reserve is the hidden MTB gem of Canberra.  Surprisingly it doesn’t receive the same sort of accolades as some of the better known trail centres like Stromlo, East Kowen, Sparrow Hill and Majura Pines but not only is Bruce Ridge very centrally located it’s also a pretty sweet ride with around 20km of hand built single track.

I found out about Bruce Ridge when it was included in the Kowalski's Trail Buddy app (from the Google Play or App Store) in late 2015.  I highly recommend downloading the app and using it on trail.  While it is easy to follow the trail that circumnavigates the reserve some of the best trails are through the middle and the app will help you to find the best routes. 

Bruce Ridge is located in a small pocket of natural bush on the edge of the AIS and GIO (Bruce) Stadium.  It’s just a few minutes off the most direct route between Sydney and Stromlo – well worth a detour as a warm up or cool down.  Parking can be found in and around the grounds of the AIS and the Stadium, but it may be difficult on game days so check the event schedule.  The good news - the surrounding area is pretty flat and well serviced by cycleways so it’s very easy to get in and out of the MTB area regardless of where you park.

Within the reserve is the Alvio Tourist Park, while I haven’t stayed there I’ve heard good reports and I plan on giving it a go next time I’m in the ACT.  Terra Firma starts at the gate of the tourist park.  If you’re a fan of NRL or Super Rugby staying at Alvio and getting some rides in around Bruce Ridge would make for a great Footy trip weekend.

With the exception of Daviesia Up and Daviesia Down all trails are two way, while most people recommend riding the outer ring in an anticlockwise direction some of the trails, Log Run and Just In Time in particular, were quite fun riding in reverse.  You can tell which trails are usually ridden up or down by the how smooth the corners are - up hill corners are generally pretty smooth especially on the exit while downhill corners tend to be rough especially on entry.

If you look at the topographical lines in the app map it’s easy to see that trails run down from the centre of the reserve.  Trails such as Super D, Creek Run, Happy Wanderer and North Face have nice flowy descents but the pick of the gravity trails is Daviesia Down a very fast, technical and rutted descent, the one trail where an enduro bike would have been a better option.

I rode Bruce Ridge after a very wet morning but despite the torrential rain just a hour or 2 earlier the trail was in pretty good knick.  I suspect that it’s typically quite dry and dusty like other trails in the ACT.

Blog articles that mention this trail

• 17/6/2016 - VIDEO: The Fourth 365 Days of Reign - My 4th year of Mountain Biking
• 27/2/2016 - VIDEO: Top XC Rides of 2014/2015
• 27/2/2016 - Finding Bruce Ridge and Loving It!
• 20/11/2015 - Exploring all of Sparrow Hill and the East Kowen Forest

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