A section of the much-anticipated Mogo Trails will open this weekend. Photo: Rocky Trail.
While the wheels are in motion to open the entire 130 km of the Mogo Trails next year, keen mountain bikers can this week savour a taste of what is to come.
Seventy kilometres in the eastern section of Mogo Trails will open on Saturday (17 August).
“If the weather is kind to us, that might well be 80 kilometres,” Rocky Trail’s Martin Wisata said.
He said the trails were modern, innovative and inclusive.
“These trails are truly special; from the super-easy white trails to the most challenging double blacks, the network is designed to cater to every riding and racing ambition, whether you’re a seasoned mountain biker, a gravity enthusiast, an adaptive rider, or a newbie looking to hone your skills,” he said.
“We’ve made sure everyone gets back to the start without having to tackle tracks beyond their skills.”
Funded by $8 million from the state and federal governments, the trails are being developed by Eurobodalla Shire Council, while Rocky Trails manages the build, assisted by work crews from Next Level MTB.
The plan is for the eastern trails to span around 90 km and the council’s Mogo Trails project manager, Shane Spicer, said some trails originally planned for west of the highway had been moved to the east.
“We’re bringing more of the trail closer to communities and facilities and taking advantage of favourable east-side geology,” he said.
“But don’t worry, the west side will still be epic, with an awesome remote drop point and trails with a real sense of adventure.
“Building a bike park of this scale is relatively new in this country. It has brought its own set of challenges but nothing council’s and Rocky Trail’s teams couldn’t handle.”
This map shows the location of the eastern trailhead for the Mogo Trails on the right. The trailhead for the western section (left) will open in the future. Photo: ESC.
Eurobodalla Council said nature-based tourism was a rapidly growing industry in NSW and Mogo Trails aimed to provide an adventure experience for residents and visitors, as well as opportunities for local businesses.
Mayor Mathew Hatcher said Mogo Trails was a fantastic economic driver for the region’s recovery.
“After the devastation of the bushfires, these trails will bring visitors and investment, helping to boost our local economy and support the community well into the future,” he said.
The eastern section’s trails are currently being uploaded to trail map database Trailforks and will be live from Saturday for riders to navigate.
There are several access points to the trails. The main trailhead can be accessed from the corner of James and Annette streets in Mogo.
The trails can also be accessed via the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden. Or, park at Corringans Reserve in Batehaven and ride to Curtis Road via George Bass Drive and Glenella Road, as there is no car parking on Curtis Road.
Eurobodalla Council and Batemans Bay Mountain Bike Club will host a community ride day to provide tours for all rider levels on 5 October. Keep an eye on the council’s website for details.
The total 130 km of the Mogo Trails are expected to be completed by early 2025.
You can subscribe to the Mogo Trails’ email list by clicking here.
Meanwhile, it has already been announced that the Eurobodalla will host the first mountain bike event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere when Sea Otter Australia brings racing and riding events, a tradeshow, business summit and live entertainment to Mogo in October 2025.
Original Article published by Albert McKnight on About Regional.
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