Andersons and The Oaks via Ingar Campground

Route Notes

Day 1

Starting at Wentworth Falls train station, you'll take the official Blue Mountains cycling route (the footpath beside the highway) until you reach Kings Tableland Road. It definitely gets better the further you go - the cars drop away, the road becomes dirt, and you enter the bush on the firetrail.

Keep your eyes out for lyrebirds scampering off the track in front of you, and enjoy the glimpses of the Kedumba Valley to your right.

It's a rolling up-and-down ride with a few pinchy little climbs, finishing with a nice downhill to the carpark for the McMahons Point lookout. This is a great place for lunch - make sure you check out both the main lookout (straight on from the carpark), and the alternative one (to the right).

After lunch, ride back the way you came until you reach the start of the Andersons fire trail. This is closed to cars, so it's a bit rougher, with some spectacularly steep downhills as you approach Bedford Creek (you might want to walk them!).

After getting your feet wet, you'll have an equally steep uphill push to climb the Ingar firetrail, and then a short downhill into camp.

Enjoy a swim in the dam, cook up some dinner on the picnic tables, enjoy the luxury of a drop toilet, and fall asleep to the sounds of the waterfall.

If you're looking to skip the big climb, you can ride almost all the way back along the Kings Tableland Road, and turn right onto Ingar firetrail (instead of Andersons).

Day 2

It's a rough start to the morning with a stiff climb straight up, but then you'll enjoy a long downhill that becomes very steep as you near the creek - walk the last bit!

Once you cross Bedford Creek again, you'll climb up and up (steeply at times) to Woodford, where you'll pop out into the suburbs.

It's possible to bail out here and catch the train home, but why would you do that when The Oaks firetrail is right there?

It's another rolling-hills firetrail for a while, and then there's a beautiful steady descent down to the locked gate. At the gate, the singletrack starts - it's to the left of the main firetrail. The first section of singletrack is pretty flowy, with some small jumps and rollers. The second, shorter section of singletrack (the start is marked with blue and green MTB trail markers) is quite a bit more technical - if your MTB skills are lacking, you can bail out here back onto the main firetrail.

Whether you take the singletrack or the main firetrail, you'll meet up on paved road for the steep descent down to the causeway across Glenbrook Creek, and the steep ascent on the other side.

Once you're in Glenbrook, get some food and then hop on the train home!

Important details

Water and food sources: At the start, you can fill up your bottles and use the toilet in Coronation Park, just next to Wentworth Falls station. You are riding on the ridge for most of the first day, so the first available water will be at Bedford Creek (the bottom of Andersons firetrail). Take as much as you will drink in one day - we'd recommend 2-3 litres. There is a large dam at the Ingar campground. All creek and dam water will need to be treated.

On the second day, don't fill up all your water at the start, because there's a tap at the start of The Oaks in Woodford - it'll make the climb to Woodford much easier! Once you start The Oaks the only water is when you reach Glenbrook.
Weather and when to ride: This ride is best done in the shoulder seasons. Summer can be extremely hot and dry, with the risk of bushfires, and in winter it can get down to zero.
What to ride: Not for road bikes - we'd recommend 50mm or larger tyres. Gravel bikes will be ok but you'll be walking more, and be careful of washed out sections. The road can get quite sandy and corrugated in some sections, so bigger tyres will definitely be more comfortable.