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Mountain Bike Trails

Trails

designed by one of the world leaders in the sport

The Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Trails are the largest trail network of its kind in Ireland and provides many options for off-road cycling in the mountains. Forest road climbs lead you into tight twisty single-track with loads of ups and downs, tight turns and technical rocky bits.

The trails range from a moderate 6 kilometre Greenwood loop to the demanding Castlepook loop, over 50 kilometres in length!

The trails are laid out as 'stacked loops' - this means that each loop leads onto the next and re-joins it on the way back. The loops are waymarked in one direction – just pick the colour of the loop.

The trail system, designed by one of the world leaders in the sport, is a challenging, one-way system constructed to give a challenging and rewarding ride.

Please ensure you are equipped fully to undertake this adventure sport and respect other trail users at all times.

trail guides

Listed in order of increasing difficulty

Green

Greenwood Loop

This is the first of five loops in the trail system in the Ballyhouras and is called the Green Wood loop. This trail takes you through the lush hillsides underneath Seefin Mountain and Black Rock and is used as the outward and inward legs for the rest of the trail network.

Length
6km
Time
30 mins to 1 hr
Difficulty
Moderate
Climb
110m
Loop
Yes
Colour
Green
Download Trail Guide
Greenwood Loop
Brown

Mountrussell Loop

The Mountrussell Loop is a more technical and physically demanding version of the Greenwood Loop and follows this as far as Waypoint 1, from where the trails become a bit more technical, narrower, rockier and steeper with more climbing and more descending.

Length
17km
Time
1-2 hrs
Difficulty
Moderate / Difficult
Climb
150m
Loop
Yes
Colour
Brown
Download Trail Guide
Mountrussell Loop
White

Garrane Loop

The Garrane Loop ventures westwards from Waypoint 3 taking in some long and fast single-track descents as well as some long and demanding climbs on forest roads, tracks and single-track trails.

Length
35km
Time
1.5 - 3 hrs
Difficulty
Difficult
Climb
200m
Loop
Yes
Colour
White
Download Trail Guide
Garrane Loop
Blue

Streamhill Loop

The Streamhill Loop provides an initial detour from the Garrane Loop giving a longer ride before rejoining to climb higher into the mountains. It detours again from the Garrane Loop higher up and starts some of the most demanding of the trails here with fast descents and longer climbs.

Length
41km
Time
2 - 3.5 hrs
Difficulty
Difficult / Severe
Climb
200m
Loop
Yes
Colour
Blue
Download Trail Guide
Streamhill Loop
Red

Castlepook Loop

This is the ultimate loop of the Ballyhoura trails, being the longest and most demanding. It goes right to the southern fringes of the forest and presents you with the biggest climbs and most rewarding descents. Be prepared!

Length
51km
Time
4 - 5 hrs
Difficulty
Severe
Climb
280m
Loop
Yes
Colour
Red
Download Trail Guide
Castlepook Loop

Feel The Rushof Mountain Biking in the Ballyhouras