If you are looking to sharpen your mountain biking skills or find a great way to spend the school holidays, Brisbane’s Gap Creek Reserve has you covered. The Cycling Brisbane program is rolling out free mountain bike skills workshops, perfect for both kids and adults who want to get confident on the tracks.
The workshops are locked in for Saturday, 4 July and Saturday, 11 July 2026. The timing couldn’t be better, as Gap Creek Reserve—already one of Brisbane’s absolute favourite mountain biking spots—is officially opening its brand-new Carpet Snake Trail on 11 July. This new track is beginner-friendly and built on the western side of the reserve, meaning you can practice your new skills at a workshop and then be among the first to try out the new trail.
Extra Spots for Junior Riders
Because the grand opening of the Carpet Snake Trail is bound to bring heaps of families out to the reserve on 11 July, the Cycling Brisbane program has added extra spots to the morning Junior Mountain Bike Skills workshops on that day.
If you are heading out with family, the best plan is to arrive early for a skills session, catch the official trail launch, and make a whole morning of it out in the bush.
The junior sessions group riders by age and ability, keeping groups nice and small. This means every young rider gets real attention from the instructors to focus on the things that actually matter on the dirt:
- Staying in control
- Cornering smoothly
- Braking safely
- Building up confidence on uneven ground
Adults won’t miss out either. Adult workshops are running across both weekends and cater to all levels—whether you are a total beginner trying out singletrack for the first time, or a seasoned rider looking to sharpen your technique.
A Trail Network Worth the Ride
Gap Creek Reserve is tucked inside the massive Mt Coot-tha Reserve, which spans over 1,600 hectares and boasts more than 18.5 kilometres of easy, intermediate, and difficult tracks.
There is truly something for everyone here. You can start with a short but tough warm-up loop right next to the Gap Creek Road car park, or challenge yourself on advanced routes featuring wall-ride berms, log rollovers, and drop-offs.
The western side of the reserve has already become incredibly popular, drawing more than 600 riders every weekend since purpose-built trails were added a few years ago. The new Carpet Snake Trail is a fantastic addition to this network, specially designed to help beginners safely connect to the wider trail system.
Handy Info for Your Day Out
- Getting There: If you haven’t been before, you can access the main trail network via two entry points off Gap Creek Road, Mt Coot-tha.
- Need Gear? If you need to hire a bike or grab some gear before you hit the dirt, local bike shops like Kenmore Cycles and Giant Ashgrove are nearby and ready to help.
- How to Join: While these workshops are completely free, spots are strictly limited and you must book in advance.
Because of the excitement surrounding the Carpet Snake Trail opening, the morning sessions on 11 July are going to fill up fast. Be sure to lock in your spot early so you don’t miss out!
Published 2-July-2026
