You Yangs Regional Park
Greater Geelong, VIC
At a Glance
About the You Yangs Regional Park
Melbourne's closest serious MTB destination - granite-mountain network with 50+ km of trails 50 minutes from the city.
The You Yangs Regional Park, a series of distinctive granite peaks rising abruptly from the basalt plains between Melbourne and Geelong, is greater Melbourne's most popular and accessible mountain biking destination. Around 55 minutes drive south-west of central Melbourne (or 25 minutes from Geelong), the park has more than 50 kilometres of purpose-built and adapted single-track managed by Parks Victoria and maintained in partnership with the You Yangs Mountain Bike Club.
The network is split into two main precincts. The Stockyard / Kurrajong area on the southern side hosts the bulk of the cross-country and trail-riding network, with stacked loops including the popular Kurrajong Loop, Stockyard Loop and the legendary Hammerhead — a long natural-feel loop with rocky technical sections, granite slabs and views back to Port Phillip Bay. The Western Trails precinct holds more advanced and gravity-leaning trails, including jump lines and steeper descents.
The terrain is distinctive — exposed granite tors, dry sclerophyll forest, kangaroo-grazed grasslands and panoramic views from Flinders Peak (the park's high point at 364m) over the Bellarine Peninsula and on a clear day to Melbourne's CBD. Surfaces are predominantly hardpack with significant granite outcropping, rock-armoured corners and natural rock gardens. Trails are graded from green family loops near the visitor centre through to advanced black-diamond descents.
The You Yangs are particularly notable as a year-round riding venue — the area is in a rain shadow and has the lowest rainfall of any MTB destination in Victoria, meaning trails are typically rideable when the high country and Yarra Valley are saturated. Summer can be brutally hot and total fire ban days result in park closures; winter and shoulder seasons are optimal.
Facilities include a Parks Victoria visitor centre, sealed parking at the main trailheads, picnic areas, toilets and a small cafe at Big Rock. There is no on-site bike hire or accommodation — riders typically self-shuttle from Geelong or Melbourne. A park entry fee applies (Parks Victoria daily pass or annual pass).
You Yangs Regional Park Safety & Warnings
Park entry fee applies. Closes on Total Fire Ban days. Hot and exposed in summer - start early. Shared trails with walkers in some sections. Kangaroos active dawn and dusk.
You Yangs Regional Park Highlights
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