Penguin MTB Park (inc. Montgomery Loop)

This MTB park was built by the Cradle Coast Mountain Bike Club who have the lease over the site.  There's only a few kilometres of singletrail in the park, but the trails are now being expanded up Mt Montgomery and the combination of an expanding trail network, and park features will draw you here and make you want to stay.  There is also a new skills park above the race track and some impressive jumps inside the old speedway.  There is something for the beginner through to advanced rider.

GETTING THERE

The mountain bike park is at the old Penguin Speedway site, which is on the southern (inland) side of the A1 highway, not in Penguin itself.

The easiest way to find your way there, regardless of whether you're coming from the Burnie or Ulverstone direction, is to look for the signed turnoff to the Penguin Sports Centre (I think it is signed "Regional Sports Centre" if coming from the Ulverstone direction).

Follow these signs off the highway onto South Road and to the Sports Centre itself (which is about 600 metres south of the highway turnoff). From South Road (which has actually become Dial Road) turn right into the Sports Complex (Complex Road) then just keep following this road for 900 metres as it takes you past the athletics centre on your right and to a T-junction with Ironcliffe Road (the bush you are passing on your left is the MTB Park. If the park is busy there are plenty of places to park just here on the right hand side of the road).

Turn left (up the hill) onto Ironcliffe Road and travel a further 100 metres where you will see a yellow gate and trailhead sign on your left marking the entrance to the MTB Park. There's room for a few cars to pull off here if the gate is closed, but you can generally also drive up into the reserve and park inside.

If you're already in Penguin, then from the main road running along the coast, just look out for Crescent Avenue (There's two entrances one in the middle of town and a second near the railway at the western end of town). Follow this around until you see Ironcliffe Road and turn up here. Just follow this road over the highway, past the school, and 2kms from where you turned onto it (just past the turn off on your left to the Sports Complex) you will come to the yellow gate and trail head sign.

Alternatively, for those just looking to ride the Montgomery Loop, rather than turn into the MTB Park, you can continue up Ironcliffe Road another 750 metres and turn right onto Montgomery Road.  A further 400 metres down this road you will find another car park and alternate trail head.

ROUTE OPTIONS

There are trails all over this park and to get the most out of the park it's worth printing the trail map available over on the club's website.

The trails are designed for riders to go in one direction (primarily anti-clockwise), but you'll figure it out (hint if you're riding up obviously designed drops and just seeing the back side of the signs then you're going the wrong way)

FACILITIES & SERVICES

There are no facilities at the park.  There is a small takeaway further down Ironcliffe Road and everything you need down in Penguin itself.  

The closest bike shops are in Ulverstone (http://ulverstonebicycles.com.au/) and Burnie (Leicester Cycles and Sportsworld) though I haven't been to any of these so can't vouch for them.

WARNINGS

There are some quite technical sections in this park so make your first lap an explorers lap. 

There is also lmited (but improving) signage in the park, though they have marked most of the technical drops with red arrows and there is usually an alternate beginners routes (signed with a red 'B'). However don't rely on these signs - take it easy the first time round as you get to know the park.

You can generally keep up to date with goings on on the Cradle Coast Mountain Bike club's facebook page.

DETAILED OVERVIEW

You can ride this park in several ways, but the best way to get to know the park is park in the main car park and then follow the trails around in numerical order according to the CCMBC Trail Map which you will find at the trail park or on their website.

So from the edge of the carpark follow "Start 'Em Up' back the way you came, acros the road you drove in and then up beside the Ironcille Road to the top of the race track. 

Follow this across the road and onto Easy Peasy (although note if you just want to do a shorter run you could just ride along the road to the LIttle Devils Park or head around Easy Peasy, Copperhead etc. which will cut out a lot of riding below).  For those doing the fool loop you cut off Easy Peasy onto Stalking Rooster (1.2km long) which you follow up to a dam and then back down again to the Montgomery Road trailhead for the Montgomery Loop (5.8km).

The Montgomery Loop is a clockwise circuit which climnbs for about 2kms before descending for another 3.8kms back to this trail head (note the first bit can be a little confusing but about 30 metres from the road you should come to a well signed trailed head).

Once back at the trail head follow the Return to Penguin (1.5km, a little bit of climbing initially, then a fun descent down past the NW Environment Centre and across a creek) before ascending Ringtail (0.4km), back onto Easy Peasy and then if you have the legs to keep going I'd strongly recommend continuing along Prehistoric Park (0.6km)  and then finish off with Flying in a Blue Dream (2.0km) back to your car.  Flying in a Blue Dream is where you will find most of the parks articficla features.

As you come out of Prehistoric Park, you will find yourself near a big water tank and the Little Devils skills park which is worth a play.  This is also the top of the Free Ride area.

From here it's up to you ... Repeat, or try it differently, but enjoy.