The trail , once you get to the trailhead from the fire trail link from the carpark , can be ridden as a big loop , with many intersecting trails crossing the main loop , so there are many options . First timers take a map as its easy to get lost . This park is right next to the flowing Yarra River so the surrounding forests are very lush . Its called Candlebark Park Park for a reason , some of the singletracks wind through forests of Eucalypt trees that look like thin candles , their bark dripping off their trunks . The main loop is around 8 miles , its best to ride the loop & trails anti clockwise as this requires less climbing & is more conducive to flowing sections of fast narrow singletrack Some sections of singletrack its a very tight squeeze through the forests of trees , there are numerous switchbacks & sections where the trails beautifully snake through the forests of trees . There are burms & some jumps where you can really launch it if you choose the A line , or for the less adventurous there are the B lines . There are challenging rock gardens in sections opening up onto open expanse & back into flowing singletrack trails . There are mostly only ever a few walkers along the trails though the park is mostly for mountain bike use . The park is open 24/7 & is popular for night rides as well as holding Enduro events . If you ride all the network of trails it would clock up 20 or so miles of predominantly singletrack . The main loop is about 8 miles with numerous trails intersecting the main loop , where interesting options branch off everywhere & all lead back onto the main loop . Take water , a map , a compass as the trails are not marked . If you get lost you can usually ask a passing mountain biker the way back to the car park . As a flowing network of singletrack close to the city I would rate Candlebark Park 5 out of 5 for fun , challenge , very narrow trails through the forest , the trails become a real technical challenge if you smash it . A few kilometers is the town of Eltham right on the Diamond creek Trail , as well as Eltham train station if you need to get there by public transport . Candlepark Park is adjacent Westerfolds Park where the Main Yarra Trails link all the way into the city via bike paths & singletracks .
Do not go by the other review, else you will be very disappointed!
| ThankThis is nothing like aneurism at all. Jumps wise, there are 2 about 30cm tall, that's it.
The trails are pretty good for XC riding, although a lot of it is very very tight and twisty, not at all fast and flowy.
Their are plenty of uphill technical loose rock sections and the trails were suprizingly hilly. A 10k loop doesn't take very long, it certainly didn't leave us with feeling satisfied. If you are after enduro based stuff with berms and jumps then stay away, you will be sadly disappointed!
A fun network of narrow singletrack trails in close proximity to Melbourne , best ridden anti clockwise , some berms , numerous switchbacks , moderate climbs , not too bad , the fast flowing sections of singletrack make up for the pain of the networks climbs , which aren't too bad really. A few small jumps , branching network of fun advanced singletrack branching off the main Candlebark Park Loop , some good fun close to town . If you ride the main loop & all the branching singetracks you'd probably travel around 20 miles , look out for Kangaroos especially in the evening as they bound across the trails without any care for a passing rider !
| Thank