The best MTB trails in Samford Conservation Park

Teralba Park follows a quieter stretch of Kedron Brook with bushland pockets, open grassland, and long shared paths running beside the creek corridor. The park is known for its mix of recreation space and remnant vegetation, with waterbirds, flying foxes, and cyclists commonly seen along the bikeway. Picnic areas, playgrounds, toilets, and sporting facilities are spread throughout the reserve.

Samford Conservation Park protects a large area of open ironbark forest and shared bush trails on Brisbane’s northwestern fringe, popular with walkers, mountain bikers, trail runners, and horse riders. Ironbark Gully is the main day-use area, with picnic shelters, toilets, barbecues, drinking water, and access to several loop tracks through the reserve. The park is especially popular for fitness walks thanks to its rolling hills, wide gravel trails, and long shaded sections beneath the gums.

Schulz Canal is an engineered waterway designed for drainage and flood management. It runs through open, low-lying land, with grass-lined banks and wide, unobstructed views along its length. Water levels can vary depending on rainfall and tidal influence, with slower-moving sections and occasional birdlife along the edges.

Running through Boondall Wetlands, the Jim Soorley Bikeway is a sealed shared path used by cyclists and walkers. The route passes through mangrove forest, saltmarsh, and open wetland areas, with sections of boardwalk and bridges over tidal creeks. It’s mostly flat, with long, uninterrupted stretches through the wetlands. Birdlife is common throughout, and conditions can feel exposed in open sections, with limited shade along parts of the route.

Samford Conservation Park includes a network of shared and specialised trails, with the main walking route being the Crebra Circuit—a short 900-metre Grade 3 loop that winds through ironbark forest from the Ironbark Gully picnic area. Beyond this, a more expansive system of multi-use trails (shared by walkers, horse riders, and cyclists) connects fire roads and forest tracks across the park, ideal for an extended walk with plenty of varied route options. There are also multiple designated mountain-bike-only trails, including Kombi, Bandicoot, and Sunset, offering purpose-built downhill and intermediate-to-difficult riding experiences within the park’s wider trail network.

Samford Conservation Park is a beautiful bushland reserve near the rural township of Samford Valley northwest of Brisbane. The park protects eucalypt forest and creek habitats that support native wildlife, including wallabies, koalas, and a variety of bird species, while also preserving part of the area’s natural catchment. There is a network of walking and cycling tracks and fire trails throughout the grounds, where you can explore the park’s ridgelines and gullies, making it an ideal location for quiet nature-based recreation close to the city.

Kedron Brook runs for about 29 kilometres from the D’Aguilar Range to Moreton Bay, flowing through Brisbane’s northern suburbs as a narrow urban creek. Along this section it forms a green corridor lined with parkland and shared paths. The water is often shallow or slow-moving, though levels can rise quickly after rain.

Bellbird Grove is a popular picnic and recreation area within Brisbane Forest Park, nestled along Cedar Creek and surrounded by eucalypt forest. There are barbecues, shelters, toilets, and open grassy spaces, making it an ideal base for short walks and family outings. It’s also a trailhead for several walking tracks, with lots of birdlife, including whipbirds, cockatoos, and wonga pigeons. While you’re here, be sure to listen for the distinctive call of Bell Miners (or bellbirds), which call this area home.