St Helens

Image of Swimcart Beach
end of the 42 km Blue Tier to Bay of Fires Descent
Image Credit - Flow Mountain Bike

St Helens Trails - north east Tasmania

Shuttles

Slideshow images - Flow Mountain Bike

Bay of Fires Descent
around 42km one way (with 20km descent)

gThe Bay of Fires / larapuna Descent starts in the Blue Tier Forest Reserve at the old mining town of Poimena. This is also the start of the current Blue Tier mountain bike trail which runs west to Weldborough.

Trailhead

Toilets - yes
Parkin area - yes, but limited
Maps - yes
Phone - Telstra - just - see below.
Water - no

Shuttles - Yes From Derby at this link
from St Helens at this link

Top section of the Bay of Fires run

Rider Briefing – Bay of Fires (Designated a blue trail in technical difficulty)

Remember – take extra caution the first time you ride a trail! 3 hour average ride time.
Phone reception from the 30 km mark! Also possible at 6-8 km and 17 km
Full trail is 42 km, in 4 sections. Purpose built single track Section 1, 2 & 4. Section 3 is a gravel grind.

Section 1 – 6 km. This section starts with an undulating climb for about 2 km before a flowy, but descending a steep 4km section. Be careful, as it is easy to pick up speed and get yourself into trouble. Trail is mainly loam (minimal rocks), with a few small jumps/pops. Not rocky at all. A few bridges over wet areas. Section ends at Sun Flat Rd / Murdocks Rd. Section 1 is wet eucalypt forest with big man ferns. (trail pops onto junction of Sun Flats Rd and Murdocks Rd, which is an emergency pick up point). Very slippery in wet.

Section 2 – 7 km. Starts across the road (Murdocks Rd) and is undulating up for 1.5 km and then the fun begins. Trail is mainly loam (minimal rocks). Be careful of derailleur killers on this section of trail as Section 2 is dry eucalypt forest! After about 1.5 km the trail descents with a steep, flowy and berm filled rollercoaster before a flattish 1 km ride to Post 13.

Section 3 – 7 km. Post 13, turn right onto road and then left onto road. Follow orange posts and gravel grind away. Trail follows dirt road east for 7km until you reach Anson Bay road. Caution – Very busy road! Take care crossing.

Half way bike hygiene wash point – WASH YOUR BIKE – wheels, under seat and souls of shoes!

Section 4 – 22 km. This is the last section of the Bay of Fires trail and is hot and dry and has a major environmental issue (Phytophthora & weeds). It starts with an undulating 14 km climb (20 km to 34km), with rock features and sea views from about the 30 km mark. At the 34 km mark you start the brief and loose descent. Be careful of off camber trail, with sweeping corners. Last section follows creek line to Bay of Fires and Swimcart Beach. Caution – Ocean is cold with a steep beach entry, which often causes a strong undertow. Weak swimmers take extra care. Beach is not patrolled.

BOF trail and safety processes to be followed, as indicated by the Tasmanian property manager, the National Parks & Wildlife Service.

Environmental issues relating to Phytophthora & weeds, ensuring bikes and all equipment are thoroughly cleaned before heading to Blue Tier or Loila Tier,
Stay on the trails,
Take all rubbish out including food scraps,
Ride within capability,
Ensure bike is safe and serviceable,
Safety procedures in case of an accident. Stabilise patient, collect information, identify location (take screen shot of GPS reference and note section you are in), ride to call 000, return to patient or wait at emergence meeting point.
Ring shuttle company to advise of situation.
Take snake bite kit
Install an emergency app on your phone and screen shot your location before getting into mobile phone range, if you need help!

Note – There is no water on the trail. Ensure you have enough water and food for not only what you are riding, but also if you are delayed etc.

Riders are drinking on averaging between 2 and 3 litres on ride! Sunscreen is a must

St Helen's looped trail network
60 km @ Flaffstaff Gully

The Tasmanian and Australian Governments have invest over $4.5 million St Helens Mountain Bike Trail Network, which created over 66 kilometre stacked loop network just south of St Helens, with a trail link to the town centre.

The main trailhead is at Flagstaff Rd.

Trailhead

Toilets - yes
Cafe - yes https://www.facebook.com/The-Lid-103885187776998/
240 volt USB charging ports - yes
Maps - yes
Bike wash - no
Showers - no. in town, yes. at car wash. $4 for 3 minutes.
Phone - Telstra, Optus & Vodafone
Tables - yes
Car park - yes
shade - a bit!

Shuttles - Yes, for St Helens, Incarus, Dream Pools, Old Salty Dog and Seeyalater - Gravity Isle shuttles

Bike shops - in town - Giant St Helens https://www.giantsthelens.com/
ask them in Cafe about the Giant St Helens

Bike Hire - In town

Giant St Helens https://www.giantsthelens.com/
Gravity Isle https://gravityisle.com/
VertigoMTB

Bike Hire - Trailhead

Gravity Isle https://gravityisle.com/

St Helens to Flagstaff Gully trail link = 8 km long, along foreshore and MTB trail (great ride).at car wash in St Helens

Showers - Carwash & showers at 30 Quail Street
St Helens, TAS, Australia 7216

and at wharf (near Skippers seafood). See public toilets and showers. Bike wash on grass.

SEE map bottom of page

Trails

Blue - Old Salty Dog & See Ya Later, Rock Lobster, Wedged In, Dreaming Pools, Garnup
Gren trails, around trail head - looped trails around the trailhead are often described as "family friendly'.
Black Trails - Send Helens, Incarus,

Climb Trails to get to Lolia Tier Rock Lobster on to Wedged in on to Garnup - this is a 10 km ride UP. Takes about 45 - and 90 minutes to climb up.

You can ride up the powerline and fire road from the trail head. Takes about 40 minutes and is very steep. Perfect for an eBike.

NOTE - Dream Pools ride is a 27 KM loop, plus part of See Ya Later back to trail head, makes it 31 km (If you leave from the Lolia Tier shuttle drop off point. It includes a 7 KM climb from the 20 KM mark to the 7 KM mark, on See YA Later. Add another 10 km if you ride trailhead to trail head, Dreams Pools = 42 km. Make sure you take PLENTY of water and food. This is a 3 - 5 hour loop, with a total of about 21 km climbing. If you are on an eBike, be very careful your bike can do the distance. If not, start at the shuttle drop off point at Lolia Tier.

BIKE HYGIENE STATIONS
please read

A clean bike is not only good for your bike, it’s great for the environment! By simply ensuring you show up at the trails with a clean bike and washing down after each ride, you can do your bit to help the spread of weeds and disease.

Bike Washdowns and Hygiene Stations – what’s the difference?

In the St Helens area and on the St Helens Mountain Bike Trails, you will find two different bike wash facilities. One is simply a Bike Washdown station that allows you to rinse off any mud that has made its way on to your bike during your ride. The second is a Bike Hygiene station which has been purpose built to stop the spread of root rot. This facility is something unique to our area and an environmental benchmark for mountain biking.

The Hygiene Stations dose the water you use to rinse off your bike with a special antifungal solution which kills Phytophthora cinnamomi (PC), commonly known as root rot. You can find more information about PC here.

This disease is spread through topsoil and can cause devastating effects to the environment killing off native plants and ruining an entire habitat.

As our trails are built in some of the most amazing locations in the world, we want to do all we can to protect the environment and the Bike Hygiene station is a very important piece in our sustainability puzzle.

So we ask all riders enjoying our trails to please do the right thing and KEEP IT CLEAN, make sure your bike is clean before you come and if you have ridden the Bay of fires trail and then come to flagstaff, make sure you use the hygiene station.

Flagstaff Trail Network on Trailforks.com