Where

Cascade National Park in North Coast

Distance

5.5km one-way

Time suggested

30min

Grade

Easy

Opening times

Cascade mountain bike trail is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.

What to
bring

Hat, sunscreen, drinking water

Please note

• There is limited/no mobile reception in this park
• Remember to take your binoculars if you want to go birdwatching

The tiny hamlet of Briggsvale is the starting point for Cascade mountain bike trail – an easy, undulating cycling route along a gravel path that takes riders to the heart of Cascade National Park. All around, you’ll see the diversity of the landscape with lush rainforest interspersed with more open patches of eucalyptus trees.

The cycling trail travels east along Briggsvale Road, one of the most likely parts of the parks for visitors to see and hear lyrebirds. You’ll need to be as quiet as possible though, because these beautiful birds are notoriously shy. Aside from birdwatching opportunities, there’s also a chance you might be cycling past some of the resident reptiles, including carpet pythons, who like to warm themselves on the sun-lit paths.

When you reach the intersection of Carters trail, turn around and head back to Briggsvale. This is a great mountain bike ride to take at any time of year, but remember to layer your clothing during winter because the region is high above sea level and can get quite cool.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Visitor info

Maps and downloads

Learn more

A natural palette of colours

Cascade National Park combines warm temperate and subtropical rainforest filled with coachwood, crab apple, booyong and even hoop pine. Antarctic beech can also be found within its boundaries. In December, Dorrigo waratah blooms, showing off its spectacular red flowers. In the wet eucalypt forests, brush box, tallowwood and Sydney blue gums flourish.

Cascade's logging past

At the beginning of the 20th century, all over Dorrigo Plateau, the land was being opened up for dairy farming and cropping. Soon after, red cedar and hoop pine was targeted by loggers. A rail line was opened in 1924 to Glenreagh, and a network of tramlines carried timber from the forests to the mills at Cascade. Although logging no longer takes place here, the four rail lines and logging relics can be seen in Cascade National Park and nearby Nymboi-Binderay and Dorrigo national parks, in particular, around Cascade village and along Moonpar Forest drive.

Get active, or simply relax

For those who like mountain biking, get yourself to Cascade ride. If walking is more your style, take a walk beneath the ancient trees on either Box Ridge or Mobong tracks. There's also a driving route that traverses both Cascade and the southern reaches of Nymboi-Binderay national parks. And be sure to bring your binoculars for birdwatching, and a picnic for when you're ready to relax. There's a full range of adventures, from the gentle to the more active, in Cascade National Park.

Rich with biodiversity

The rainforest in Cascade is busy with birds and animals, both day and night. During daylight hours, you may see lyrebirds, brush turkeys, and bowerbirds to name a few. The brightly feathered wompoo fruit dove, with its green belly blends, camouflages itself within the forest canopy. Wallabies can be seen early and late in the day. And rare species including sphagnum and pouched frogs, spotted-tailed quolls and red-legged pademelons also call Cascade National Park home.