Mt Owen MTB Trails

Overview

Mt Owen MTB Trails is a 35 km purpose-built network draped across the upper slopes of Mt Owen, the bare, mineral-stained peak (1,146 m) that towers over the historic copper-mining town of Queenstown on Tasmania's West Coast. The mountain's century of industrial mining and timber felling stripped the once-rainforested slopes back to dramatic, multi-coloured conglomerate ridgelines — the closest thing in Australia to riding a Northern-Hemisphere or New Zealand "big-mountain" alpine descent. The network was designed and built by Tasmanian specialist Dirt Art (also responsible for Maydena Bike Park) and officially opened on 10 December 2021.

The network is split into two distinct experiences:

• Upper Mountain — five primary descending trails accessed only by a paid, pre-booked shuttle (RoamWild's "Owen Spur Shuttle"). The road is gated, narrow and steep — riders may not drive up. Trails are remote, exposed and physically demanding, with up to 800 m of vertical descent in one run. Intermediate-or-above skill recommended.
• Lower Mountain — accessible free from the Tramway Street trailhead in Queenstown, offering green and blue loops to suit beginners through intermediates, with the option to link harder intermediate trails.

Mt Owen is the northern half of the wider West Coast MTB project — the southern half is Silver City at Zeehan. Combined, the two networks make up over 85 km of singletrack marketed under one brand by West Coast Council.

Location & Access

• Trailhead (Lower Mountain): Headley Faulls Park, Cutten Street, Queenstown TAS 7467 — Tramway Street trailhead. Town parking and the SES Queenstown Unit area (a couple hundred metres away) are alternatives.
• Shuttle pickup: Owen Spur Shuttles depart Queenstown — book via RoamWild on 0407 049 612 or at roamwild.com.au. Max 6 passengers per trip; pre-booking essential.
• Lat/lon: -42.0751, 145.5660 (DB current — appears correct).
• Drive times:
• Hobart ~3 hr 45 min via Lyell Hwy
• Burnie ~2 hr 30 min via Murchison Hwy
• Launceston ~3 hr 30 min
• Strahan ~45 min (west)
• Zeehan (Silver City MTB) ~30 min (north) — easy day-trip link
• Public transport: None. West Coast is car-only.
• Parking: Tramway St / Headley Faulls Park trailhead, plus the Old Hospital Car Park (DB-recorded). Town parking is generally free.

Best Season & Conditions

• Year-round riding is possible. West Coast Tasmania has a temperate maritime climate — wet, cool, and notoriously changeable. Summer (Dec–Mar) is the most reliable window for the Upper Mountain trails.
• Winter shuttles run on a reduced timetable due to shorter daylight hours; check with RoamWild before travelling.
• Exposure: Upper Mountain is treeless, alpine in character, and subject to sudden weather changes. Riders are explicitly warned to be "adequately experienced, prepared and equipped" — pack windproof shell, food, water, and check forecasts.
• Surface: Predominantly natural / hand-built over rocky conglomerate substrate. Trails drain well thanks to the gradient and rocky base; the Lower Mountain trails can hold mud after sustained rain.

Managing Body & Trail Builders

• Land manager / operator: West Coast Council. Trails on the Upper Mountain sit largely on land controlled by the Council under arrangement with mining and pastoral leaseholders.
• Trail designer / builder: Dirt Art Pty Ltd (Hobart) — designed and built the 35 km network. Dirt Art also built Maydena and Australia's largest public jump park (Sydney).
• Local club: West Coast MTB Club contributes to ongoing maintenance alongside the Council. Some adjacent trails (e.g. Sterling Valley) are jointly maintained with Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania.
• Funded by: $2.5 m Federal Government regional grant + $0.5 m from Tasmania Parks & Wildlife.
• Operator phone (riders): RoamWild shuttle 0407 049 612 (Council main line is (03) 6471 4700 for general enquiries; tourism@westcoast.tas.gov.au).

History & Background

• Queenstown's century-long copper-mining boom (from 1893) stripped Mt Owen of its rainforest cover; sulfurous smelter emissions then prevented regrowth, creating the bare, multi-coloured "lunar landscape" the town is famous for. The mountain's open, exposed character — anathema to hikers — turned out to be ideal for big-mountain MTB.
• 2018–2020: West Coast Council, in conjunction with Tasmanian Government and Dirt Art, developed a master plan for an MTB network spanning Queenstown and Zeehan to diversify the region's economy as mining wound down.
• November 2020: Dirt Art moved machinery onto the mountain to begin construction.
• 23 July 2021: First 10.5 km section opened to the public.
• 10 December 2021: Official Stage 1 opening — 35 km of trails formally launched at a community BBQ at Headley Faull Park with ribbon-cutting at the Mt Owen summit.
• December 2022: Stage 2 (Silver City, Zeehan, 34.5 km on Heemskirk Range) opened, completing the broader West Coast MTB vision.

Recent News & Updates

No major changes in the past 12 months. Trails remain in the same configuration as the December 2021 opening. The trailhead, shuttle arrangement, and bike-friendly accommodation listings on the West Coast MTB site are stable. The Stage 2 (Silver City) opening at Zeehan in December 2022 has driven additional rider traffic through Queenstown as a two-network destination.