Peachester State Forest: Long Trail

For those looking for something new and a challenge…experienced mountain bikers would enjoy.

Suitable for mountain bikers and horse riders – though note: it would be hard on a horse’s knees in parts. Walkers can do but it’s a dusty dry trail or a slippery muddy one when wet.

The approach to this park via Reserve Lane is possibly the most attractive part of this adventure. As you turn into Reserve Lane, there is a beautiful Red Cedar tree on the left corner. You drive past avocado and custard apple orchards before coming to an old farm with split timber fencing. Peachester Forestry is an operational forestry with ongoing timber cutting – note the occasional yellow marked tree.

This park is used heavily by 4WD and trailbike enthusiasts. The marked route follows the ridge all the way down to a creek with palm trees and suitable water for horses.

Mountain bikers and horse riders can continue across or along the creek or turn tail and retrace your journey via the marked trail. When you get to the level plateau area you veer to the left and head west. You'll come to power lines then follow the dirt road north roughly parallel to the lines then around the perimetre of the park parallel to a macadamia plantation. Note: the north west corner has some seriously eroded areas.

This is mostly a dry forest with tall trees with very limited view, despite there being some steep drop-offs in certain sections. There are multiple side trails you can take in this park though it’s recommended to have a good sense of direction or a GPS.

The trail is very steep in parts and very rutted. A lot of the path has very fine silt in places which will quickly turn slippery when when wet.

Note there is very limited visibility in terms of oncoming vehicles or other adventurers. For walkers and horse riders there are many nicer, safer, quieter adventures to be found.

For less strenuous and more scenic riding or walking head to the Glass House Mountains Conservation Park between D’Aguilar and Wamuran on the D’Aguilar Highway.

Mountain bikers might like to do a loop to and from Peachester to begin with, or carry on and head south out of Peachester State Forest to Mount Beerwah (possibly do a car shuttle)

Head to Beerwah off Steve Irwin Way. Go straight through one roundabout till you get to Peachester Road. Turn left here and follow this road for approx 8.5 km till you get to Peachester itself, then turn left into Commissioners Flat Road. Approx 3 km later turn left into Reserve Lane on your left. Follow that road approx 800 m till the point where it meets the forest. Park your vehicle here for offloading your horsefloat or mountain bikes.