What’s On In Brisbane? – Mt Coot-tha Forest, Gap Creek Reserve Area

Easy mountain bike trail @ Mt Cootha Forest, Gap Creek Reserve

Gap Creek Reserve area is the third most visited area of Mt Coot-tha and a popular destination for mountain bikers with a wide range of dedicated mountain bike trails and multi-use trails found in the area.

The focal point of the Gap Creek Reserve area of Mt Coot-tha Forest is a picnic area located off Gap Creek Road where most of the trails begin from the back of the picnic area or on the opposite side Gap Creek Road. Wood fired barbeques, picnic tables and public toilets are also found at the Gap Creek Reserve Picnic Area.

Although the areas elevation does not climb to the height of the trails around Mt Coot-tha Lookout area, they tend to be steeper with most of the multi-use trails taking a more direct approach up the mountain sides then the hiker dedicated trails which tend to meander up the hills and mountains. Some of the more popular tracks in the area include

Bellbird Trail, Kokoda Track, Jacksonia Track and Cockatoo Trail – These four trails create a circuit which climbs up from Gap Creek Reserve to Sir Samuel Griffith Drive to the East and back. The Kokoda Track section of the circuit includes a sharp climb that some may find very difficult.
Quail Trail heads North of the Gap Creek Reserve and can be connected up to Coucal Trail and Goanna Trail to create a circuit from Gap Creek Reserve. Again the trail has some sharp climbs and is multi-use for mountain bikers, hikers and horse riders.

Quail Trail @ Mt Coot-tha Forest, Gap Creek Reserve

Various mountain bike only dedicated tracks also criss-cross the area and are of varying difficulty. The difficulty of the tracks are marked by a post at the beginning with either green (easy), blue (medium) and black (difficult).

Parking is best done at the car park at Gap Creek Reserve which can accommodate around 20 cars. Accessing the area is a little difficult with either the bus stop near the intersection of Gap Creek Road and Brookfield Road around 2 kilometres to the South or the Mt Coot-tha summit bus stop which involves following the trails from Gap Creek Reserve to Mt Coot-tha Summit. For more information on public transport please visit Translink.

Other reviews on the Mt Coot-tha Forest include

Useful links on further information about Mt Coot-tha Forest

Mt Coot-tha mountain bike trail map and information. Although this is primarily focused on mountain bikes, the map is probably the best we have found for hikers as well. You can find it by clicking here.
Mt Coot-tha Forest pdf from Brisbane city council with further information and popular walks around Mt Coot-tha. You can find it by clicking here.
Opencyclemap.org also has a good map of the area along with topography. You can find it by clicking here.

Facilities At Mt Coot-tha Forest, Gap Creek Reserve Area

	The majority of the reserve is dry bushland of primarily eucalypts. A large open green space area is located at the Gap Creek Reserve picnic area.
	Public toilets are found at the Gap Creek Reserve picnic area.
	Trail criss-cross the area with the majority either mountain bike trails or multi-use trails (shared hiking, mountain biking and horse riding). Some of the more popular hiking circuits include Bellbird Trail, Kokoda Track, Jacksonia Track and Cockatoo Trail – These four trails create a circuit which climbs up from Gap Creek Reserve to Sir Samuel Griffith Drive to the East and back. The Kokoda Track section of the circuit includes a sharp climb that some may find very difficult. Quail Trail heads North of the Gap Creek Reserve and can be connected up to Coucal Trail and Goanna Trail to create a circuit from Gap Creek Reserve. Again the trail has some sharp climbs and is multi-use for mountain bikers, hikers and horse riders.
	Wood fired barbeques and picnic tables are found at the Gap Creek Reserve picnic area.
	Parking is best done at the car park at Gap Creek Reserve picnic area which can accommodate around 20 cars.
	Accessing the area is a little difficult with either the bus stop near the intersection of Gap Creek Road and Brookfield Road around 2 kilometres to the South or the Mt Coot-tha summit bus stop which involves following the trails from Gap Creek Reserve to Mt Coot-tha Summit. For more information on public transport please visit Translink.