Cannock Chase Mountain Bike Trails

Cannock Chase Mountain Bike Centre has two red mountain bike trails: Follow the Dog and the Monkey Trail, with optional black sections dotted throughout. There is also the green Fairoak Trail and the blue Perry's Trail.

Nearby is also a set of sister downhill trails in Stile Cop, known as Stile Cop Downhill (just off Stile Cop Road).

Follow the Dog (Red)

• Follow the Dog is a red graded 6.8 miles (10.9 km) intermediate trail aimed at competent mountain bikers, designed and built by Chase Trails in 2005.
• Highlights include Twist and Shout, High Voltage, Son of Chainslapper, and Snakes and Adders.
• The trail consists of flowing singletrack, great views, climbs, fun descents, boardwalks, rollers, jumps, drop offs, berms, step ups, step downs and rock gardens.
• There are optional black sections on this trail. The Head Banger is a short black-graded section near the start of Let Loose, featuring two boardwalks, a rock qualifier, and a technically challenging rock garden.

The Monkey Trail (Red with Black Options)

• The Monkey Trail joins Follow the Dog half way round. It is red graded but more technically challenging and demanding. At 7.4 miles, combined with Follow the Dog it makes just over 14 miles (22.6 km), with bigger climbs, more technical descents, and optional black graded lines.
• Sections to look out for include Monkey's Uncle, Upper and Lower Cliff, Rainbow Valley, Over the Rainbow, Deerskull, Pot of Gold, and Roller Coaster.
• In 2023 a new section between Deer Skull and The Original Monkey opened called Old Father Time, as a memorial to Martin, one of the Chase Trails volunteers who passed away in 2020.
• The terrain includes loose stones, roots, mud, steep climbs, technical descents, flowing singletrack, large berms, step ups, step downs, rock gardens, boardwalks, rollers, jumps, and drop offs.
• There is a 1 km descent called the Five Ways Descent.
• The black sections are optional but once on them include large and unavoidable rocks and rock gardens.

Fairoak Trail (Green)

• A Green graded trail suitable for families and beginners, 2.5 miles (4 km) long. One gentle climb back to the Forest Centre. Surface is mostly smooth.

Perry's Trail (Blue)

• Perry's Trail is a blue graded 2.7 mile (4.3 km) route built in 2021. The surface is smooth with some loose stone and muddy areas. Expect flowing singletrack, gentle berms, rollers, gradual climbs and rollable rock gardens. The highlight is a fun, fast, flowing descent. There are also three optional red sections to push your skills.

Stile Cop Downhill

• A number of red and black graded short downhill runs making good use of the 65-metre hill. All runs end at the bottom of the hill. There is no uplift but it is approximately 10 minutes to push up. The site is free to ride. Note: this is a nearby but separate site with its own listing.

Local Organisation

• The XC trails are managed in partnership with Forestry England by Chase Trails, a volunteer group set up over 20 years ago to build and maintain the mountain bike trails on Cannock Chase.
• Pegasus MTB offer coaching in this area and the surrounding region.
• Cannock Chase Cycle Centre is the on-site bike shop at Birches Valley.

Getting Here

• Follow the Dog, the Monkey Trail, Perry's Trail, and the Fairoak Trail all start from Birches Valley Forest Centre, Rugeley, WS15 2UQ.
• The Stile Cop Downhill is a separate site off Stile Cop Road, Rugeley.
• Rugeley Trent Valley Station is approximately 3 miles away via the Cannock Chase Heritage Trail.

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