Ballycuggaran Mountain Bike Trails

Ballycuggaran Mountain Bike Trails are a small, club-developed network of natural singletrack in Coillte's Ballycuggaran forest, above Lough Derg just north of Killaloe in County Clare. Around a dozen short trails, mostly blue with a black, drop from forest road climbs through steep woodland, and the forest hosted the Cycling Ireland Enduro National Championships in 2026.

The Trails

This is not a waymarked trail centre. The riding is a network of natural and lightly built singletrack developed through local club activity, reached by forest road climbs from the car park. Riders have mapped around 14 trails and 12km on Trailforks, where they are rated from green to black. Those names and ratings are riders' own rather than official, so download a route or use GPS navigation before you set off.

• Blue: Home Run, with jumps and log rides; Yurt, with jumps, a rock garden and a skinny; Three Halves, which runs from steep, muddy double track into bermed singletrack with small drops and jumps, then tight forest singletrack; and Born Slippy.
• Black: Switch, a steeper line with jumps, log rides and a rock garden.

The trails are short and steep, so a session means repeated climbs, and the natural surfaces get soft and slippery after rain. Ride only on established trails, avoid them when they are waterlogged, and keep clear of any areas closed for forestry work.

Ballycuggaran has a racing history too. It hosted a Gravity Series round in 2019, and Limerick Mountain Bike Club built six stages here for the Cycling Ireland Enduro National Championships in August 2026.

Sharing the Forest

Ballycuggaran is a busy multi-use forest. The Crag Wood Walk, the East Clare Way and the popular hillwalk to Moylussa, the highest point in County Clare, all start from the same car park. These are walking routes, so expect walkers on the forest roads and at crossings, give way to them, and keep speed down around blind corners. Forestry vehicles have priority on the forest roads.

Getting Here

Ballycuggaran is about 3km north of Killaloe, off the R463 towards Tuamgraney and Scarriff. Park at the Ballycuggaran Forest car park, where the walking routes also start; parking is free. Killaloe, and Ballina across the bridge, have food and supplies.

Trails on Coillte land are subject to periodic closures and diversions for forestry operations. Check the Coillte Ballycuggaran page for current alerts before you travel.

Local Organisations

• Limerick Mountain Bike Club rides and races in the area and hosted the 2026 Enduro National Championships at Ballycuggaran.
• The Cycling Ireland Offroad Commission publishes the national enduro, downhill and cross country race calendars, so check it for events that may close parts of the forest.

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