Willowie forest & MTB

Beginner and intermediate mountain-bike network (with some difficult sections) in historic sugar-gum / native pine forest. Picnic, toilets, accessible parking. Walkers may use historical forest access tracks — obey signs.

Best for: Mountain biking, short forest loops, picnic
Time: 1–3 hours for Willowie loops; 5–8 hours if linking the Epic Trail
Separate trailhead from the summit and from Mambray. Use the official Willowie map. Vehicle entry applies.

Verify conditions on NPWS SA → · Park alerts

Sunrise just off the Mawson Trail near Melrose, South Australia — trail context, not a tagged Remarkable Epic Trail segment — Willowie forest & MTB — Mawson Trail near Melrose (trail context, not a tagged Epic Trail segment)
Loqiical · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Official alerts snapshot · 13 Sep 2026

Current official notes for this section

Park status when checked: Open, with listed partial closures. Snapshot date 13 Sep 2026. Fire-recovery alert last updated 27 July 2026; pest-control 1–6 Nov published 20 Aug 2026; 15–20 Nov still listed on the park page 13 Sep 2026. It goes stale. Always open Mount Remarkable National Park and closures and alerts the morning you travel.

Full park closure 1–6 Nov 2026 (pest control). NPWS SA: closed from 6pm 1 November 2026 until 6pm 6 November 2026 (with Wapma Thura–Southern Flinders Ranges NP) for pest-control operations. Do not plan walks, rides or camping inside those hours. Official alert →
Full park closure 15–20 Nov 2026 (pest control). NPWS SA: closed from 6pm Sunday 15 November until 2pm Friday 20 November 2026. Affected sites named: Mambray Creek Campground, Mambray Creek Cabin, Baroota Ruins Campground, Alligator Lodge. Whole-park public safety closure — do not assume day walks stay open. Official alert →

Willowie versus Epic

Willowie is the family and skills network near the forest visitor area. The Remarkable Epic Trail is a 38–39 km loop from Melrose through park and surrounding country — intermediate, 5–8 hours, not a casual add-on after the summit.

Finding the forest trailhead

Willowie is a separate driveway from the summit trailhead and from Mambray. Use the official Willowie forest PDF map — not a screenshot of the Epic loop. Vehicle entry still applies. 2WD is normally fine in dry conditions; do not ride or drive closed or muddy trails.

What the loops actually are

Beginner names (Possum Magic, Sleeper, Twisted Sisters and similar) are the skills introduction. Intermediate lines such as Awky Squawky assume you already ride singletrack. This is not a downhill bike park with hire and uplift. Carry water, a puncture kit and an offline map.

Walkers may use historical forest access tracks where signed. Cyclists generally give way to pedestrians on shared trails — confirm official give-way wording on the park MTB page.

Linking to the Epic Trail

Some lines connect toward the Remarkable Epic Trail. That does not make a Willowie picnic into a 38 km day. If you want the full Epic loop, start in Melrose with a full cool-season day, not after the summit hike.

Highlights at a glance

Possum Magic, Sleeper, Twisted Sisters beginner loops
Awky Squawky and other intermediate singletrack
Link options toward the Remarkable Epic Trail
Picnic / BBQ / accessible pit toilet

Practical tips

Carry water and a puncture kit. Coverage is still patchy.
Download the Willowie and Epic PDFs to Avenza before you lose signal.
Do not ride closed or muddy trails.
Picnic tables and an accessible pit toilet are listed — still pack rubbish out if bins are full or missing.

Facilities & services

Accessible parking
Accessible pit toilet
Picnic tables

Confirm toilets, parking and open facilities on the day via official sources and on-site signage.

Itineraries that use this area

Willochra Plain from Spring Creek Mine Road, Mount Remarkable National Park, facing north

Full day on the ground (4–5+ hrs walking + town buffer)

Summit day from Melrose

One hard walk: Mount Remarkable Summit Hike from the War Memorial Monument trailhead. Start in the cool, carry enough water, and leave time for the drive — not Hidden Gorge as well.

Open plan →

Map

Orientation only — confirm trailheads and road status before you drive.

Interactive map — pin may be approximate. Confirm trailheads and road status before you drive.

Open in Google Maps Get directions

FAQ — Willowie

Tap a question to expand the answer.

Do I need a bike permit?

Ride only on formed cycling trails and public roads. No extra walk-style permit is listed for standard recreation — [VERIFY] commercial events. Vehicle entry still applies.

Can beginners ride the Epic Trail?

Official listing is intermediate, about 38–39 km, allow 5–8 hours, with scree and fall exposure on sections. Start on Willowie beginner loops. Do not treat Epic as a first-ride upgrade after a picnic.

Stays & tours near Willowie

Optional next steps after you plan this area. Kit searches live on the gear hub. Park fees and official NPWS bookings are never affiliated.

Nearby stays

Melrose · Wilmington · Port Pirie and other gateways

Hotels & stays in MelroseSummit trailhead town — closest commercial beds to the 960 m hike
WilmingtonAlligator Gorge access side — 1 km north of the gorge turn-off
Port PirieLargest nearby service town (~45 km south of Mambray Creek)
Port AugustaNorthern highway hub toward the Flinders
QuornPichi Richi / Flinders gateway further north
Adelaide (weekend base)Weekend drive base — ~3–3.5 hr each way

All Booking.com links open in a new tab and may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Official NPWS camping and cottage bookings are never affiliated.

Guided tours

Optional — useful if you want a booked Flinders / Adelaide gateway tour rather than self-driving every day

A tour does not replace checking NPWS SA alerts, CFS, gorge-road access, or heat yourself.

Some stay, tour and gear links may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Park vehicle entry fees and official NPWS SA camping bookings are never affiliated. Affiliate disclosure · Privacy

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