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Cowan Trail (Terry Hills) Confirmed As Out of Bounds


Winco's picture

By Winco - Posted on 16 September 2011

I decided today to get confirmation from NPWS if it was legal to ride the Cowan Fire trail which forks off West about 850m from the Long/Perimeter junction. Whilst this site indicates it is okay to ride the trail, I have noticed there are no signs confirming you can ride at the trail head. This is the response I received back which confirms the trail is out of bounds for MTBkrs.

Hi Peter,

Thank you for your enquiry regarding Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. Unfortunately, the Cowan Track is a walking track & is not a designated fire trail where mountain bike riding is permissible (hence no signage regarding this). I can send you a map that indicates which trails allow mountain bikers if you’d like – please let me know if you’d like me to forward it to the address in your email or an alternate address.

Kind Regards
Michelle Holder
Coordinator Customer & Information Services
National Parks and Wildlife Service
Office of Environment and Heritage
Department of Premier and Cabinet
Metro North East Information Centre
PO Box 3031, Asquith, NSW 2077
Ph: 9472 8949, Fax: 9457 0113

Brian's picture

They must have had a change of mind considering I took this pic at the beginning of 2010.

Entry to Cowan Track

Rob's picture

I have an email from a senior NPWS ranger dated 10/12/2009 which reads,

Cowan Track is now open to MTBs – I went down it yesterday and I have recommended we try to leave it a bit overgrown to seem like a single trail.

This is the problem when they have no official documentation on the matter Sad

Brian's picture

It sounds like it depends who you get at NPWS whether its legal or not.

Winco, can you reply and ask them about the picture (even though the signs are not there now) and see what they say?

Andy Bloot's picture

And if someone tells you to leave, then do so

Winco's picture

Brian, thanks for the picture and the suggestion to get clarification/confirmation. I have asked Ms Holder from NPWS to double check with her colleagues. She has responded with "No problem, I’ll have to get back to you on that one."
As soon as I hear back, I'll post her response. I've indicated as riders we wish to do the right thing, hence the need to get clarification. I have also asked, that if the trail is indeed off limits, could a sign be erected stating so.

kitttheknightrider's picture

I checked with a senior local area manager about 2 years ago, sorry but I completely forget his name or title but think it is the same person Rob has had discussions with, and he confirmed that it was definitely OK for us to ride it.

I also saw some rangers on trail about 18 months ago and they also confirmed it was OK.

There was a thread here a while back, probably around the time Brian took that pic, that had more on it

hawkeye's picture

Those "MTB Bikes Permitted" signs were removed almost immediately after the pic was taken, if I recall correctly, and there was speculation that some walkers/haters were responsible.

Unfortunately they are out there, the ones that have a look on their face like they're sucking a lemon and don't acknowledge your hello as you ride past giving them plenty of room.

My understanding is that it has been open for mtbs to ride since that sign was first posted.

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