Manly Dam - Main Circuit

Here's the pictorial guide to navigating around Manly Dam.

Starting at King Street, Manly Vale. By Manly Hydraulics Laboratory:

Head up Arana Street:

Turn right up Gibb Street and past the school and into the carpark beside it:

Past school on your right (that's the fence just visible), through carpark and onto single track beyond. Some people like to start at this carpark too:

Turn left, avoiding the walking track on the right. This leads up a short, steep climb:

Keep going then the trail turns round to the right and is an easy climb over some tree roots:

Come out onto the road and follow it uphill to the right:

Turn right, keeping the War Memorial Park on your right and continue uphill:

Go straight into Bangaroo Street then left behind the houses - don't worry about the sign - you're on a bike

Follow narrow climbing path by the roadside on Manning Street:

Enter narrow path through trees on right, directly by the mini roundabout. Climb through trees on rooty single track:

Exit trees, cross carpark onto the path to the right of the oval:

Ride along the gravel path by the oval:

Turn sharp right into single track through trees:

Come out of trees, turn right on road width gravel, slight downhill:

Bear up to the left here unless you want to end up on the golf course

Wind through single track. Some rocks in here but nothing too tricky:

Reverse angle - nice stuff:

Second stage in the short but steep rock roll downs:

Come out onto a large rock. You can get up this coming straight from the boards, but many people like the easier route to the right:

Quite a technical little climb:

Bear right down some rock steps - the track here is straight enough, but a few rocks make it a little uncomfortable for a small section:

You're now around halfway round. Come out onto fire trail near Wakehurst Parkway and turn Right:

Follow the firetrail down to the creek:

Cross the creek. If there's water flowing you're probably covered in mud from the descent. Take it easy 'cos there's some climbing to come:

The little Heartbreak Hill. Here we see it after grading sometime around Dec 2006. Gone are the technical challenges of rocks that have been replaced by just a couple of water bars which offer little resistance:

To the left is Evas Track - don't go up there - or the rangers will be on your back (it's for walkers only). Carry straight on for the main loop:

There's a small track off to the right, but it's too narrow for a bike, carry on straight ahead:

Time for some fun - turn right (left as seen here - it's reverse angle):

Do not come out here at speed! 6 foot drop straight ahead or easier route round to the right of that:

Biggest drop on the circuit and 6 foot plus. If you didn't turn right at the end of the boards then you're probably lying broken here

This image is reverse angle, beginners can ride around to the right (as approaching from the other direction) or there's no shame in getting off and walking:

Come out behind some houses, cross a narrow bridge and pass a playground. Up and turn right along the road just past there:

After cycling along/by the road, hit the trail again to the right, just past Forbes Place:

After a tiny climb the path meets a road here, but don't worry about that - keep on going round to the right:

Turn right past the carpark and continue on behind the houses:

Right into the trees again. Some steps, rocks and roots in this section, watch out:

The board walk in the foreground here was put in during works sometime around Apr 2006. Although care is still needed, it's not half as tricky as it used to be.

Almost done. Negotiate the speed reduction railings, over a small bridge and back up to King Street:

A GPS profile to follow here: