Recreation Sites

Ticknock Mountain Bike Trails

Stay Safe in the Outdoors - Guidelines for Exercising in the Outdoors Level 5

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Ticknock Mountain Bike Trail is a network of purpose-built single track trails and forest roads that are designated for use by mountain bikes on a way-marked circular route of 13km in length. The trails take the rider through beautiful forest and heathland with fantastic views over Dublin City and Bay and the Wicklow Mountains beyond. Forest road climbs lead you into tight twisty single track with loads of fast descents, ups and downs, tight turns and technical rocky bits, guaranteed to leave you smiling! The trails are way-marked in one direction, please follow the red arrows.

Location

Ticknock is located in the Dublin Mountains, only a half hour 44B bus or car journey's time from the centre of Dublin; 3 km south west of Sandyford.

How do I get there?

From the city centre, head for Marlay Park via Rathfarnham. Passing the main entrance to the Park on your right, turn right at St.Enda's GAA Club and, following the road around the edge of the Park, turn left at the Taylor's Grange junction onto the R113. Take the second turn on the right and this will bring you to the entrance to Ticknock forest.

National Grid Reference: O 152 242 [Understanding grid references]

Ordnance Survey Ireland Discovery Series: 50

Site Information

Car-park opening times: 06:00 to 22:00

Parking fee: None

Car Spaces: 145

Car-park layout: parking spaces are provided along the route of the one-way system that operates in this forest, see car-park map.

Note: Please use the car park facilties provided and do not block local resident's access along the public road.

Note: When Met Eireann forecast snow/ice condition warnings are in place the car-park may be closed at short notice. In a Met Eireann 'Red' Wind warning, you should not enter any forest area. Updates on car-park and recreation site closures will be posted on the News page.

Toilets: none.

Bins: none, please follow Leave No Trace Ireland principles.

Defibrillator/AED: on the side of the biking.ie building

Ticknock Site Features:

Mountain bike trails
Biking.ie - bike hire, bike wash, bike maintenance
Biking.ie - hot drinks and snacks
Walking Trails
Permanent Orienteering Course
Viewing Points

Red Trail Description

Trail start point: Car park

Length: 13km

Time: 90-130 minutes

Degree of difficulty: Difficult/severe

Metres of climb: 220m

Attributes: Loop trail

Finish Point: Car park

Trail Waymarking: Red

Mountain Bike Trail Map: Ticknock Mountain Bike trails

This is a challenging, rocky, technical trail throughout. Forest road climbs lead you into single track, varying from fast, open and flowing to twisty, technical rocky sections with loads of ups and downs, big descents and berm turns. This technical trail tests all a rider's skills and abilities - not for novices.

Roughly 9km of the waymarked loop is singletrack and these sections are narrow, sometimes steep trails of not more than 1m in width with variable surfaces, including rocks, roots, loose stones and gravel and they may become slippery in wet weather. The single track also crosses walking trails at a number of points so take care, caution walkers. The remaining 4km of the waymarked loop are forest roads and you should expect to encounter vehicles and other forest users at any time on these parts of the loop.

The trail is quite exposed on the upper slopes and can be very windy in poor weather. Please ensure your bike is in good working order and that you have an appropriate fitness and skill level to undertake these trails. All riders should be appropriately dressed and wear a helmet at all times.

Please ride with consideration for the many other forest users.