Kilcoy Loop
Scenic Long Ride Series
Type: Road Riding
Difficulty: Medium – Advance
Distance: 239km
Elevation Gained: 4,379m
Estimated Moving Time: 10 – 12 hours
Summary
This ride started as a bold idea from a friend—a massive loop featuring two big climbs: Mount Glorious via Mt. Nebo and the back of Mt. Mee. The result? A stunning 239km ride with nearly half an Everesting’s worth of elevation gain.
We kicked off from Brisbane City, heading towards Mount Glorious via Waterworks Road.
The first major climb begins at the 35km mark, tackling Mt. Nebo—a 30km ascent with 1,258 meters of elevation gain. The climb from Mt. Nebo to Mt. Glorious isn’t too harsh if you pace yourself. It’s more of a rolling climb than a continuous ascent, allowing for some recovery between climbs. The gradient on Mt. Nebo varies between 4% and 11%, but it becomes steeper between Nebo and Glorious, with gradients hitting 10-14%.
We stopped at the Mt. Glorious café for a quick refuel before pushing on to Somerset. For locals, the descent from Glorious is familiar, but if you’re new to it, proceed with caution—it’s a high-risk descent with many blind spots and can be very slippery when wet.
The highlight of the route follows as the road flattens out and opens up. It’s less busy than expected (even on the weekend), with gentle undulations that provide a lot of fun without major difficulty.
We recommend a stop in Somerset for a bathroom break before continuing to Kilcoy. The terrain is similar to what you’ve experienced so far, with the addition of a short climb with gradients up to 12%.
Upon reaching Kilcoy, make sure to visit the local bakery for a substantial refuel—their meat pies are fantastic! Kilcoy is a better stop than Woodford, which is about 50km further and could stretch your ride too much.
From Kilcoy, we took the Glenfern and Neurum routes to Woodford, which are much safer than the D’Aguilar Highway. After a quick stop in Woodford, we faced the second major climb: the back of Mt. Mee. This 7km ascent starts off pleasantly with low gradients and great views but becomes much tougher with constant double-digit gradients between 8-14% as you approach the summit. Take your time and enjoy the excellent road conditions.
“Beautifully Challenging Ride”
By the time you reach the top of Mt. Mee, you’ll have covered 169km with 3,000 meters of elevation gain. But the adventure isn’t over yet. The ride continues with some undulating terrain to Dayboro before a long descent. While the descent isn’t challenging, take it easy and savor the ride.
With 60km left to Brisbane, you can choose to stop at Dayboro or continue to Samford. Both are great options, but if you’re feeling strong, head to Samford. Otherwise, a quick stop in Dayboro is a good choice. Keep in mind that the road from Dayboro to Samford will be undulating once again.
We opted to return to the city via Dayboro Road, which is less busy and faster compared to Waterworks Road.
Overall, this route is a must-do for your bucket list. It’s not an easy ride, but the effort is well worth it, especially the stretch from the back of Glorious to Kilcoy.
Tips:
- Plan your timing and logistics carefully.
- Ensure your bike lights are fully charged before the ride, and turn them off during daylight to save battery for after sunset.
- Pace yourself for a ride of this length to maintain energy throughout.
