Course Info
Course Details
If you're looking for four days of the best riding around, hitting the most fun trails, rolling out of some iconic destinations before kicking back with a cold one or three post-stage - then the Cape to Cape course has been built with you in mind!
Our course team is scouring the South West Region in search of the best trails to put your two tyres on, but they always come up with the goods, and 2026 will be no different.
All courses are subject to change up until race morning briefing.
Cape to Cape courses can only be ridden in their full format at event time.
Local heroes open up their gates and allow access to their private land for the C2C riders as the event benefits the community in so many ways. Please respect private property and make sure we are able to continue accessing these tracks by not pre-riding the course.
Stage 1 – Cape Leeuwin
Distance = 40 km
Elevation = 704m
Exciting changes are coming to the iconic Lighthouse stage this year!
This 40km race course begins and ends at the tallest lighthouse on mainland Australia—just as it has for the past 18 years.
From the start, riders will tackle a 100m vertical climb up the dusty limestone of Skippy Rock Road (approx. 4.5km), a leg‑warming ascent before launching into a fast-paced descent. This leads into a rocky downhill where the first stunning views of the towering Karri forest come into sight. And now… here’s where the 2026 changes begin!
Instead of the infamous sandy climb up Heartbreak Hill, riders will cross private, flat grassland—terrain rarely open to the public. This scenic stretch winds its way through spectacular vistas before reaching Hillview. From there, enjoy a fast road climb to Diana Road, followed by a thrilling descent down a steep gravel section where you’re likely to hit your top speeds of the entire C2C!
Re-enter the forest for some tight singletrack, where at the 11.5km mark you’ll pass the spectator point, perfect for a boost from your supporters.
Next comes the Greenhill Road climb, leading to the aid station at 19.5km. From there, it’s on to Treetops—a fun, flowy trail that carries you along a ridge and into the Augusta Golf Club (now even better after our course team reversed this section to maximise the flow!).
At around 25km, it’s time to work together and push back toward the Telstra Tower before descending the technical Snakies trail. This leads into a network of singletrack before climbing back out to Skippy Rock Road.
This year brings something special here too…
You’ll turn left onto the brand-new Ridgeline Trail, a highlight of the course with spectacular panoramic views over the Lighthouse and both the Southern and Indian Oceans. It’s definitely selfie-worthy! ????
For the first time ever, riders will also experience the newly built 4km coastal trail, Leeuwin Biddi. This stunning section hugs the coastline, offering sweeping ocean views all the way back toward the finish.
Finally, enjoy the unique opportunity to ride around the iconic Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse an exclusive C2C experience before crossing the finish line and celebrating with a well-earned refreshment.
It’s a course that is raced once a year built especially for the Cape to Cape by local Legends.
Subject to change up until race morning briefing.
Stage 2 – Nannup
Distance = 44.8 km
Elevation = 1028 m
This is the third year we will be using the awesome Nannup, Tank 7 MTB Park for the Cape to Cape MTB Stage Race. Once again, we have taken your feedback from last year, and improved the course accordingly.
There is now a link joining the bottom of Flat Earth to Roo Beds. This means we can use the bottom of Roo Beds (Shuttle Junction) as a descent.
This gets rid of a fast fire road corner and leads us better into Eagle Eye (Blue DH Trail) as an A Line, or Cheap Thrills (Green DH Trail) as a B Line.
We have also changed the order in which the Tank 7 trails work. Once riders exit Tank to Tank and round Tank 7, they will descend down Easy Tiger. Climb back up Stairway to Seven, then descend down the fire road (Lindsay Road) and head towards the finish line.
Join us for a CBCo. beer at the Good Time Rolling Bar!
Subject to change up until race morning briefing.
Stage 3 - Margaret River
Distance = 57.1 km
Elevation = 771 m
The Queen Stage returns, starting and finishing at CBCo Brewing on Osmington Road — just 10 minutes from Margaret River town.
Riders roll out from the brewery’s farmland, heading north onto fast-flowing gravel roads that wind through scenic paddocks and private property - the perfect start to warm up the legs and chase down some early pace.
Back for 2026 is the Open Women’s start wave. This wave will leave at 8:15 am. The Open Men start 45 minutes later at 9:00 am. The girls will be able to have their own race at the front of the field without any influence or drafting from the guy’s. It will be really interesting to see how many of these awesome women finish before the first of the Open Men.
At the 9 km mark, the course crosses Bussell Highway and dives into bushland, where the iconic Creek Crossing awaits.
From there, riders join the historic Wadandi Trail — the old 1927 railway line — before entering the legendary Return of the Jedi trail. This marks the gateway to one of the most talked-about sections of Cape to Cape: The Pines.
Inside the Pines, riders will take on roughly 25 km of single track, including local favourites like Pugsley, Line Manager, Loosey Goosey, Big Pine, and Gulliver’s Travels. Berms, tabletops, and tight lines will test skills and stir up plenty of whoops and hollers along the way.
This year’s course includes short fire road links between trail sections — giving riders a moment to hydrate and reset before diving back into more single track.
Next, the route winds into another pocket of Pines trails before entering the RAC Nature Park, home to towering Karri trees and the ever-popular trail Fluid — a highlight of the stage.
With around 13 km to go, the course opens up onto flowing gravel roads before joining the riverside cycle trails that hug the Margaret River. This flat, picturesque stretch offers a moment to soak in the scenery before the final push.
The stage wraps up on the brand-new Hop Trail, a fast and flowing section that winds north through a couple of cheeky water crossings - leading you straight back to CBCo Brewing for a well-earned finish line beer.Bottom of Form
Subject to change up until race morning briefing.
Stage 4 – Cape Naturaliste
Distance = 41.4 km
Elevation = 685 m
Welcome back to Cape Naturaliste - and what a final stage we have in store. With ocean views, iconic trails, and a finish line celebration at Wise Winery, the last 41 km of Cape to Cape 2026 promises to go out with a bang.
Starting and finishing within the stunning grounds of Wise Winery, this stage might be shorter, but it packs a punch. After three days of riding, we hope there’s still a little left in the tank (and legs) to power through this grand finale.
From the start line, riders will head out of Wise Winery on the dirt and up the Sheens Road Climb in an anti-clockwise direction. You do a big loop around the beautiful Meelup Beach and Eagle Bay area for heading back into Wise Winery for the cool single track, steep pinch climb and awesome spectator interaction. Riders head back out of winery and climb out towards the Dunsborough Country Club trail network.
Here, you’ll face nearly 22 km of single track, mixed with short fire road breaks. Expect loose pea gravel, granite rock features, and the kind of terrain that demands every ounce of focus and effort you’ve got left.
Once out of the MTB park, you have a short roll down Meelup Beach Road, left into a fire road, then one last, solid, climb to the finish line at Wise Winery. It’s time to celebrate and be proud of what you achieved over the last 4 days.
Whether it’s a Vino, CBCo. craft beer, or a limited-edition gin distilled just for the event, you’ve earned your cheers. Job done. Well done!
Subject to change up until race morning briefing.
Handcycles
Cape to Cape welcomes handcyclists on all 4 stages of the event.
Our fantastic course team have created diversions to ensure the trails with limited space and log roll overs are taken out allowing you to have the best experience possible on your handcycle.
Handcycles will need to bear in mind that there are some water crossings that couldn’t be avoided. Your support rider will be vital to get you through them!
For more information, or to help you be as prepared as possible please contact hello@capetocapemtb.com
Diversions
The Cape to Cape has been designed for riders of all abilities that are looking to challenge themselves. As a result our objective is to keep all riders in the event for as long as it is possible but without compromising the safety of other riders or members of the event team.
The Race Manager will monitor the pace of each group with an expectation that all riders can maintain a minimum speed of 10 – 12 kmh so that they can complete the course within the allotted time limit. Failure to do so will mean that riders, at the discretion of the Race Director, can be diverted onto a shorter route to the finish.
