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
2025 Course information included below, 2026 Course information coming soon!
Distance = 45.1 km
Elevation = 871 m
The race kicks off with the classic grand departure, set against the stunning backdrop of the iconic Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse. Riders will be guided by a lead vehicle along the opening 500 meters of Leeuwin Road before making a left onto Skippy Rock Road - a gravel road that offers breathtaking views of both the Southern and Indian Oceans.
From there, participants will tackle one of the race’s most memorable climbs and descents as they dive into double-track trails weaving through the majestic Karri Forests of Augusta. It’s in these shaded, forest trails beneath towering trees where the true spirit of the 2025 race begins to unfold.
Within the opening 10km, riders will face Heartbreak Hill at around the seven-kilometre mark. Known as the toughest climb on the route, this steep, sandy, 1.9 km ascent gains 160 vertical meters at an average grade of 10.4%. Only the most determined will ride it without needing to dismount for a quick breather.
Reaching the summit near the Telstra Tower, riders then cruise down three kilometres of fast-flowing fire roads that lead into technical single track around the Augusta Golf Club. Next comes a thrilling descent past the aid station at roughly 20km, where riders can grab some much-needed hydration and re-fuel.
Rejuvenated, racers venture onto flowing single track and speedy limestone descents before tackling the challenging Diana Road gravel climb. Following that is the punishing Sally’s Hill - a leg-burning 196 meters of elevation over 3.5 km back up toward the Telstra Tower. The effort is rewarded with an exhilarating single-track descent that leads into a new section added this year: flat single-track trails.
Riders will share a brief 300-metre stretch of dual-use, two-way, limestone fire road — keep left and watch for signage. This fresh part of the course features some sand, mud, and water obstacles as it loops around Augusta Airport before re-entering the Karri Forest double track for the rolling climb of Skippy Rock.
The final challenge descends dramatically with stunning views of the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, guiding riders back to the finish line at this unforgettable landmark.
Augusta is known for its 4 big climbs but with those climbs comes some long fun descents.
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
2025 Course information included below, 2026 Course information coming soon!
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.
For the first time ever, we have a great initiative in a separate 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
2025 Course information included below, 2026 Course information coming soon!
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 2025 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.
