2026.06 Pemberton Winter Solstice Weekend
Xander, Leanne & Jonno celebrate the shortest day of the year mountain biking in Pemberton.
In early 2026 the Arboretum Trails opened, diversifying an already fantastic network and elevating Pemberton to Western Australia's leading Trail Town for flow and skill progression.
I was privileged to be involved in the initial community consultation process with the PCA and the trails were ultimately built by my former employer, Magic Dirt.
Leanne and I were lucky enough to get a sneak peek of the Arboretum Trails in December, but my hand injury had kept me away ever since.
In the time I had been off the bike, Jonno’s riding had progressed considerably. I knew these trails would be perfect for building his confidence and taking his skills to the next level.
This proved true, and Jonno kept up with us throughout the first day, only passing on Barney, one of the more advanced trails in the network.
After a full day of riding, we settled into the Pemberton Caravan Park, chosen for its hot showers and easy access to town.
On the second morning the rain arrived, so we waited it out with a drive along the Heartbreak Trail, stopping at the Bicentennial Tree where Jonno climbed to the first platform.
When the rain eased, we returned to the Pemberton Pool and the original mountain bike park. After a session on the purpose-built jump lines helping Jonno refine his technique, we began the steep climb up Bandit's Rise.
A later addition to the network, this trail provides a direct return from two of the downhill trails back to the trailhead, while also offering views across the mist-covered valley below.
After two big climbs, we had worked up an appetite big enough to eat a horse, so we detoured to Hidden River for lunch.
By the time we were done there, we were done riding up hills so we switched to shuttles. Jonno loved riding Cool Runnings, while Leanne achieved the second-fastest women's time on Bloody Mary.
Thrilled with the day's achievements, we returned to the Pemberton Pool for a winter solstice swim.
By the final day it was clear my hand wasn’t quite as recovered as I’d hoped. I returned to Barney with a much more confident Jonno before switching to shuttle driving for the remainder of the visit.
On our way out of town we spotted volunteers installing a new entry statement at the pool. It's this sort of local effort that keeps Pemberton's trail network evolving and gives us more reasons to come back.
