If you are into mountain biking, living or have been in Qatar for some
time, you should have been in these places that I’m about to present. But for
those of you who are curious of some of the trail destinations, you might consider
visiting them as well. Trails will be portrayed from the presently active down to
the less visited and finally those that seemingly became dormant.
Duhail
Photo credit to Jay-r Dominguez |
Being just closed to the city, Duhail became the most visited trail
from any walks of life who are MTB enthusiasts during the early years. A regular trail destination on
weekends and a witness ground to countless race events. Modernization in the city tremendously devoured the place and while only few portions left, Duhail still has something to offer with exciting trail flavors until now retaining its trademark.
Trail features: fire road, single track, rock garden, jumps, ramps,
berms, drop-offs, bridge
Trail difficulty rating: medium to more difficult
Al Kheesa Trail 1
Photo credit to John Bonalos |
A couple of kilometers from Duhail lies Al Kheesa. Famous of the trail
variety it offers, having a challenging maze forest on flat grounds and the
more challenging hillocks in the open, you will be allured to keep coming back.
Trail features: fire road, single track, trail forest, lots of climbs
& short descents, pump tracks, sands
Trail difficulty rating: easy to difficult
Al Kheesa Trail 2
Photo credit to Reno Doctolero |
A small trail adjacent to Trail 1 that was first introduced for the XCE
race it offered last 2018 season. Despite the small sector of its trail
grounds, challenging routes are compactly established. A little tick in the
mind, this small spot still has more to offer.
Trail features: short fire road, single track, lots of climbs &
short descents, pump tracks
Trail difficulty rating: easy to difficult
Nobody can deny, this is the trail everybody is talking about right
now. The only nearby trail with available routes that can be redesigned and has
more to explore. The trail grandeur oversees the shore with greens around and
the blossoming grass purples crawling in the ground, becoming more eminent
during winter. When you visit and ride in this trail, you will surely wear a
smile.
Trail features: fire roads, single track, grueling climbs & short
descents, rock gardens on flat grounds, sands, seashore
Trail difficulty rating: medium to more difficult
Al Khor Mangroves
Photo credit to Jose Ramil Carillo |
Connecting ride from the Al Khor playground will lead you to the
mangroves. The trail beside the seashore is a bonus while in the background adds
scenery that are instagrammable. Proceeding ahead will dare how to control and
handle your bike on loose sands. It’s a loop kind of route that will surely
make your ride a fun.
Trail features: fire roads, wide track, lots of loose sands, seashore, road
Trail difficulty rating: easy
Lusail Fence
It speaks out of itself because literally, the trail is laid alongside
the fence. Stretching for almost 25 kilometers with polygonal shape, the fence
seems like to have no end and will feel bewildered while riding on your saddle. Blandness of
riding though is outweigh by the feeling of awe when you’re lucky enough to see
the flock of Oryx and Ostriches inside this wide fence.
Trail features: fire roads, single and wide track, occasional pump
tracks, dusty
Trail difficulty rating: easy
Al Adaid Desert
Photo credit to Ed Mosso |
Mountains? That’s right, there are mountain of dunes and rolling waves
of sands in this northern part of the region. And guess what? This offers a challenging
trail for mountain bikers! One of the biggest mountain bike event is being held
in here every year, that’s the “Al Adaid Desert Challenge”.
Trail features: fire roads, wide track, lots of loose sands, sand
dunes, wet muds (during rains), seashore
Trail difficulty rating: easy to difficult
Zekreet
Photo credit to Reno Doctolero |
How about a cinematic spot? Just 80 kilometers away from Doha, you will
find this amazing place in the North-west. There is no room for boredom pedaling
in one of the most picturesque places like this. Conversed with the sand dunes
in the North, rock plateaus and bizarre adobe rock formations dominate here.
Trail features: fire roads, wide track, loose sands, rough road, rock
gardens, seashore
Trail difficulty rating: easy to medium
Umm Jurn Farm
Photo credit to Manual Abella |
Don’t be deluded by the greens
around. Trees, vegetables and even bananas are grown here. You will find
rabbits cross jumping your route in the trail and when you’re lucky, a peacock
spreading its tails of grandeur! This is a private farm but if you want to
experience a ride, watch out for invites and events.
Trail features: fire roads, single and wide track, rough road,
occasional pump tracks
Trail difficulty rating: easy
Al Wakrah Hills
Photo credit to Reno Doctolero |
Look no further and there’s a hill! Yes it is but a small rocky hill
standing right in front of the new Al Wakrah Beach Development Project which is
a long stretch towards the old Family Beach. Small as it is but the area has
been utilized for several race events during the past years. It offered
challenging tracks and having its natural rock gardens, has produced steep
inclines and switchbacks.
Trail features: fire roads, single and wide track, rough road, rock
gardens, steep climbs, loose sands
Trail difficulty rating: medium to more difficult
Fuwairit Trails
Photo credit to Fulvertski Naverav |
Another rock hill is lying 90 kilometers away from Doha of about 45 minutes
drive towards North. Located in a coastal village with almost similar features to Wakrah Hills, this offers
a quite longer trail and stands just right beside the splashing waves of the
sea.
Trail features: fire roads, single and wide track, rough road, rock
gardens, steep climbs, loose sands, seashore
Trail difficulty rating: medium to more difficult
Sunset Ridge
Photo credit to John Bonalos |
If you wonder where is the highest point in Qatar, you will surely be
amazed that there really is being situated further to the South that
comprises near the boarder with Saudi Arabia. The trail leading to the top can
easily be distinguished by the towering electrical lines extending up towards
the apex and down to the other side. A place to explore on your bike and have a
gate away from the busy life in the city.
Trail features: fire roads, single and wide track, rough road, rock
gardens, gruel climbs & descents
Trail difficulty rating: easy to difficult
One of the unforgettable ride I have done in Qatar with my friends on
saddle was at Al Kharara
According to Wikipedia, “It is a village in Qatar, a desert area characterized
by high aridity and the presence of grazing animals such as dromedary camels,
goats and sheep. The village's name comes from the Arabic "khar",
which roughly means "the sound of running water". As the area
consists of varying elevations and several hills, the process of surface runoff
is very noticeable during the wet months”.
Trail features: fire roads, wide track, rough road, rock gardens, short
climbs & descents, pump tracks, no established routes
Trail difficulty rating: easy to difficult
Musfur Sinkhole
Photo credit to Olga Robes |
About 50 kilometers from Doha on the way to Salwa road is a the oldest natural cave in Qatar. It's approximately 100 meters deep with a relatively small opening from above. Noticeable are traces of small mammals and nesting birds are always around. Not much known specially to expat residents, this is a place worth having a visit on a saddle.
Trail features: fire roads, wide gravel grounds, sands
Trail difficulty rating: easy
This is actually a lagoon in Al Kharaana located 60 kilometers
Southwest of Doha. It is one of the three major landfill sites in the country,
being used mainly for sewage wastes. With the government’s aim to rehabilitate
the site, a project has been launched re-establishing a natural habitat for
wildlife specially the migratory birds in the country.
Trail features: fire roads, wide track, rough road
Trail difficulty rating: easy
Umm Salal Fence
Photo credit to John Bonalos |
Located in the NorthEastern part is another wide stretch of fence with
almost flat routes for mountain biking. This is actually in parallel with
Lusail fence opposite the Al Shamal Expressway. Only few has tried exploring
this trail and still worth giving it a try.
Trail features: fire roads, wide track, rough road
Trail difficulty rating: easy
Al Khor Purple Island
Photo credit to Rock Hudson |
This was one of the popular gateway for campers in the past years, a nearby loop to the mangroves and worthy
to drop by when having a fun ride from Al Khor Playground.
Trail features: fire roads, wide track, rough road, seashore
Trail difficulty rating: easy
Al Khor Grand Canton
CTTO |
One of the fun-to-ride trail located just opposite the east side of the
corniche park. It used to be a connecting ride from Al Khor playground (just
need to cross the road near the roundabout). It might just need to be ridden
again and hope for possibilities.
Trail features: fire roads, single track, climbs & short
descents, sands, seashore
Trail difficulty rating: easy to difficult
Al Kheesa (original)
Photo credit to Rock Hudson |
Before discovering Al Kheesa 1, there was a trail known just as Al
Kheesa. The very first race event has made it popular back then. The trail
built was amazing yet challenging enough for those who have skills and brought
ample supply of confidence. It was just really great! But sadly, most of the area is already fenced now.
Trail features: single track, rock garden, jumps, ramps, berms,
drop-offs, bridge
Trail difficulty rating: medium to more difficult (during the presence of trail features)
Mesaieed Rabbit Trails
Photo credit to Arnel Catahan |
Never seen a rabbit crossing or passing by the routes during those
heydays of riding here. However, rabbit footprints were apparent though and
they’re everywhere. The real challenge of the ride was inside the little
jungle. It has lots of turns and lots of loose sands. When you’re inside, never
make your own track or you won’t find your way out! The only place where “Wet
& Dry” MTB race ever was organized.
Trail features: fire road, single track, lots of loose sands, water
crossings
Trail difficulty rating: easy to difficult
Linked to the Rabbit trail is an old road with a long stretch of tower
lines. A route worthy of just having ride with your friends and enjoy the wind.
Trail features: fire roads, single track, rock gardens on flat grounds, sands, water crossings
Trail difficulty rating: easy
Wadi Al Sail
A trail that it was… a title of my blog that may interest you specially
written as a eulogy for this place, where once upon a time often visited by the
first MTB enthusiasts in Qatar. You may read the particular blog for this place here.
Have ever been to these trails? Can you recommend some other off-road trails in Qatar that can be worth pedaling as well? Please comment down below.
Have ever been to these trails? Can you recommend some other off-road trails in Qatar that can be worth pedaling as well? Please comment down below.