Mountain biking trails around Qatar

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

Al Khor Playground 

Photo credit to Richard Oliver

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

Al Kharara

Photo credit to Pio Tuzon

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

Birds’Farm

Photo credit to Feliciano Johnvid Moses

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

Mesaieed Tower Lines

Photo credit to Arnel Catahan

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.

Al Adaid Desert Challenge 2018 - (The Race)...when there's no road to victory.

I almost forgot, it's January 2019 and March is approaching. It only mean one thing for those who are following the MTB race calendar for this season, the Al Adaid Desert Challenge is expectedly in the air.

I had this blog created almost six months ago but unable to publish due to some reasons of torpidity in me. Aside from that, I was preoccupied by race events and other activities this season and being involved as one of the organizers really made me sluggish to initiate writing and make up with my pending posts like this.

Better late than never, here it goes...

With a welcoming weather gateway for the not so far approaching summer in the country, the organizers, media men, volunteers and race participants alike broke the calmness of the wind that early morning of March 02, 2018. I arrived in the venue having with me a huge expectation of myself, not that podium thing in mind but a quest to conquer the 40-km desert track over 6 challenging sand dunes to reach the finish line.

Take note, it's a full desert route and there’s no road!

This was my first attempt to join the race. I have been a volunteer crew since 2016.

Waves of sands...

...where the dunes meet the sea.

Desert monsters!

Pinoy Off-Roaders...ready to rumble! Our Pinoy pride vehicle support for the event.

This event was initially started just a fun race by Qatar Chain Reaction, an expat group of Mountain bike enthusiasts about eight years ago which was once called the "Inland Sea Traverse". The Qatar Cyclist later found to realize that this event would be somewhat distinctive event and as well foreseen to be a hit in the country and possible attraction for MTB race enthusiasts from the whole Gulf zone. Then in the very first inauguration race in 2016, this event concept was formally re-defined and renamed to "Al Adaid Desert Challenge" lifting up its level and became one of the top off-road cycling occurrence in the region.

The Route (Photo credit to Media Hub from www.aladaid.qa)

Race Format: “MTB Race – XCP, UCI Class 3 (point to point race) The race will run under UCI regulations. All participants ride on their own responsibility. Applicable Provisions – For all that is not regulated under this present regulation, the Commissaire Panel will apply the International Cycling Union regulations and the Qatar Cycling Federation regulations in compliance.” (excerpt from https://www.aladaid.qa/)

All my race kit are packed and getting ready...but wait, I have to make sure sands won't get inside my shoes.

The race is about to start 

The actual race ground in action

                              

First climb conquest but still more to traverse! Suffering has begun in the first dune but doing a sensual passion like this, fun outweighs the agony.

I had no other motto than "move on, there's no way back" for this race specifically.  There wasn't too technical and demanding pumps and flows or berms to show-off some cornering prowess but the trail was loaded with mixed affairs though, flowing sections with some sharp descents that made worthwhile and enough entertainment to riders.

Known as the inland sea and the desert marvel of Qatar, this area is boasted with several towering dunes. Tracks without trails are long and packed with sudden drops and unending sand traps. These features require commitment to proceed, so this made not in some way suitable for inexperienced riders.

I actually trained as hard as I can prior to this event. Cycling on sands is not that easy and there were several times you need to dismount and push your bike up the mountainous dunes. Portions like these made the course unforgiving, it made my knees overburdened and my leg muscles strained. I found it challenging, however, when I see other riders pushing hard too and of course the cheers from the field marshals boosted me even more. Having them on site was really a big added bonus!

Reached the finish line at last with my first major race medal this year!

Finisher's kit

Not too bad out of 151 Riders in my category

My experience in the Al Adaid Dessert Challenge-2018 was indeed remarkable. Not a usual trail for Mountain bike race formats but the event has proven a lot to justify.

Planning to race again in 2019? Well, watch it out!

To learn more about the Al adaid Desert Challenge, have a look at https://www.aladaid.qa

 

(Photos are credited to UFMBQ Marshal Photographers and the media hub from www.aladaid.qa)