Albury, NSW sits in a bowl, surrounded by hills. To the north west Nailcan Hill is the backdrop to the town, sprawling approximately eight kilometers, with the highest point being roughly 400 metres above sea level.
I believe there was once a mine on the hill, with the miners leaving many rusty nailcans scattered here and there on the rugged bush terrain, hence the name!
There are single track and fire road hikes, but better still there are many formed single track mountain bike trails, along with the fire roads making a good ride also. These trails range from cross country rides to scary downhill runs, including the fire roads!
Following the reserve south you can take a ride to the rather impressive war memorial monument that sits high above the town. Which is worth a visit.
My interest in Nailcan Hill is the rugged and rocky downhill trails. All being quite gnarly, you can take blue or black trails down, linking one to another, to the bottom.
Unfortunately there is no uplift at all, whichever entry point you choose there will be some pushing up. To ride on the DH trails from the top you can use the Range Road entrance and ride uphill to the trail heads. The Gap Road entrance leads to a fire road to the top, it's steep. The fire road itself has recently been graded and is in fab condition, as at January 2018. But the Gap fire road is an absolute killer in the summer heat, as there is little shade, hard for an old bird!
It’s very hot in the summer months, December to February, I’ve ridden during January but wouldn’t recommend it, as getting you, your bike and your gear to the top, in often 40°C heat, with little shade, is a killer. You’ll need all your energy for the trails, they are gnarly! I’d say ride at dawn or dusk during the summer, or on a rainy day, better still a night ride.
The trails really are worth a ride, but the blacks aren’t for the faint-hearted, even the blue from the top, Terminated, is tekky. The photo's below are of the blue, they are old photos and the terrain is rockier now!
The trails are maintained by the Albury Wodonga MTB club and what a fab job they do. Go take a look, and also go join a dig to help out. I haven’t joined a dig yet, but will when my being there and a dig coincide.
Info
Free parking
Free to ride
Information and trail boards
Marked and maintained single track
No drinking water
No toilet
A few benches are scattered here and there
Rugged bush terrain