Most people think of Mt Kenya as a hiking destination. That’s fair. But cyclists who have actually ridden these slopes will tell you something different. The mix of single-track forests, open moorlands, steep descents, and wildlife-shared gravel paths makes biking in Mt Kenya one of the most varied and challenging mountain cycling experiences in Africa.
Africa’s second-highest peak doesn’t just reward trekkers. It rewards anyone willing to show up with two wheels and a tolerance for altitude. Here’s a breakdown of the seven trails worth your time.
The Sirimon Route Single-Track
The Sirimon Route sits on the northwest side of the mountain and is known for a gradual, steady ascent through old-growth forest, heather zones, and open alpine moorland. For biking in Mt Kenya, this is a strong starting point. A gravel bike or hardtail MTB can handle the lower third of the climb with relative ease. The elevation gain on the full route is around 1,602 meters, which means your legs will know about it by day’s end.
One experienced gravel biker documented riding the Sirimon route up to Shipton’s Camp at 4,300m, using a mix of riding and hike-a-bike sections. The descent is where things get interesting. Fast, loose dirt switches between rocky technical sections and smoother gravel. Early morning starts are non-negotiable here because afternoon cloud rolls in fast and cuts visibility to almost nothing.
The Chogoria Route Descent
If you want the most scenic single stretch of riding anywhere on this mountain, the Chogoria route is it. Trailforks rates it physically hard, and it earns that rating. The route descends from the eastern side through Gorges Valley, past Lake Michaelson, and down toward Chogoria town. The landscape shifts through alpine moorland, bamboo forest, and dense lower forest in a single ride.
Because there are no huts on this route, riders need to be self-sufficient. That changes the dynamic entirely. You’re carrying your own camp setup, water, and food. The route starts roughly 64km from Meru town and requires a 4WD vehicle to reach the park gate at 3,000m. From there, biking in Mt Kenya becomes a full-day descent with serious gradient variation. This one suits experienced riders who are comfortable navigating unmarked sections.
Rift Valley Adventures 35km MTB Loop
This is the most structured trail for dedicated mountain bikers visiting the Mt Kenya zone. Rift Valley Adventures runs a 35km MTB circuit on the slopes that caters to both beginners wanting a simple loop and advanced riders looking for technical single-track. The trail sits near Nanyuki, which makes it accessible.
What sets this trail apart is the consistent maintenance and the fact that it’s purpose-built for cycling rather than adapted from a hiking path. Rift Valley Adventures also runs a five-day Mt Kenya MTB event each year, bringing riders together from across East Africa. If you want to ride alongside people who actually know the terrain, timing your visit around that event is worth considering.
Ol Pejeta Conservancy Gravel Circuit
This one changes the nature of biking entirely. Ol Pejeta Conservancy sits at the base of Mt Kenya’s western slopes and offers a gravel circuit through open grassland shared with zebra, buffalo, and rhino. You ride with an armed ranger and stay on established roads. There’s no freestyle line-picking here.
That might sound restrictive, but the experience of pedalling past a herd of elephants at 6 am with Mt Kenya’s peak behind you is not something you can replicate elsewhere. The circuit is part of the Kibo Slopes Mt Kenya Biking Tour, which combines the conservancy ride with higher altitude sections of the mountain. It works well as the lower-altitude day when the upper sections are socked in with cloud.
Burguret Road Singletrack (Nanyuki)
Just outside Nanyuki, the Burguret Road trail runs for around 7.2 miles (11.7km) along the lower slopes of Mt Kenya through Gathiuru forest. It’s one of the lesser-known options for biking in Mt Kenya but gets ridden regularly by local cyclists. The trail surface is mostly packed dirt with some rooted sections through the forest.
The altitude sits around 2,000 to 2,500m, which is manageable for most cyclists. It doesn’t have the dramatic elevation swings of the upper routes, but the forest section has a raw, unmanicured feel. You’re unlikely to see many other riders here on a weekday. Wildlife sightings, particularly buffalo and colobus monkeys, are common in the early morning.
Summit MTB Route (Nanyuki)
The Summit MTB Route near Nanyuki stretches 21.1 miles (34km) and is one of the longer marked trails in the area. This route pushes into higher altitude zones and combines gravel track with sections of open moorland. It’s the kind of ride that takes most of a day, particularly if you stop to take in the views of the mountain’s glaciated peaks above you.
The track can be ridden as an out-and-back or with a vehicle drop at one end. Conditions vary significantly between the dry seasons (January to March, July to October) and the wet season, when the clay sections turn slippery and tire-clogging. Riding during the drier months isn’t just a preference. It’s the practical choice if you don’t want to push a mud-loaded bike for the last hour.
Naro Moru Vertical Bog Descent
The Naro Moru route is technically designated as hiking-only for its upper sections, but the lower portion from the Met Station down to the park gate sees mountain bike traffic regularly. The route is steep, the fastest on the mountain, and includes the infamous Vertical Bog section that gives the trail its reputation.
Biking in Mt Kenya via the Naro Moru descent is not for everyone. The gradient peaks at over 121% on sections, and the boggy upper section makes for genuinely messy, technical riding. For strong riders who have already done the scenic routes and want something raw and physical, this is the one. The descent covers approximately 8 miles from the top station and dumps you back into the lower forest zone in under two hours if conditions are dry.
A Few Practical Notes
Altitude affects everyone differently. The upper trails on this mountain sit between 3,000m and 4,300m. Taking a day to acclimatise in Nanyuki before attempting the higher routes is standard practice, not optional. Bring warm layers. Temperatures drop sharply after midday, even in the dry season, and the upper moorland can get close to freezing at night.
Entry to Mt Kenya National Park requires a fee, and most technical routes above the treeline require a registered guide. The drier months give you better trail surfaces and clearer mountain views. The lower trail, such as Burguret and Ol Peje, ta can be ridden year-round without much weather risk.
Mt Kenya doesn’t advertise itself as a cycling destination the way dedicated bike parks do, but the terrain is genuinely world-class. Any serious mountain biker who travels through East Africa and skips the slopes of Mt Kenya is missing the best riding on the continent.
