So... a newbie here.
Thinking of taking a trek down to the YouYangs this weekend to check it out. Anyone got any advice on trails to try out?
Also, what is the best place to park?
What's your level of experience & the type of riding you do?
There are two sections at You Yangs, Kurrajong on the western side (enter from the main entry from Branch Rd & follow the signs onto Great Circle Drive & then to "MTB Area"), and Stockyards at the northern end (enter from Drysdale Rd). Kurrajong is relatively flat, fast & flowy with little in the way of techy stuff, which makes a great warm-up ride before getting to the tougher stuff, or you can just hit it hard & go for a speed workout.
Stockyards is more on top of the hills, so there are tracks ranging from quite easy through to full-blown competition level DH tracks. Quarry Pit loop (Track 5) is another good warm up loop. Rockwell Run (4) is a good climbing track as it winds its way progressively up the hill rather less brutally than some others. Lactic Acid (6) is one such track... mostly flowing, but with a couple of rock gardens & steps, this is a moderately technical track, which makes a more challenging climb should you choose to go up it (it's two-way, so be alert for descending riders). Boulder (9) is also two-way, but I've never seen anyone ride up it. This is another moderately technical track, with several rock gardens, drop offs and a rock berm/wall ride that can be very daunting. Trav's Diamond (7?) is the most technical XC track, with long rock gardens & timber berms. GMBC Descent (AKA Turbulence), 7 I think - correction; 10. Thanks dunndog) & Bandages Or Glory (12) are the DH tracks, which I've never ridden, so can't tell you about. But you simply cannot go to Youies & not do Cressy Descent (13). It'll cater to just about all bikes. Fast & flowy with some rock gardens for XC, bigger jumpy bits for the more aggro riders, and good b-lines around them for the short-travel riders.