Ulu Kinta Dam Gravel Loop

The Ulu Kinta Dam Gravel Loop is a short, mixed-surface gravel circuit just east of Ipoh. It runs from the Lombong Timah Ulu Kinta recreational park up the quiet access road that leads towards the Sultan Azlan Shah Dam, then loops back via gravel tracks. At ~15km and ~200m of elevation gain, it’s compact enough to fit into a morning ride but interesting enough to be worth driving out for.

Where it goes

Park at Lombong Timah Ulu Kinta — a former tin mine turned recreational park with free parking inside. Roll out from inside the park and exit halfway along the access road heading towards the Sultan Azlan Shah Dam. The road is quiet and steadily uphill on tarmac for the first section.

When you reach the gate at the dam itself (closed to the public), turn left and continue on the gravel track. This is where the loop earns its “gravel” label — the surface mixes hardpack with cracked, weathered sections where rainwater has cut runnels across the road.

What to know before riding

This is not a beginner or family route despite the gentle elevation profile. The difficulty is the surface, not the climbs. A few low-gradient sections are slippery in a way you don’t expect — the cracked ground from watershed runoff catches a tyre and slides you sideways without warning. Two or three steep pinches are short enough to walk if you’re not on knobby tyres or if your legs are feeling the morning.

A drop-bar gravel bike with 40c+ tyres is the right tool. 32c will work on the tarmac sections but feels nervous on the gravel descents. After heavy rain, the cracked sections turn into mud traps — give it a day or two to dry out.

Practical notes

• Distance: ~15km loop, ~200m elevation gain
• Time: 1–1.5 hours at a relaxed pace
• Best ridden: 7–9am, before the heat builds
• Bike: gravel bike or hardtail MTB with knobby tyres
• Skill level: some gravel experience recommended

This route was last verified on the ground on 14 March 2026. If conditions have changed (new gates, washed-out sections, surface degradation), let us know and we’ll update the notes.