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Trail Partially open

Broken Hill to Silverton Rail Trail

NSW - Country and ACT

2.5 based on 2 reviews
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Location: Outback, 1150km west of Sydney
Length: 10 km
Surface: Coarse gravel, Loose sand
Start / End: Broken Hill to Silverton
Public Transport: Coach, Train
Suitable for:
  • Cycling – Mountain BikesCycling – Mountain Bikes
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  • Rail Trail
  • On Road
  • Potential RT
  • Other Trail
  • Former Railway

RTA has been informed that nothing was going to progress any further with this trail at that stage, due to lack of funding and not having a friends group. One of the other reasons is that most of the old corridor is privately owned. This is definitely the case at the Broken Hill end, and also from Silverton to Cockburn. The local committee endeavoured to negotiate with the landholders to see if they would allow access for mountain bikes along the old corridor, but it didn't go anywhere at the time.

Trail Partially open
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  • A short trail of 10km, making it suitable for day trippers as well as locals
  • Broken Hill and Silverton would benefit economically from this trail
  • Ecotourists would be attracted to this unique trail

Nearby Attractions

  • The real Outback of NSW
  • Line of Lode Miners Memorial
  • Sulphide St Railway and Historical Museum
  • Broken Hill Sculptures and Living Desert Sanctuary
  • Pro Hart Gallery
  • Royal Flying Doctor Service
  • White’s Minerals and Mining Museum
  • Mad Max Museum at Silverton
  • Silverton Hotel

Last updated: 4 January 2026

A 10km section of this trail is open at the Silverton end.

A couple of small bridges have been restored for walkers and bikes.

Mountain bikes are recommended, as it is rough and sandy in sections.

Section Guides

Broken Hill to Silverton (25km)

  • If you are leaving from Broken Hill, you will need to use the roadway for the first 15km.
  • This trail would run through outback countryside, mainly paralleling the road between the two sites.
  • Broken Hill is a large regional city with plenty of food and accommodation.
  • Silverton is a small village with a hotel and a number of art galleries and museums

Do you know of a bike hire or transportation service on this rail trail that should appear here? If so, let us know at admin@railtrails.org.au.

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3 reviews of “Broken Hill to Silverton Rail Trail”

Hi Andrew,
I have no new information regarding this trail. We have been informed that nothing was going to progress any further at that stage, due to lack of funding and no committee anymore. Plus, I also believe most of the old corridor is privately owned. This is definitely the case at the Broken Hill end, and also from Silverton to Cockburn.
I thought they were trying to negotiate with the landholders to see if they would allow access for mountain bikes along the old corridor, but it didn't go anywhere at the time.
It is a pity, but nothing new to report at this stage.

John O'Brien
NSW Representative, Rail Trails Australia

Information and Links

RTA has been informed this trail will not progress any further at that stage, due to a lack of funding and it not having a friends group. One of the other reasons is that most of the corridor runs through private land. This is definitely the case at the Broken Hill end, and also from Silverton to Cockburn.
The local committee endeavoured to negotiate with the landholders to see if they would allow access for mountain bikes, but it didn’t get anywhere.

The railway corridor is owned by the NSW State Government, and trespassing is prohibited

What to see and do at Silverton here

What to see and do at Broken Hill here

Contact Rail Trails Australia

To contact us about this rail trail, email nsw@railtrails.org.au

Background Information

Traditional owners

We acknowledge the Wiljali people, the traditional custodians of the land and waterways on which the rail trail will be built.

Development and future of the rail trail

As of June 2021 there is no active committee trying to lobby for the construction of a rail trail on this disused corridor.  Rail Trails Australia views this as a viable potential rail trail, and would be keen to support any person or group to lobby for its construction.

If you are interested, contact us at ns*@************rg.au

Rail line history 

This was part of an old private narrow-gauge tramway between Cockburn and Broken Hill, owned by the Silverton Tramway Company. It was built in 1888 to transport ore from the Silverton mines to Port Pirie, SA and extended to Broken Hill when minerals were discovered there.

The NSW Government completed a standard-gauge line direct from Broken Hill to Cockburn in 1970. This led to the demise of the privately owned Silverton Line and it closed to rail traffic shortly thereafter. The rail corridor was returned to the Crown, with some sections sold to adjacent landholders.

Trail descriptions are maintained by volunteers. Please consider a donation to help improve this website. Rail Trails Australia gets no government funding.
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