AlpineLink | home |    

Mountain Biking Around Mt. Beauty, Victoria

Survey Track - 9.2 km medium (1-2 hours)
 This ride has no steep uphills, however there is a great downhill back into Mt. Beauty. A classic rollercoaster singletrack with nice views beginning in Mt. Beauty township and skirting a ridgeside to a hairpin turn on the Bogong High Plains Road called "Cranky Charlie". The ride returns to the township on a fast gravel firetrack called the Pole Track, although several other options are also available, including a few singletrack options. To try the singletrack, continue on a downhill singletrack under the powerlines when the Pole Track veers left, then turn left on Harry's Track. Follow Harry's Track (or any track going downhill) back to the Bogong High Plains Road which will take you back into town. It would be difficult to get lost here as all the tracks seem to head towards town. If you can do only one ride in Mt. Beauty, this is probably the one to do. I also recommend doing the ride in reverse - climbing up the Pole Track and descending on the Survey Track singletrack (see Mt. Beauty Hill ride below for a suggested route).

Simmonds Creek Weir Loop - 7.8 km medium (35 minutes)
 This is a short ride beginning in Mt. Beauty township and climbing up the partly sealed/partly unsealed Simmonds Creek Road. The ride then turns off on a downhill management track, crosses the Simmonds Creek, and returns to Mt. Beauty on a gentle downhill singletrack. A good beginner ride. Note I have described the ride in reverse of the guidebook description, which climbs up the singletrack and descends on the sealed road.

Mt. Beauty Hill Loop - 12 km medium (1 hour 20 minutes)
Beginning and ending in Mt. Beauty, this ride climbs steeply onto the Mt. Beauty hillside using a variety of fire tracks (Pole Track, Reservoir Track) and offering great views of the township and surrounding countryside. For an additional viewpoint, take the short Tower No. 33 Track at the 5.1 km mark. The ride continues on the West Kiewa Power Station Road to the Cranky Charlie hairpin where it joins the Survey Track. This ride offers the maximum views in the shortest distance.

Bogong Hill Explorer - approx 20-25 km hard (2-3 hours)
Note: this ride not described in guidebook and is unsuitable in wet weather. Route finding skills and map required.
This ride uses firetracks and overgrown singletrack to explore the Bogong Hill and East Kiewa River Valley. The track can be difficult to follow at times and there are 2 river fords (of which at least 1 can be ridden). The ride offers a feeling of remoteness, a few climbs, and 1 steep (overgrown) singletrack descent. To start the ride, follow the Survey Track out of town for about 1.2 km's to the No. 2 Reservoir. Take the steep downhill track to the left of the Survey Track and follow it a short distance to a ford of the East Kiewa River (ridable). Climb the riverbank a short distance on the other side and turn right on the East Kiewa Fire Track (signed). Continue climbing for several km's to the Cranky Charlie Fire Track (signed) on the right. Descend steeply on the overgrown track to the valley floor. The trail becomes very faint toward the bottom. Upon reaching the river, turn right and follow a rough, muddy track a short distance to a ford of the East Kiewa River (use rocks to hop across). On the other side, pick up the Cranky Charlie Fire Track and climb steeply to the intersection with the Survey Track (signed). Turn left on the Survey Track (turning right will take you back to town), and continue about 3 km's to the Cranky Charlie hairpin. Return to town via the Pole Track or any of the various other tracks (described in the Survey Track ride above) back into town.

Falls Creek down into Mt Beauty 4-5 hour mainly downhill

The high country Mt Beauty descent gives each rider a taste of downhill riding. no long arduous uphill climbs.....all enjoyable downhills through spectacular alpine forests. ride at your own pace. Suits intermediate riders

Moncreiffs Gap Loop - 31.2 km hard (4 hours)
This ride features long and steep climbs, an occasional view of Mt. Bogong, and a wild, twisty firetrack descent back into town. The ride is rated hard due to fitness requirements, but technical skills are not required as the ride is entirely on roads and firetracks (no singletrack). The ride begins by following the sealed Damms Road out of town to the Mountain Creek Road. Turn right and follow the sealed Mountain Creek Road through rolling farm country. The road eventually becomes unsealed and after 15 km (total) the Mountain Creek camping/picnic area is reached (about .1 km past the turnoff on the right for the Moncreiffs Gap Fire Track), which is a good spot for morning tea or lunch. After a break, retrace your route back to the turnoff for the Moncreiffs Gap Fire Track. The track climbs very steeply for about 1 K into the Alpine National Park and the loose dirt surface will force most riders to walk at least part of this section. Eventually the grade levels out to a steep granny gear climb and occasional views of Mt. Bogong appear as the track skirts around Little Mt. Bogong for the next 4 km or so. Shortly after the turn off for the Little Bogong Track (stay straight on Moncreiffs Gap Track), a long windy descent begins which ends at a (ridable) fording of the East Kiewa River. At this point the Survey Track can be picked up back to town, or the road route described in the guidebook.

Big Hill Downhill Loop - 17.6 km Expert Only (2 hours)
Big Hill’ is a mountain looming over the township of Mt. Beauty. this mountain is famous amongst downhill riders who flock to mt. beauty each year. This ride features a very steep technical descent on the downhill race course and is suitable only for riders with advanced off-road bicycle handling skills. Good brakes and knobby tires are also highly recommended. Although most riders will enjoy the technical challenge of the ride, there are also fantastic views to take in on the climb up to Big Hill. The ride climbs to the downhill race course on the sealed Bogong High Plains Road and the unsealed but smooth West Kiewa Power Station and Big Hill Roads. Various tracks (described in the guidebook) are taken to the start of the downhill course, which starts with a steep dropoff, and continues steeply downhill on loose dirt over various dropoffs, rock gardens, ditches, jumps, and other obstacles before finishing back at the Bogong High Plains Road near town. After the long climb up, you will be surprised how quickly you reach the bottom (if you survive!)