Australian_Geographic_Outdoor_2016_07_08_

42 | AG Outdoor

DESTINATION |VICTORIA

MTB: The Dirty Dozen

V

ICTORIA’S HIGH COUNTRY is a veritable play-

ground for adventurous types – and none more

so than mountain bikers. The Dirty Dozen is –

you guessed it – a collection of 12 MTB trails of

varying grades found throughout Victoria’s alpine region.

Of course, Mt Buller’s awesome Australian Alpine Epic (the

first IMBA-accredited EPIC trail in the southern hemisphere)

is included, with its 40km of trails (from Blue to Double

Black Diamond graded) guaranteed to offer a riding challenge,

as well as take riders through some of the most amazing

alpine terrain (from snowgums and treeless alpine tundra

to fern-shrouded valleys and huge granite boulders) in Oz.

Other Dirty Dozen members found at Mt Buller include

the beautiful 12km Delatite River Trail (intermediate) that

takes riders deep down into the river valley, with fun river

crossings along the way. For beginners, Mt Buller’s next Dirty

Dozen trail is Copperhead, a cool 2.5km flowing descent that

takes advantage of the resort’s ski runs on occasion as well.

And then there’s Stonefly. One of the best examples of

Glen Jacobs’ World Trail crew and the trail work they are

capable of, this Expert-rated 10km trail takes you on a tough

looping climb for 6km, before an awesome 4km descent.

There’s more than just Mt Buller to the Dirty Dozen, how-

ever. The pretty alpine village of Bright is the centrepoint for

three more trails in this group: 24 Carat, Mystic Baker and

Morses Creek. The Expert-rated 17km 24 Carat trail lives up

to its name; the hand-built singletrack here snakes up and

through pine forests and swaps between technical climbs

and rushing descents. Mystic Baker, on the other hand, is

more accessible with an intermediate grading for its 15km.

This trail includes plenty of climbing and descents, as well

as an awesome swing bridge crossing of Morses Creek. The

same-named Morses Creek Trail rounds out the Bright trio

of trails with a 7.6km intermediate ride following the water-

way. Of course, to top off Bright’s appeal, there’s the chance

to savour some post-ride craft beers at the Bright Brewery...

Mt Beauty is next, with its Big Hill Mountain Bike Park

one of Australia’s oldest. The You Beauty Trail is 8km of

intermediate riding, with some cool descents and berms.

For riders after a serious challenge, the Mt McKay Loop at

Falls Creek should be on their list. The 14km Expert-rated

loop includes plenty of technical climbing before the grin-

inducing downhill return. For the more exploratory rider,

Falls Creek’s Historic Huts Loop is a 14km loop that takes in

some of the region’s huts, including Wallace’s and Cope Hut.

Rounding out the Dirty Dozen is Beechworth’s beginner-

friendly Flame Trees Trail (another World Trail construction)

that runs alongside the Beechworth Rail Trail and is the

perfect two-wheeled adventure for the whole family. At the

moment the trail measures around 10km, but the local MTB

club (the aptly named Beechworth Chain Gang) is aiming for

a 40km singletrack loop. It’s a great ride now and will only

become greater. If you’re more keen, you can stay a few nights

longer in Beechworth and tack on the Yellow Arrow Trail,

an intermediate 10.5km loop that is found in the fantastic

Beechworth MTB Park. Lots of huge granite boulders, rad

singletrack and technical challenges make this trail a hoot.

The Dirty Dozen is a brilliant concept – and even more

exciting for riders is the fact that this trail network is just

the tip of the knobby-tyred iceberg when it comes to riding

opportunities in the Garden State.

October-May

http://www.victoriashighcountry.

com.au/cycle/mtb/the-

dirty-dozen-rides

Mt Buller Bright

Beechworth Mt Beauty