Beechworth
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Destination overview
Granite, granite and more granite, Beechworth is all about the granite. Within earshot of the centre of town, Beechworth Mountain Bike Park embraces the geology of the area, incorporating all manner of rocky outcrops, brontosaurus-sized boulders and thrilling rock gardens.
The trail surface is that magical mix of decaying rock, that is fast-rolling, and makes for some of the most satisfyingly controlled drifts you’ll find anywhere. The network is well signed and mapped, winding through some of Victoria’s most distinctive terrain.
Don’t forget about Flame Trees
A short 5km pedal down the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail deposits you at the Flame Trees loop. This 10km XC ride traverses picturesque Australiana, ducking and weaving through gullies, and milking every bit of the rolling terrain to maximise the flowy goodness.
Beechworth is a little under 20km from Yackandandah — home of the Yack Tracks — the two towns are now connected via the Indigo Epic Trail. The new trail is Australia’s first Epic that can be ridden year-round.
Beechworth eats and drinks
Walking through the town of Beechworth feels like going back in time; all of the historic buildings on the main drag have been preserved, and you wouldn’t be surprised to see Ned Kelly himself wandering down Ford Street.
When it’s time to rehydrate after an epic day of shredding granite, Bridge Road Brewery is slinging some of the finest frothys this side of the equator — the pizzas are pretty good too.
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If you need a wet weather or winter riding option in High Country Victoria, Beechworth is the place for you! The MTB Park rides superbly in the wet as all the loose granite gravel is washed away, exposing the exquisite grippy granite rocks and slabs that make the park so much fun to ride. A fun XC loop is Mojo, Rusty Stuff, Laundry, and Secret. Gravity trails are Snakes and Ladders, Don’t be a Hero, Short Course Dounwhill, and the local favourite and true double black trail, Dr. Hong’s Prune Candy (which could also be the best trail name in the history of MTB!).
The Indigo Epic is also fantastic and is built on hero dirt (with no granite rocks in sight) but can get a bit greasy when it’s wet.
As for unsanctioned trails, there are plenty. Find a local and they will most likely be happy to point you in the right direction.
Beechworth MTB Park provides a unique & refreshing ride option in the Victorian High Country; there’s more rock here than a KISS concert, however the majority of the trails here would be better described as being slow & technical, rather than fast & flowy. That said however, there’s more than enough flow here if you know where to look! You come away from riding here feeling as if you’re a better rider (or at least I did). Combining the Beechworth MTB Park with the nearby Indigo Epic trail would make for an awesome few days of riding.
I rode the Indigo Epic a couple of weeks ago, we rode from Beechworth to Yackandandah, then got a shuttle back. Awesome day out, the descent down to Yack called Homeward Bound is sensational.