The recent December / January holiday period provided the opportunity for the CyclingGravel family to head to Victoria’s High Country – one of the most beautiful parts of Australia and paradise for every type of cyclist: so much so they’ve devoted a web site to it. If you are a cyclist – road bike, gravel bike, mountain bike (or all three) – it is just fantastic.
I’ve bikepacked between Mitta Mitta and Mount Beauty before: see day 6 here. Being a gravel tragic I was pretty keen to return, also because Mitta Mitta Brewing Co is one of my favourite small breweries to visit. This time Mrs CyclingGravel came along for the ride.
Up: Mountain Creek Road
If you had to summarise the route: it involves cycling up, along a ridge for a bit and then (mostly) down. Mountain Creek Road provides the climb from Mount Beauty. The first part of the route, which is sealed, offers some of the most epic views – one of the reasons that I love Mount Beauty. The Kiewa Valley is stunningly beautiful.
Once you get to the Mountain Creek Campground (chance for a toilet stop if required) the gravel road commences. Initially it seems fantastic but after a few kilometres the road becomes steeper and suffers from loose rock and rutting caused by water run off. The climb is fine, but if you are descending this route on a gravel bike caution is advised (on a mountain bike, it would very fun). Great forest views are complemented by sneak views of Mount Bogong and surrounds.
Down (mostly): Trappers Gap Road
At the top of Mountain Creek Road there is a multi-directional intersection with a clear sign directing to Trappers Gap Road. The climb is mostly done here, although the road does undulate across the top of a ridge before the descent starts. I’m not sure why, but the gravel is definitely in better shape on Trappers Gap Road.
An epic descent is followed by a climb for 2.5km before you exit the forest area into farmland – crossing a grid to join Scrubby Creek Road.
Definitely down: Scrubby Creek Road
Scrubby Creek Road opens up the views to some beautiful farmland – after an epic long straight gravel descent. Super fun. From here it is pretty straightforward to travel into Mitta Mitta (right) or to the excellent Mitta Mitta Brewing Co (left) at the Omeo “Highway”.
Bikes, and other things
This ride was done on Specialized Diverges – standard gravel bikes with 43mm width tyres. These are absolutely fine for this route, and on much of it narrower tyres would also be fine. Certainly much of the descent on the Mitta Mitta side could be taken at pace!
Now, you may be wondering about the return. Options here are:
- Back the way you came. This is definitely doable – either on the same day or after a stay at the Mitta Pub. CyclingGravel has stayed here before, and this also allows for a refreshing cool-off in the river.
- Coordinating a non-cyclist to join you in their car, and take you back (CyclingGravel’s selected option on this occasion).
- A very long on-road return – not very viable.
CyclingGravel 