Falls Creek Mountain Biking and Backcountry Gravel Riding – Our Rider’s Guide

We acknowledge that this adventure is located on the traditional Countries of the Bidhawal, Dhudhuroa, Gunai–Kurnai, Nindi–Ngudjam Ngarigu Monero, Waveroo, Jaitmatang, Kurnai and Taungurung peoples who have occupied and cared for these lands and waters for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Four and a half hours from Melbourne and a touch over five from Canberra, Falls Creek is a cyclist’s paradise, tucked away in the beautifully rugged alps of Victoria’s High Country.

Most commonly known for its winter snowfall and ski slopes, Falls Creek is quickly proving itself to be a must-visit destination for lovers of road, mountain, and gravel biking alike.

With so many two-wheeled options on offer, we headed to the High Country for an adventure-packed long weekend.

Weaving through snow gums and native mountain pepper berry.

Riding Falls Creek Resort

With over 40km of machine-built trails to explore, you can quite easily spend a week riding the Falls Creek without setting foot into the backcountry. The resort offers a range of trails to accommodate riders of all abilities – there’s a big emphasis on cross-country, but enough flow to keep the gravity crew stoked. 

The trails in the resort are predominantly blue-rated (65%) but beginners and experts alike will find plenty to keep them entertained with fun and flowy green trails on offer, winding through alpine heath and descending into snow gum-lined single track, as well as some very steep and technical trails for the hardcore enthusiasts.

It’s not all gravity! The resort features many cross country trails to hone your climbing skills and fitness.

A key feature of the resort trails is the progressive nature in which they were designed. For less confident riders, the green trails are like mini versions of the blue runs and are a blast to learn on. Then, when your confidence builds, step up to the blues and start riding longer and steeper.

The couple of 10 year old shredders we encountered along the acclaimed Flowtown (rated blue) were testament to the achievability of some of the more difficult trails. Over the space of a long weekend, a beginner rider can confidently tackle a whole host of the resort trails.

Must-Ride Trails at Falls Creek

For the newer riders and those who simply love flying down wide trails off the brakes, the Greenline is a must. The 5km route links up most of the resort’s green trails from the summit trailhead right down to the village via Rocky Valley Lake. 

Greenline meanders through a diverse range of terrain and truly highlights the spectacular alpine scenery. Cross-country riders will appreciate the well-planned up tracks that snake through snow gums to deliver you to the summit. Riders who prefer to skip the climbs can grab a coffee and a snack from the Village Bike Cafe while waiting for a Blue Dirt shuttle back to the top.

With shuttles all over the mountain, you’ll never have to wait long for a ride to the top.

Those looking to step up their trail riding experience can clock some kilometres on the broad array of more technical singletrack above the village before linking onto Flowtown; a 5km blue-rated gravity trail that plunges into the ancient, fern-clad Mountain Ash forests. 

Featuring some more technical features such as rock gardens, jumps and bridges, Flowtown is a trail that begs to be ridden fast and keeps delivering lap after lap. The last 3km of the trail rides like a downhill pump track with the towering gums providing enough shade for the pristine hero dirt to make your mates at home jealous.

Advanced riders looking to step it up a notch from the fast-paced blue trails will enjoy the black runs such as High Voltage. Starting with a steep, cobblestone-clad drop from the trig point, you’ll be greeted with epic views down the Kiewa Valley to Mount Beauty and Tawonga. 

Hunt for hero dirt on weaving trails like Generator.

Don’t look up for too long though as big rock gardens and drops await, demanding full focus as you pick your line through the technical, undulating terrain. The black trails at Falls feel like a logical progression from the blues; rock gardens get longer, drops get higher and berms get bigger while still maintaining the unique feel and playful nature that features across the resort.

Where To Stay When Riding Falls Creek

After a long few days of riding the trails, Diana Alpine Lodge, located in the village, is the perfect spot to relax. Featuring a bike wash and secure bike storage, you can clean your rig and leave it indoors for the evening without a second thought. 

Hit the shower and head upstairs for a cold drink and a home-cooked meal on the balcony while you watch the birdlife with Skye, the lodge’s resident Border Collie. The lodge manager, Lisa Logan, has been running the lodge for close to 25 years – she knows the region better than most and is happy to share some of the resort’s best-kept secrets.

Diana Alpine Lodge is a relaxing retreat that’ll keep you riding day after day.

Into the Backcountry – The Bogong High Plains

If your legs are hurting from a few long days of mountain biking, or downhill trails simply aren’t your style, Falls Creek has plenty to offer in the way of backcountry gravel riding. Link up with Macca from Falls Creek Guides and swap out your trail bike for an e-MTB.

These bikes open up hundreds of kilometres of primo gravel and backcountry trails allowing even the most tired (or unfit!) of riders to cruise through fields of alpine wildflowers without breaking a sweat.

Falls Creek is nestled on the side of the Bogong High Plains, a culturally and environmentally significant region spanning hundreds of hectares through stunning and harsh alpine ecosystems.

The region has been visited for thousands of years by the Bidhawal, Dhudhuroa, Gunai–Kurnai, Nindi–Ngudjam Ngarigu Monero, Waveroo, Jaitmatang, Kurnai and Taungurung peoples and served as a meeting place. First Nations peoples would feast on the, recently declared endangered, Bogong Moths who hibernate in the isolated caves from September to March. In recent years the High Plains have served as grazing land for high country cattlemen, leading to the creation of the historic huts that are dotted over the landscape.

The backcountry offers endless chances for a scenic coffee break!

Head off on any number of well-formed shared tracks and you’ll quickly find yourself cycling through the remote expanse of the High Plains. Fields of colourful wildflowers, alpine wetlands, lakes and snow gum-laden knolls surround you in this truly unique environment.

Historic huts make for a perfect spot to stop and have lunch, and feature sheltered camping spots, around the huts, for intrepid bikepackers. Be sure to practice leave no trace principles and pack out what you pack in to ensure this stunning wilderness remains the same for future visitors.