MOUNT BEAUTY

(Big Hill MTB Park) Trail: Darkside Local Tip: Ride it multiple times. Total Descent: 222m (1.5km) Shuttle Cost: Self-shuttle

“THERE’S NO WARMING UP ON DARKSIDE - IT IMMEDIATELY THROWS YOU DOWN AWKWARD, MOSSY ROCKS WHICH SPIT YOU ONTO A SERIES OF HUCK-TO-FLATS.” JARRING

Big Hill MTB Park in Mount Beauty is historic, to say the least. It shouldn’t be regarded as a stopover en route to Falls Creek because in actuality, Falls Creek is the stopover from Big Hill. This 50km web of trails is as old as mountain biking itself and remains the spiritual home of many downhill and cross-country national championships. The town of Mount Beauty, nestled at the base of the majestic Mount Bogong, has reared numerous cross-country, downhill, and enduro legends (Chris Panozzo, Ben Mcilroy, and the van der Ploeg clan to name a few). Only the fiercest racers are forged in the ruts and jank of Big Hill, and each year the local club (Team Mount Beauty) devises some of the toughest courses on the calendar.

Big Hill doesn’t wield the same tourism clout as other destinations in the region, but the reason for this hardly negative. The park has no sweeping, machined flow trails with photogenic berms and perfectly calculated jump landings; instead you’ll find a labyrinth of hand-cut tracks, each with their own distinctive flavour and backstory. As Paul van der Ploeg puts it, Big Hill doesn’t produce “white bread” trails – they produce “artisanal sourdough” trails. You must be a competent mountain biker to ride here, ready to embrace the steep climbs and even steeper descents in all their glory. Unlike many networks nowadays which receive multi-million dollar grants and meticulous mapping, the trails at Big Hill have emerged organically over time thanks to curious and passionate volunteers. However, because this process lacks any grand plan, it can be exceptionally difficult to navigate the park. So ask a friendly local for directions, or embrace the opportunity to be lost in singletrack for a day.

There are longer descents at Big Hill, but we believe Darkside perfectly encapsulates the tight corners and natural features the park is known for. The simplest route to Darkside is via Big Hill Road, a gravel road also used for self-shuttling; alternatively, take the Big Easy Up singletrack (amongst several others) to reach the trail head. There’s no warming up on Darkside - it immediately throws you down awkward, mossy rocks which spit you onto a series of jarring huck-to-flats. The remainder of the trail is a long series of log-drops into unsupported corners flanked by trees that leave little margin for error. It’s a tedious and highly technical experience that may frustrate and bewilder you on the first try. But don’t quit after one run; piecing together the Darkside puzzle is a truly satisfying experience, and you’ll be a better rider for it.