Trails

Bike Elysium! Trails right out of the town in the foothills of Mount Remarkable! There are some trails already famous like Greener Pastures and Hellrose with EDGE LOOP and Throwing Copper new connections for some. Riding mountain bikes on Don and Margaret McCallum's property is a privilege, so please treat the trail, livestock and environment with respect and care. Enjoy with a hint of adrenalin and a tincture of rosemary followed with a deep red Shiraz. Watch out for the kangaroos - they are numerous and have been know to hitch a ride..

MAPS
Pop into our shop to grab a map and the latest info on new cool trails that haven't made it onto the map yet.. there are plenty!

Farmers' freewheelin fun track

This trail is your traditional farmers track for 4WD access and provides the main access to the trail network for cyclists and walkers. As the name suggests it is a very enjoyable, fast trail to ride down, but beware the trail surface is highly variable so check your speed.

Textbook 10%

Textbook 10% is the original mountain bike trail in the network and a great example of environmentally friendly trail design. It is an excellent way to warm up and get a feel for the area before hitting the serious black diamond terrain.

Benchin

A lengthy section of full bench trail riding bliss that will take you from one end to the network to the other. Get on board and ride to your heart's content.

A Bit Sheepish

This trail was designed by the local residents, Don McCallums sheep, hence the name. Thus it is a bit steeper than the other blue square trails so it is great on the way down.

Don's Summit

This trail spirals to the top of one of the prominent hills in the network, which provides great views over Melrose . Rocks a plenty to test your riding abilities.

Silo Loop

Get out on the plains and stretch the legs while gaining some lovely views back towards Mt Remarkable. This loop of 32km will give a wholesome taste of Mawson Trail riding without having to leave town.

Hellrose

Fast, furious and truly exhilarating. This trail provides a XC ride that will make you feel like a free rider with big jumps and berns to get the adrenalin flowing. It starts with a very technical climb then you can descend into Hellrose.

Out the Back

Some serious XC trail that brings you back out into Hellrose so you can doit all over again if you want to. Get ready for some tight corners and grunting climbs.

On A Bender

If you like your XC really technical then you are going to love this trail. Switchbacks, rocks and serious obstacles to test your limits to the max. If you get the chance, check out the views and cave on your left as you traverse the trail above Melrose .

Greener Pastures

Hold on for the ride of the day as you drop back towards Melrose in what can only be explained as a blast of downhill riding that only the Southern Flinders Ranges can provide. Gnarly rock chutes, fast jumps, dirty half pipes action with a wall ride exit followed by some old school creek riding over rocks and logs. The final obstacle is a real killer so be confident. It's not as hard as it looks.

Weaving camels

A creekside ramble through the Mount Creek past and under Eucalyptus cameldulensis (red gums - the camels). Take a picnic out to the redgum table at the end just before the Mt Remarkable Copper Mine (the other one).

The Big Rhua

Gives a sneek peak of Hidden Valley past the bones of a big red macropod that didn't make it out alive. A bit of tree-whippin' and stump jumping.

Bear Pit

The pit is real and is similar to that found in the city of Bern in Switzerland. The story is that Bern was originally founded by a German Duke in 1191. When it came to finding a name for it, however, he was at somewhat of a loss. According to the legends of the city, he decided then to leave it to chance. He organized a hunting party and decreed that the first animal they killed would lend its name to this new city he had founded. That animal was a bear (Bern). Since the 16th century, the city has had a bear pit (or Bärengraben). The pits here in Melrose were used for sawing logs and this is where the term 'underdog' comes from - that was the guy at the bottom of the 2-person cross cut saw eating sawdust... Not sure what any of this has to do with bears..

Hidden Valley

Now this place is special. You enter from the Picadilly Circus junction, cross the road and wind your way up over the old burnt log, working pretty hard and then you are on top of the world and heading down the hill past the jack rabbit hole and blasting through the scree, over the big log, over the ball bearings, around the big red gum, down the sketchy face back in the valley and past the big red's bones. The finale is under a massive red camel looking out over the Willochra Plains before it intersects with the big Rhua again. This one is tough, with fine lines but it is very special. Stop for a picnic near the scree with some quondong leather, chocolate and red wine.

EDGE LOOP

The EDGE LOOP is in capital letters because it is EDGY and traverses a few rock garden edges at the native hibiscus outcrop. There are some pointy narguns and a few drops and it gets a wee biit slippy when we see moisture (rare these days). It starts and finishes at Picadilly Circus. Short but sweet and tends to go past bemused wallaroos, or euros to the locals. Can decide to opt out at the bottom and head back via The Big Rhua or Bear Pit to Weaving Camels. Alternatively, head into the Hidden Valley or grunt up Blazing Saddles and down Throwing Copper for a big adrenaline finish catching the cool air at the bottom of FFFT.

Blazing Saddles

Takes in the speccy lookout on bald hill (Maol Ban) with great views of the Willochra Plains, Mt Remarkable, Cathedral Rock and The Creagach. If you don't know what the Creagach is you'll have to head up there for a look - (hint: it is south of Cathedral Rock). Goes over a big dead gum which looks sketchy but it not as bad as it looks. runs past the mines, rock gardens, rabbit warrens and back up the road to Throwing Copper. This one is all natural and full of fibre, solar powered and just good for the soul - hurts a bit though, at times.

Throwing Copper

You can hum Lightning Crashes or even The Dam at Otter Creek if you like but hang on for some rapid fine lines and a lightning weaving finish through the mounded corrie below the copper mine. You will do this one faster and faster over time. Continue on down FFFT jump at the bottom and blast through the creek before coffee or beer or just do it all again or head North to Dodging Bullets.

Dodging Bullets

This baby starts just through the monument gate and turn right and then you are off through the hops and quandongs and christmas bushes, past a neolithic cave with a scary drop (stay on line here or die), out of the brush and over the creek and down a run that has some interesting features. Between trees, down logs and then over the fence and you are into a WWII rifle range with signs of yesteryear around. Enjoy the view from the top at the big sawpit and then thrash down the wooded gully and then down another gully (air to be had). Then it is the finale smashing down and weaving the final gully, up and jumping the dry dam bank and through the ruin, past the dog pound and back to Melrose or down to the Showground loop. It is rough so take it easy the first time or use a Delirium-T.

Kiss The Sky

Jimi Hendrix's favourite ride. Not for those that don't like precipitous drops. Keep the head looking at the trail unless stationary. Takes you from Greener Pastures to the Top of the monument and a perfect link into Dodging Bullets.

Showgrounds Loop

A great family cruise around the periphery of this 100 acre patch of gums and gullies. Follows the old golf course and gives nice views again over to Coomoroo Hill. Great picnic spot. The kids will love spending hours playing in the creek and climbing trees. Lots of laughing kookaburras haunting the dusk air. The ride along the Mount Creek back to Melrose keeps it off the "busy" bitumen road so you can send the kids down there for a ride while you hang out in the coffee shop, pub, bike shop or your accommodation. It just doesn't get much better than this.

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Bartagunyah is a top spot for a lot of different activities. There are yabbies to catch and hills to climb and little waterfalls in hidden corries. Views across to Spencer Gulf and the back of the Mount. Call in to the cellar door or OTE to get a map for riding. Don't forget to try some wine - it is becoming well known in lots of little crannies and nooks of the world, and the Port (Vintage Shiraz) is par excellence. The trails are on 2400 acres of private property so please respect and it is all free so buy a bottle of wine or 2 (you won't be disappointed) to help cover maintenance and insurance costs. This is mountainbike specific wine too!

The Adelaide Mountain Bike Club run a Cross Country Race at Bartagunyah and Melrose on the Sunday of the October Weekend each year with lots of categories for advanced and casual riders, so come along for a ride and meet some great people! Don't forget that Saturday is the Melrose Show and it is absolutely fantastic - makes it a great family long weekend, yes, it is tiring but carpe diem is what it is all about !

MAPS
Pop into our shop to grab a map of the local trails or to get the latest updates.

Winery loop

This trail is deigned and built for those mountain bikers looking for a leisurely ride on some easy terrain. The trail itself links the accommodation facilities and cellar door to the Mawson trail and provides a loop experience if desired. There is a little uphill to ride going up to the wool shed or accommodation, and the ride back down to the Mawson is a lot of fun without any major obstacles. Silky smooth trail, which is suitable for the whole family.

Blue Heelin

Relatively challenging access track to get you out into the property and make sure those muscles are warm. Once you are out a little further, the trail changes into a purpose built mountain bike trail that is fun and relatively easy to ride. Rocks and ruts a plenty so keep your wits about you!

Jackanna

A reasonably challenging loop with plenty of singletrack and minor obstacles that provide enormous views of the rolling hills and Mt Remarkable itself.

The trail has a different flavour as it follows the sheep trails and is still in a pretty unaltered state. There are numerous trail markers however, and there is plenty of opportunity for developing creative lines. Take your time, have some lunch and make sure to stop for a look at the Scared Rabbit Panoramic View. If you ar feeling adventurous pop over a little further west to the highest point and down to Elliot's lookout. Lookout for morels.

Mia

This trail uses a mixture of access track and single track to get you from one end of the network to another. If you are riding down the trail from the panoramic view prepare for a descent of epic proportions down the access track and then see if you can carry your momentum into the single track for some tricky obstacles. If heading from east to west up to the Rabbit, then the climb is slow and steady but rewarding nonetheless.

Fox Run

Follow the access track and enjoy the views. This is where the pastoralists used to round up the foxes.

Stegosaurus Ridge

This rocky trail is designed to test the skills and balance of all riders and truly embrace the natural features of Bartagunyah. If you need to look at the views then STOP. You cannot ride this trail whilst appreciating the vistas. The ability to ride up steps and hop over rocks will be required for this trail.

Landslide

Often the final descent, this trail has a few surprises including rock gardens and banked corners for your riding pleasure. A wild finish at the woolshed.

The Path of the Bleating Goat

Starts from the Winery Loop near the Homestead and climbs up past a great dam for launching into. Continues down Horsegully on the left of the road and crosses the creek near the National Park gate. Follows the creek past Rankine's Hut and GlenMorangie Corner and heads out past the Scared Rabbit Panoramic Lookout. From here you go through the race and up onto the Lookout to the Sea and Baroota Knob and onto Separation Creek Saddle. Through the gate then and to Gibraltar Rock and you are back at Horse Gully. A short climb and the pain is over and a cleansing wine or two at the cellar door is just reward.

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