Lake Mountain Victoria: 2023/24
CLOSED UNTIL NOVEMBER 2024
The Cascade Trail – Now ready to bite!
The Cascade trail connecting Lake Mountain Alpine resort with the village of Marysville is the closest alpine riding experience to Melbourne.
Two hours drive from Melbourne just past Healesville over the Black Spur you enter a mountain bike area going back to the beginning of our sport. In the early 90ties at Narbethong and Granton we held downhill competitions with "Narby" still now a favourite shuttle-spot for the gravity and enduro scene.
Then just around the corner is BUXTON with some of the best flow trails, including the Cathedral, and now we got the Cascade trail from Lake Mountain to Marysville.
Built in 2018/19 The Cascade Trail starts at the top at Lake Mountain Resort and makes its way down into Marysville.
When opened this trail was a solid blue ride with great flow and smoothly freshly build switchbacks to be ridden with confidence by any intermediate rider.
Conditions are very changeable and after years of alpine weather this flow trail can turn into a ride with teeth ready to bite at any moment.
This in itself is not a bad thing, as long you are aware that the Cascade can turn from a Labrador to an angry mongrel dog as condition change.
Difficulty level, intermediate to advanced and we would not recommend riding the Cascade without pads and full face.
Shuttles start in sleepy Marysville from 8.00am to lift you up to Lake Mountain resort
Shuttles for Lake mountain can be booked here: LAKE MOUNTAIN BIKE SHUTTLES
Make sure you book the shuttle for this full day adventure well ahead, it sells out quick.
You can also do private shuttles, the road is open without charge in summer
We can split the Cascade Trail into sections:
Alpine area, the Switchbacks and the Cruise out
“The Alpine section”:
First there is the Alpine section from the top of Lake Mountain Resort to the park-gate about about midway. This section is a real mix of alpine single-track some nice techy rock stuff, some brilliant switchbacks.
Clip of the top Alpine section of the Cascade Trail:
Watch out for "The Tunnel" descent, great fun.
Clip of "The Tunnel" descent here:"
It it is great to be able to ride stuff like this so close to Melbourne and don’t a have to drive for hours to Mt.Buller or Falls Creek.
As with all alpine areas be prepared for dangerous weather conditions, including snow, as it is quite exposed. Ensure you got some good sunscreen to avoid your skin being burned. On the upside this exposure makes for some great views along this section of the ranges in this area.
Snow gums are all along this section and you will cross plenty of small brooks full of mountain water on its way into the valley. Reminders of the 2009 Black Saturday fires that devastated this area are all round you, tree-stumps that could not recover and new growth as far as the eye can see.
In this section there are quite a few short steep climbs, conserve some energy for later to ensure you don’t burn out so you can enjoy the the downhills still to come. (these climbs will be of no concern to any E riders)
The Alpine section area held up really well over the last few years and erosion has not played much havoc with the trail condition, pretty much same as when we rode it back in 2019.
“THE SWITCHBACKS”
The section built by Dirt Art after the Lunchroom now fully equipped with fridge and microwave.
Yes you heard right “The Lunchroom”, that is where the fun starts. (Can have depending on conditions) Steep nasty switchbacks with plenty of rocks to throw you off line. Make sure you are padded up and installed your full face for this section, also ensure your brakes are up to this section.
Did I mention switchbacks, because switchbacks is all you are going to get for the whole decent, there is no let up to relax, left, right, left, right - radical.
The switchbacks are steep and can be sketchy, you gotta hang on !
Along this stage area you will find the most deterioration along the Cascade trail. In 2019 this section was just perfect, excellent fun, now it is a very different animal. Lots of work has been done to keep these berms from eroding and but it needs continous pixie love and care. (Lake Mountain if you are listening!)
Saying all this, the trail is still heaps of fun but can be a lot more challenging and demanding.
Punishing for both, body and bike.
We rode this section a day after rain and it was just between grip and slip. We all agreed we would not want to ride this section in the wet. If it rains we suggest you find a different trail or go to the pub.
Check out our cam run of The Switchbacks:
After this long switchback section (did we mention switchbacks) we were quite cooked and looking forward to a cruise back into Marysville (Beers and burgers at the Duck).
"Cruise Out"
Lastly is the flatter section along the river back to Marysville
A bit of a long slow ride back for us as we are not used to pedal this much on shuttle days (call us lazy but hey).
Apart from a few cool spots to have a BBQ along the river there is nothing to exiting in this section (Lysterfield riding is probably comparable).
You could take a fire-road out after the Switchback section this would bring you back to the pub quicker and would avoid this long pedal. With this option you will fit in an extra beer at the Duck or another shuttle for more switchbacks if you are keen for more punishment.
Both options will bring you back to Marysville main street
The finish is a few metres from the shuttle pick up, or the pub, depending on your fitness level.The Marysville Pub great spot after the ride and talk about the day with your fellow riders over beer and burgers.
To sum it up:
The Cascade will still be a great ride in 2024/25, but made a lot more challenging by severe erosion in parts. We recommend you take all your protective gear, and ensure your brakes are 100%.
In 2024 with changing condition one shuttle was plenty for us and probably the same for most riders.
Over some beers later we could not come to a clear agreement if it would be better to let the trail go into further deterioration, so it slowly morphs into a full black trail, or get the Dirt Art pixies back to refresh the trail to its former fast flowing glory.
Which way you come down on this question probably depends on your skill and fitness level, but if you think you are going for an easy blue ride on the Cascade in 2024/25 someone could have sold you a furphy.
And lastly : Do not ride Cascade in the wet if you are not a complete hardcore nutter!!
Ride on mates !!!! ................ Team Wombat Australia
Team Wombat Factsheet - Cascade Lake Mountain:
Current Weather at Lake Mountain Marysville:
