Ballarat – Skipton Rail Trail

The Ballarat–Skipton Rail Trail is a 57km gravel trail through Victoria’s historic Goldfields region, following the former railway from Ballarat to Skipton. The predominantly crushed-granite surface and gentle railway gradients make for approachable riding through open farmland, native grasslands, bushland and historic gold-mining country. Along the way the trail passes through Smythesdale, Scarsdale and Linton, giving riders plenty of options to break the journey into shorter sections. One of the highlights is the impressive Nimons Bridge, a restored timber trestle bridge near Newtown and one of the tallest surviving timber bridges in Victoria. Historic station sites, railway cuttings and interpretive signs add plenty of interest along the route, while facilities and food stops can be found in several of the towns along the way. RTS Tip: You don’t need to tackle the full trail to enjoy this one. Ballarat to Smythesdale is around 20km, while Smythesdale to Linton and Linton to Skipton make great standalone sections. For a highlight-focused ride, include the stretch through Scarsdale to Nimons Bridge. Carry plenty of water if riding the longer sections, as refill points can be limited.