King Valley Gravel

King Valley Big Ride – Gravel Cycling Victoria The King Valley Big Ride is a spectacular 71km gravel cycling loop from Whitfield, exploring the quiet backroads, forests and mountain landscapes of Victoria's beautiful King Valley. Starting in Whitfield, the route quickly leaves town behind and rolls through farmland before heading into the bush and beginning the climb along Rose River Road. It's a wonderfully rideable gravel climb, generally sitting below 6%, before opening up to views towards the surrounding Alpine ranges and Mount Buffalo. From here, the ride follows remote gravel roads through forest and along the Rose and Buffalo River valleys, with a brilliant mix of flowing gravel, rolling terrain and big High Country scenery. While much of the gravel is relatively smooth, this is still a proper adventure ride. There are three main climbs, changing surfaces and a more technical descent where wider tyres and confident bike handling come in handy. At around 71km, the distance makes it achievable as a big day ride without turning it into an ultra-endurance mission — but the climbing, gravel and remote setting mean it will feel like considerably more than 71km on the road. The King Valley itself is becoming one of Victoria's standout gravel riding destinations, with hundreds of kilometres of gravel roads and cycling routes extending throughout the region. That makes Whitfield a brilliant base for a gravel weekend, with plenty more riding to explore once you've completed this loop. RTS Tip: Ride the loop clockwise for the best experience and consider tyres around 40mm or wider for additional confidence on the rougher sections. Mobile reception is limited across much of the route and there are very few opportunities to refill water, so carry what you need and download your navigation before leaving. Check current weather, fire and road conditions before setting out, particularly when riding in warmer months.