Lake Mountain Alpine Resort

Lake Mountain Alpine Resort, near Marysville in Victoria’s Yarra Ranges, transforms into an alpine mountain biking destination once the snow melts, with trails ranging from beginner-friendly loops to one of Victoria’s standout long-distance MTB descents. Around two hours from Melbourne, riders can explore high-country terrain, snow gum and alpine forest, rocky singletrack and flowing descents, with spectacular views across the surrounding ranges. The headline ride is the Cascades MTB Trail, an approximately 30 km point-to-point descent from Lake Mountain to Marysville. Despite the huge amount of descending, Cascades is a genuine all-mountain adventure rather than a pure downhill run, with pedalling and climbing mixed amongst long flowing descents, rocky sections and more advanced features. There are also shorter trails around the resort village. Trigger Track provides around 1.7 km of beginner flow and minor rock features and can be used as an easier introduction to the start of Cascades, while Lenny’s Loop is a 2 km beginner trail aimed at families and developing riders. Lower Granite Grind adds a longer 5 km option through mountain ash forest and old logging areas, while the short Ski Run 21 provides a more technical intermediate challenge. Trail availability varies throughout the season, so riders should always check which trails are open before travelling. For riders tackling Cascades, a seasonal MTB shuttle operates from Marysville to the Lake Mountain trailhead, making it possible to concentrate on the ride down rather than organising your own vehicle shuttle. Lake Mountain’s MTB season generally operates during the warmer months, with summer access typically running from November through April. RTS Tip: Don’t be fooled by the word “descent” — Cascades is a 30 km alpine MTB adventure, so arrive prepared for more than just gravity riding. There is no potable water on the trail, so carry enough water, high-energy food, puncture and repair gear, plus a warm or waterproof layer as conditions can change quickly in the mountains. If riding point-to-point, organise your Marysville shuttle or vehicle logistics before heading up to Lake Mountain.