There's a nice bit of single track I found last time I was down there - it's the Old Horden Vale Road, of which a large section closed many years ago, and has since overgrown and makes for a fast flowing windy bit of downhill. Not a super steep gradient, given that it used to be an actual road, but it's fun nonetheless. I think the locals call this 'Marengo Hill'
Heading west away from Apollo Bay on the GOR, you go through Marengo, up the hill and after a while you'll be riding a along a ridge with Ocean to left, lush green hills to right (might be lush brown hills these days). Eventually you'll pass the road to Shelley Beach on your left, then after about a km you'll see the sign for the Old Horden Vale Rd on your right. By this time you'd done a pretty serious road climb (maybe scope it out in a car first - or get a car to drop you up there if lazy)
Turn right into Old Horden Vale Road, and it kinda doubles back towards AB. This road is essentially just a dirt driveway now for a few properties. If you're lucky you'll get to race the sheep as they run off. After a 100 or so meters the road will end with a red brick gate to someone's property. To the left of this you'll see the road dissappear into the bush - follow this. Like I said, it's a nice, fast flowing track that winds down the hill. Really loamy under tyre which makes a nice change from dir/gravel/mud. If you're doing it early morning send someone else down first - HEAPS of spidey webs. When I last rode it there were some decent jumps along the way to get over major potholes and other obstacles. After a while the track will widen back out again and you'll start riding past houses. Very picturesque.
Eventually you hit Barham River Road (bitumen) - turning right takes you back into AB. If you want an alternate route, turn right again off this after about a km - can't remember the name, but the road goes between two slightly industrial looking properties then up a short steep hill before turning into a T intersection - all visible from Barham River Road. Ride up this hill and turn left and you'll seem like you're heading into someone's property. You kinda are, but I think it's OK, since veering left to go in front of this house, I think is another old, disused road. I had to open their gate - nobody seemed to send the hounds after me. Follow this semi-dirt, semi-grown over track along the front of this house, down through a gully, along a fence line, then the track will eventually veer right into the scrub. Follow this track and you'll eventually hit a dipper (go fast so you get up the other side). Just after the top of this on the left in the bush is what I can only describe as a 'track in progress.' Someone, or some people, have definitely gone to some effort to try and build a bit of single track here leading down the hill through the scrub, with berms, log edges and everything. I followed it once until I couldn't find the track any more. Any locals reading this should get back up there and finish it. Otherwise, skip this track and eventually, you'll end up in the back streets of Marengo. Follow the sounds of the Ocean and you'll end up back on the GOR. Turn left to get back to AB.
Heading down there this weekend myself. If we have time after doing the Otways loops around Forrest, I'll be there myself. But I seriously doubt anyone will want to bother with this track after doing the Otways.
np.
