Mt Stirling / Mt Buller Loop

I once drove up Mt Stirling to do a hike at the top and I aways wondered what it would be like to ride a bike up it. Not to be one that likes to leave a stone unturned, I ventured up said mountain on a bike to fulfil my curiosity. Turns out you can even keep going and link up to the Mount Buller Village also!

Mt Stirling is a seriously dreamy climb featuring undisturbed alpine / sub-alpine forest, consistent 6% – 7% grades for most of the way and relatively smooth gravel with the odd corrugation. Leave early enough and you’ll beat the campers coming down for their morning coffee and the mountain bikers on their way up.

10km up and you’ll reach a clearing called TBJ (Telephone Box Junction) from which you’ll take smooth gravel on Circuit Rd until you reach The Howqua Gap camping area.

From there, things get a little rocky and slightly more technical on Corn Hill Rd before hitting the tarmac and opting to climb 1 km or 2 up to the Mount Buller village or taking the winding descent down.