3.2 miles
Distance
139 ft
Climb
-1,767 ft
Descent
01:09:38
Avg time

Louis Creek Track Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
  • Difficulty Rating
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Downhill Only
    Popular direction shown
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1
  • Global Ranking
    #78249 in Mountain Biking
  • Local Popularity
    5 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 50 in E-Biking
    • 5 in Trail Running
    • 5 in Hiking
  • Land Owner

The track owes its existence to the presence of gold which was prospected and mined in Louis Creek. For a day's exploring with some history thrown in, this is a ride worth doing.

Drive 18km west from St Arnaud on SH63 then turn south up Howard Valley Rd for 7.6km. Park at the campground beside the road.

From the carpark, backtrack along the road and turn left up the Porika Track road and ride 7km up to the top of the Porika Track, a climb of about 600 metres. Keep left where the road forks soon after crossing under the transmission lines. There are some short, steep sections on the road as you near the top, but for the most part, the grade is quite good.

A pylon access road leading to a viewpoint goes off to the right immediately after the crest of the Porika Track. 100 metres after the Porika Track crests, look out for a marker post on the left indicating the start of the singletrack which heads off through moss-floored beech forest.

After following a ridge for 5 minutes, the track twists steeply down through the forest with some tight technical riding before reaching historic slab-sided Booths Hut.

Soon after Booths Hut, the grade eases and the trail follows parts of an old water race and goes through piles of tailings before you come out on a 4WD road. Follow the road down past the memorial to the gold miners into a pine forest. Turn left at a trail marker post down a road to the river then follow the track down river with some crossings thrown in back down to the Howard Valley where your vehicle will be 100 metres to the left.

Access Info

Drive 18km west from St Arnaud on SH63 then turn south up Howard Valley Rd for 7.6km. Park at the campground beside the road.

From the carpark, backtrack along the road and turn left up the Porika Track road and ride 7km up to the top of the Porika Track

Local Trail Association
More Stats for Louis Creek Track mountain bike trail trail
  • Altitude change
    -1,629 ft
  • Altitude min
    1,547 ft
  • Altitude max
    3,236 ft
  • Altitude start
    3,176 ft
  • Altitude end
    1,545 ft
  • Grade
    -9.5%
  • Grade max
    -79.6%
  • Grade min
    21%
  • Distance climb
    2,467 ft
  • Distance down
    3 miles
  • Distance flat
    646 ft
  • Avg time
    01:09:38
  • Avg reverse time
    03:30:52
  • view trail stats
Status:
on Jan 14, 2024
Ideal
Avg: 3.86 (2 votes)
Your vote: 0

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Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Snow Cover Partial
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
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      Directions to louis-creek-track trailhead (-41.778260, 172.620290)
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      Louis Creek Track Trail Reports

      statusdatedescription
      Jan 14, 2024 @ 5:10am
      Jan 14, 2024
      Sep 2, 2023 @ 3:25am
      Sep 2, 2023
      Riding nicely. Cleared a few fallen branches today. Creek crossing a little tricky. Go upstream beyond obvious large rocks.
      Jul 8, 2023 @ 3:35pm
      Jul 8, 2023
      Not great riding in July. Probably best in dry summer months. Did a lot of tripod and quadrapod riding down slippery roots and wet beach. Also...
      Mar 21, 2022 @ 2:06am
      Mar 21, 2022
      The last 1km down the river is worthless but everything above is very good so it’s a highly recommended ride. Mostly smooth with some great...
      Oct 28, 2021 @ 12:19pm
      Oct 28, 2021
      Had a clearing mission on track .. track is riding great ! No stops .. scoped out a new crossing of creek at first tailing area . At creek look...
      view all reports »

      Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail

      Past Week
      • 0 rides
      •  
      6 Months
      • 0 rides
      •  
      All
      • 1 rides
      • Last: Jul 8, 2023

      Photos

      more »
      86 |
      Jan 21, 2020 @ 8:05pm
      Jan 21, 2020
      30 |
      Oct 28, 2021 @ 12:20pm
      Oct 28, 2021
      19 |
      Oct 28, 2021 @ 12:20pm
      Oct 28, 2021
      25 |
      Oct 28, 2021 @ 12:19pm
      Oct 28, 2021

      1 Review & Comments


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      Videos

      more »
      youtuber Cornflake riding at Louis Creek Track, New Zealand
      14:26 | 426 | Feb 25, 2020 , St Arnaud
      Striking MTB Gold on Louis Creek.
      20:30 | 307 | Feb 16, 2020 , St Arnaud

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