There is plenty of scope for exploring in the Castle Hill Basin and further afield. A lot of the tracks in Thomas Bush and Craigieburn Forest are multi-use, so please be considerate to other track users.
The Castle Hill Community Association have a formal agreement with DoC surrounding the track network now known as the Craigieburn Trails, with the aim that 40+ kilometres of mostly intermediate-grade, dual-use tramping/biking tracks will be available in the Castle Hill Basin/Craigieburn Forest Park. For more information see the Craigieburn Trails website.
The Hogs Back Track
The Castle Hill Community Association started off their collaboration with DoC by creating this beautiful 8km intermediate mountain-bike/mixed-use track from the village through the native beech forest and open flats of Thomas Bush and Craigieburn Forest to Texas Flat on the Mt Cheeseman Skifield Road. The track is well-benched with quite a number of well constructed culverts and bridges, and offers plenty of diverse views of the Castle Hill Basin.
Craigieburn Forest
Numerous tracks appeal within the boundaries of the Craigieburn Forest including the following multi-use tracks:
- Dracophyllum Flat Track (a well-benched beech forest track connecting the Broken River & Cheeseman Ski Area roads),
- Camp Saddle (an alpine pass with views into both the Broken River & Craigieburn Valley Basins),
- A circuit via the Sidle 73 Track and up the Craigieburn Valley Ski Area road returning down the Craigieburn Edge Track and over Lyndon Saddle via The Luge to the Broken River road is particularly recommended.
Bikes are not currently officially permitted on the following walking tracks:
- Mistletoe Track (direct track from Mistletoe Flat campground to Lyndon Saddle),
- Helicopter Hill Track from Lyndon Saddle.
- Camp Saddle.
Trig ‘M’
This peak can be accessed from either Coach Stream* or Starvation Gully on SH73, and provides panoramic views over Lake Lyndon.
More information is on the DoC website here.
* Part of the Coach Stream route is an easement passing through Ben More Station and is closed for lambing from 1 October to 20 November each year. Dogs are not permitted in this section at any time.