78km Bethanga Beast

Event Details

Strava Map

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Start Location: Ebden Reserve, Murray Valley Hwy, Ebden, Victoria

Bib Collection

Collect your bib before ride day at either session:

• Albury: Thursday 11 February 2027, 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm, Drummond Real Estate, 588 Stanley St, Albury
• Wodonga: Saturday 13 February 2027, 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm, The Cube, Wodonga

Or collect it on ride day, 30 minutes before the start of your ride.

Ride Description

The Beast, a combined surface ride across rail trail, gravel and bitumen road. Not for the faint hearted, this ride is as challenging as it is picturesque. With almost 1,000m of elevation gain over 78km, this ride loops around Lake Hume, crossing three bridges over the arms of Sandy Creek, the Mitta River and the Murray River, skirts the Plateau Regional Park and rides over the Hume Dam wall.

Leaving Ebden Reserve, riders roll along the Lake Hume foreshore on the High Country Rail Trail, over the splendid 600m long Sandy Creek bridge, past Tallangatta, and over the Lake Hume Mitta River Arm rail bridge. Stop at the Georges Creek tennis courts for the Rider Reviver at the 30km mark, shown as a blue circle on the map. This is the only fuel stop on the ride, so load up.

Head off again, following Lake Road as it clings to the side of the hills above the lake. Enjoy the beautiful high country scenery and the bitumen surface for a further 10km. Up next is the gravel, the climb, the bends and a glorious descent. You will gain 300m of elevation over 6km of gravel, some parts at 8% grade. This is for the true gravel grinders.

Back on the bitumen, veer left at the Lake Road and Springdale Road intersection at the 49km mark, continuing along Lake Road. Take in the views along this stretch, with a couple of short sharp climbs and bends to keep you on your toes.

At the Lake Road and Bethanga Bay Road Y intersection at the 56km mark, veer right and head to the historical township of Bethanga.

Turn left at the Bethanga Pub and head to the Rider Reviver and toilet stop at the Bethanga Public School, on the left hand side just out of town, then warm up the muscles for the “Beast” climb up to Kurrajong Gap. The Beast section ascends 140m in 2km, with grades of up to 10%. Once you reach the top, celebrate and catch your breath at the Kurrajong Gap Lookout. Take a few photos of the panoramic views across Lake Hume, the dam wall and down the Murray River to Albury Wodonga and beyond.

Over the Gap there is a steep descent for your legs to enjoy, but riders beware, there is a tight left corner at the bottom. Rejoin Lake Road and continue to the town of Bellbridge, where drinking water and toilets are available at the 67km mark, shown as a blue circle on the map.

Continue on and roll across the majestic Bethanga Bridge, built in the 1930s, over the Murray River arm of Lake Hume, entering New South Wales with views back across the lake and the Victorian Alps in the background.

Not far to go now. Turn left again and roll through the tourist precinct of Lake Hume Village. Ride across the impressive art deco Hume Dam wall and across the 1km long earth wall, with more spectacular views.

Back in Victoria, turn left onto Bonegilla Road, and finally turn left with care onto the Murray Valley Highway. Only a couple of kilometres back to Ebden, so treat it as a cool down and roll through the finish arch knowing you have just had a great ride.

Nothing left to do but park your bike and enjoy a free soft drink and sausage sandwich, with a cool off in Lake Hume if you choose.

Cut-off time: the Bethanga Beast is a challenging ride. Riders choosing to participate should be confident in their ability to complete the ride by 12:30 pm, when traffic management and the ride end. By entering this ride, riders agree to observe a cut-off time at the township of Bethanga, at the 56km mark, that allows them to finish by 12:30 pm. This cut-off is enforced by ride officials. Riders expected to arrive later than the cut-off will be asked not to complete part of, or the remainder of, the ride. Transport forward, or back to Ebden Reserve, is available with ride officials.

Recommended bike: Gravel or road bike with non-racing tyres. Around 6km of the ride is gravel.