PREPARATION
& SAFETY
The Djuwang Baring Network offers a variety of riding experiences and levels of difficulty to appeal to a broad range of riders. The focus of the network is on beginner and intermediate-level trails.
The ride experience includes cross country, gravity trails, wood coop, beginner loops, and scenic vistas that showcase the forest’s mining heritage and peaceful aesthetic.
The trails are designed as a series of loops feeding into a central spine. These ‘stacked loops’ provide opportunities for riders to session or repeat ride sections. Additionally, the network includes an integrated set of adaptive mountain bike trails for increased accessibility.
Trail Difficulty Breakdown:
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20% Beginner
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42% Intermediate
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11% Difficult
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2% Extremely Difficult
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5% Road
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20% Dual Use
Trail Direction:
Most of the Djuwang Baring Network consists of single-use, single-direction trails optimised for mountain biking.
Shared Use Trails:
The trails around St Georges Lake and sections overlapping with the Goldfields Track are shared use and dual direction, catering to mountain bikers, walkers, dog walkers, runners, and nature enthusiasts.
BEFORE YOU START RIDING
CHECK TRAIL INFORMATION
View our online map before visiting.
Install the Trailforks App on your mobile for the latest trail information.
Plan your route and respect the trail builders by riding only on open, defined trails.
Gear Check
1) Ensure you have an appropriate bike, helmet, suitable footwear, and protective pads.
2) Always wear a helmet and appropriate safety gear. Full-face helmets are highly recommended for downhill trails.
3) Be self-sufficient, keep your equipment in good repair, and carry necessary supplies for changes in weather or other conditions.
4) Ensure your bike is in good working order and consider a service if needed.
Insurance
1) The risk of injury increases with speed, height of jumps, and trail difficulty. You are responsible for your safety.
2) Consider personal accident insurance, including ambulance reimbursement, available through AusCycling. This covers incidents while riding.
3) Ambulance cover is also recommended, as Victorian ambulance fees can be higher than in other states. Ambulance cover is affordable and covers any ambulance trip in Australia.
Weather Check
1) Check the BOM for Creswick weather forecasts to dress accordingly.
2) Carry water, especially on hot days, and bring wet weather gear if rain is expected.
Hammon Park Trail Head has taps and toilets.
3) Check VicEmergency for total fire bans and current bushfire/flood advice.
The park is closed on Total Fire Ban days or during extreme weather forecasts (gale force winds, hail storms, flooding).
LOOKING AFTER THE LANDSCAPE & STAYING SAFE
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All plants, animals, historic artefacts, and geological features in the park are protected.
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Bins are not provided. Please take your rubbish with you.
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Vehicles and motorbikes are not permitted on the trails and may only be used on formed, signed roads. All vehicles must be registered and drivers licensed.
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Dogs and horses are not permitted on mountain bike trails.
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Stick to designated trails as there are mine shafts and tunnels in the park.
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Firearms are not permitted.
TRAIL RULES
Ride Open Trails Only: Never enter a closed trail.
Protect Yourself: Always wear a helmet and suitable protective equipment. Be prepared with water, snacks, and information.
Control Your Bike: You are responsible for avoiding objects and people.
Know Your Limits: Ride within your ability.
Inspect Trails: Conditions change. Check trails and features before riding them.
Be Kind to the Trail: Ride it, don’t slide it, and don’t cut new lines.
Be Visible: Never stop where you obstruct a trail, feature, or where you can’t be seen.
Look Out for Others: Give way to vehicles. Call out to warn riders when overtaking.
Leave No Trace: Protect our forests and waterways by taking rubbish with you.
Respect Our Neighbours: Be polite to neighbouring residents and other users.
FINDING THE TRAILS
As you ride, you will see the Djuwang Baring logo on the signage, indicating that you are within the Djuwang Baring network.
Using the Maps
Djuwang Baring is arranged as a series of zones linked by a central spine. Trails converge at nodes, with each node having a detailed map of the connected trails. Directional bollards at the start of trails and decision points will help you navigate the network.
Mobile Coverage
Mobile coverage varies across the network, with some remote areas lacking reliable service. Plan your route before departure, ensure your bike is in good repair, bring enough water and snacks, map out your route, and inform someone of your plans.
Biosecurity
Help us protect the landscape by ensuring your bike and shoes are free from excessive foreign soils, mud, or seed matter. A bike wash and repair station are located near the Hammon Park toilet block for this purpose.
Shared Trails
Walkers are welcome on shared trails. Look for the shared trail icon to locate these paths.
Adaptive Trails
The Creswick Trails Network includes adaptive mountain bike trails to accommodate riders with varying accessibility needs. These trails are clearly indicated on the signage and our online map. The adaptive trails are built to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all riders, regardless of physical ability. Learn more about accessibility here.
EMERGENCY MARKERS
On signs along the trails, you will see Emergency Markers as a code of three letters followed by numbers on a green background.
These markers correspond to set points in the Emergency Services database, which will help get assistance to you if needed.
What to do in an Emergency
Call 000 and tell the call taker you are on Djuwang Baring (Creswick Trails).
The Trails Network will be closed on days of Catastrophic Fire Danger. For the latest emergency information, download the VicEmergency App.
The Emergency+ app is a free app developed by Australia’s emergency services and their Government and industry partners.
The app uses GPS functionality built into smart phones to help a Triple Zero (000) caller provide critical location details required to mobilise emergency services.
Follow the prompts in the app and quote the 'What Three Words' notification.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
Hepburn Shire Council acknowledge the Dja Dja Wurrung as the Traditional Owners of the lands and waters on which we live and work.
On these lands, Djaara have performed age-old ceremonies of celebration, initiation and renewal. We recognise their resilience through dispossession, and it is a testament to their culture and tradition, which is strong and thriving.
We also acknowledge the neighbouring Traditional Owners, the Wurrundjeri to our Southeast and the Wadawurrung to our Southwest, and we pay our respects to all Aboriginal peoples, their culture, and lore.
We acknowledge their living culture and the unique story they play in the life of this region in which the Hepburn region resides and operates.