There is a cue sheet for this route on Ride with GPS,
including cues and distances that align with the descriptions below.
Although only 25 km to Millthorpe this is a challenging
journey for the first 10 km. Exit Carcoar up the hill on Belubula Street. This is a steep ascent, before turning left
onto the Carcoar Road (1.5km). Stay on Carcoar Road, there are no turn-offs (25
kms). The gravel road has descents and ascents for the first 5 km. The road
crosses the old railway line, two creeks then up the hill past a modern dairy
farm on the left. At 12 km the road
becomes bitumen for the rest of the journey into Millthorpe.
Millthorpe is a popular tourist destination. It is a historic village with accommodation, restaurants and shops to cater for
visitors.
After a cheeky coffee in Millthorpe, Riders head west and
under the low-level railway bridge. There are several routes to Orange. The
recommended route is to exit Millthorpe on the road you came on.
The ride along Forest Reefs Road passes lovely houses on
acreage, each with their own style of house, garden and old wares (such as old
cars and windmills). There’s a little
descent to cross Cowriga Creek before riders turn right onto Spring Hill Road (29km). This is a lovely quiet road with views to the
west to Mt Canobolas, across grazing and farming country beside the road.
Riders marvel in their thoughts along this next part of the
ride. Spring Hill, Spring Terrace,
Springside and Spring Creek are amongst the local names. Why would that be?
There are some lovely houses in Spring Hill (around 35km),
and away from the route the pub sits across the road from the railway
precinct. This would have been an
interesting place back in the days before cars and in the age of steam
trains. A little exploration off course
is worthwhile here.
Ride west out of Spring Hill on Forest Road (35.7km),
where riders will have a higher concentration of traffic on this road. It starts with a small shoulder for cyclists
but that soon disappears for most of the way to Spring Terrace (41.0km). The road improves significantly for riders
all the way into Orange.
The RFS Regional HQ is at the intersection of Forest and Cadia
Roads (49km) and just afterwards is the turn to Gosling Creek Reserve on
Bloomfield Road. This is a gorgeous
water reserve close to Orange, and caters well for walkers and riders
alike. It’s fabulous for kids learning
to ride, or for big kids revisiting their childhoods in a safe off-road
setting.
The ride back into Orange is now following Bike paths for a
little way, or riders can stay on the new road. Past the new medical and hospital precinct and sporting
fields before turning left onto Orange's Southern Feeder Road and winding around past
James Sheahan High School. Riders cross over
the railway line (53.1km) then ride back to Cook Park into the CBD.
Total distance is 55.3 km.
Disclaimer:
This trail has been developed
with the support of local cycling enthusiasts, The Treadlies to showcase some
of our region’s most picturesque rides. Orange360 recommends that visiting cyclists
review road, weather and seasonal farming conditions before they embark on
their ride. Riders embark on their adventure at their own risk.