Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail

A high-standard rail trail along the old Ballarat-Skipton railway line (opened to Scarsdale 1883, Linton 1890, Skipton 1916; closed 1986), running south-west from the outskirts of Ballarat through the historic goldfields towns of Haddon, Smythesdale, Scarsdale and Linton to Skipton. Extensively upgraded in 2008 and again in 2020-21 (the 'Three Trails Project', covering this trail plus the connecting Rainbow Parrot and Kuruc-a-ruc trails), with a well-drained crushed granite/fine gravel surface, regular shelters, seating and toilets, and ESTA emergency marker posts every kilometre. Gentle grades throughout (max 2%) make it suitable for cyclists, walkers and horse riders of all experience levels. Managed jointly by the City of Ballarat, Golden Plains Shire and Corangamite Shire.

Official section distances: Ballarat-Smythesdale 20 km (downhill from the outskirts of Ballarat, west of Lake Wendouree), Smythesdale-Linton 17 km (crossing historic goldfields and native grasslands), Linton-Skipton 20 km (gently uphill through bushland, past a kaolin quarry at Pittong). NOTE: the official Ballarat trailhead is about 8 km from Ballarat's city centre/train station, off Ring Rd near a level crossing on the Maryborough Line — several reviewers note this gap catches first-time riders by surprise; a signed shared-path connector exists from Wendouree station via Gregory St West and Ring Rd. Highlights include Nimons Bridge at Newtown, the third-tallest surviving timber rail bridge in Victoria (cyclists can ride across; horses use a bypass), the Clarkesdale Bird Sanctuary near Linton, and a 2.2 km signed detour to a lookout between Linton and Pittong. The last ~5 km into Skipton follows the Glenelg Hwy and is consistently reported as the roughest/softest section of the trail. Water is limited to Smythesdale (near the sports oval) and a tap at the free camping ground — riders should carry their own between towns.