Carcoar, Millthorpe and Orange
Orange NSW. 17.3°C

Carcoar, Millthorpe and Orange

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Home  -  Things to doCyclingOVBTCarcoar, Millthorpe and Orange

Distance
Distance

54.1 km

Sealed Road
Sealed Road

42.4 km

Unsealed Road
Unsealed Road

11.9 km

Difficulty
Difficulty

3 - Tough Gig

Terrain
Terrain

Undulating

Time
Time

2.8 Hours

Average Speed
Average Speed

20 km/h

Climb
Climb

12.0 (m/km)

Climb
Climb

647m

Descend
Descend

488m

Min Elevation
Min Elevation

710m

Max Elevation
Max Elevation

976m

At a Glance

A scenic ride from Carcoar up to Millthorpe to enjoy the village atmosphere, before riding on to the vibrant city of Orange.

Sensory Engagement

Landscapes and vistas between these local towns and villages are a feature of this route, making it a perfect day to capture photos.  Riders will enjoy agricultural variety, including cattle, sheep, and alpacas, as well as stunning canola crops in spring or the seasonal cropping of wheat.   The views towards Mount Macquarie and Mount Canobolas continue.  Millthorpe is worth a look by riders and other visitors alike.

What’s the best bike for this route?

Gravel and hybrid bikes are probably the best choice for this ride, with most riders choosing tyres above 32mm.  Riders on e-bikes will have an advantage on the climb out of Carcoar, or if it is windy.

Route Difficulty

This ride is rated as 3 on a scale out of 9, or a “tough gig” as it is a solid hit-out for most people.

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.

Something for everyone, on and off the bikes

Orange 360 showcases the natural beauty of this gorgeous Region.  Set in the heart of Wiradjuri Country, people can explore historic sites, wineries, cideries, towns, villages and events all year round.  Catering for all forms of experiential adventurers, there is something for everyone on and off the bikes.

The welcoming warmth of our locals in cafes, restaurants, pubs, B and B’s and farm stays will add to the highlights of your adventures on this route.  This is especially so in Carcoar, Millthorpe and Orange.

Check out the Orange 360 website to explore the locations and local events on offer for when you are riding this section of the Orange Villages Bike Trail.

Course Notes

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.


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