The Charcoal Half Pipe circuit (refer red and green tracks above) starts at Blackwood follows the Telstra Track south and then heads into a circuit which dirt bikers have created. The circuit uses a valley to form a huge "half pipe" with the trail snaking its way down the valley until it intercepts the Charcoal Track again.

The circuit then follows Charcoal Track, Green Hills Road southwards, Paradise Track to the west, Matties Track and Blackwood Ridge Road and then a fast return home into the west of Blackwood via the Easter Monday track. The Welcome and Easter Monday mines are passed on the ride. There are numerous other return trail options so grab the map and go wandering!

The following photo gallery has been taken in order from the Recreation Reserve heading south via Skinners Road and onto the Great Divide Trail for a short distance before heading east back to the Greendale - Trentham Road area and then heading south along Telstra Track past Dales Creek before heading north west into the Charcoal Half Pipe area and northwards to Blackwood.

Go from Recreation Reserve car park, turn right at Simmons Reef Road, left at Skinners road and pick up walking track on the right and follow it up to the first main track. 

Follow this track back towards the Greendale - Trentham Road until you get to the Blackwood Outdoor Education Centre. Follow the track up the western side of the centre as per the photos below.

When you come out at the Greendale - Trentham Road, pick up Telstra Track yellow marker poles and follow it south. You can cut off into the forest slightly near the Morning Star Track area if you like and follow the track down through the forest. Pictures below are of the start of the Telstra Track.

Last picture above is located at the Morning Star Track on the other side of the Greendale - Trentham Road. You can cut down into the forest here and follow the motor bike trail for a distance as shown in the photos below.

Telstra Track coming into the Dales Creek area is shown below. Keep proceeding south.

After Dales Creek, you will enter a large parking area where motorcycles park on weekends. There is a track at right angles to the road - this is Charcoal Track. Do not follow this. If you stand at the main road and look down Charcoal Track, there is a small single track heading off into the forest at 45 degrees to the right of the track on the far side of the car park. Pick this up and follow it. The trail is fairly clear and easily followed.

Typical photos of the trail are shown below. It's basically all motorcycle - generated single trail. The trail weaves from one side of the valley to the other. The photos below show the trails in the area. Respect the motorcyclists in the area and let them past as they come through. When you hear them coming stop, get off the trail until they're past. They can come through quickly so keep out of their way for the safety of all.

During the wetter months, the clay sticks readily to treads and is quite slippery in places. This is a better trail in dry weather as you can take advantage of plummeting down into the valley to get up the other side. Inevitably wet weather usually means a bog hole in the gully which you have to negotiate which slows you down.

Ultimately, you re-emerge on the Charcoal Track and have to follow a steep climb up to Green Hills Road.

See if you can get up this... Heading up to Green Hills Road on Charcoal Track.

Still going...

And there's more...

When you get to Green Hills Road turn left and follow it down to Paradise Road.

Turn right into Paradise Road, follow for a short distance and turn right into Matties Track.

When you reach Blackwood Ridge Road, you can either follow it to the left or turn right, proceed a short way down and follow the trails up and over the spur. You will end up on the Blackwood Ridge Road in any case. The photos below show this track. If you follow Vicmap T7723-2-3-S, there is a trail from here over to the Easter Monday Mine which keeps you off the Ridge Road. I tried to pick this one up on the ride but ended up on one that tracked back onto the ridge road. The photos show this route.

Up and over the summit and back onto Blackwood Ridge Road

Follow the Blackwood Ridge Road, until you get to Swinleys Track. A bit further along on the right is a track (shown below which hooks up with the Easter Monday Mine track). If it's dry you can follow this but in the wet it has a huge puddle at the bottom so you lose a lot of height advantage as you have to basically stop at the bottom. In the wet, I suggest you keep following the Blackwood Ridge Road around and pick up the Easter Monday Track on the right.

Swinleys Track

Follow the Easter Monday Track back to Blackwood - it's basically a fast fun downhill descent most of the way.

Below in the first photo is the open Easter Monday mine shaft which is shown on the map - obviously be careful around it. The sign post explains that you can see the adit to the shaft in the river valley behind as well.

Fast run home down into Blackwood.

No video available for this track.

	Parking is available at Blackwood town centre or at the Recreation Reserve.
	Toilet facilities are available at Blackwood (located on hill opposite pub).
	Drinking water is available at the gold stamper opposite the pub.
	Food can be obtained at the Blackwood Pub, Garden of St Erth or Blackwood Provedore (both are good).
	Local area information can be obtained from the noticeboard to the right of the Blackwood Provedore.