This ride can be undertaken as an extension of the Yankee Ride, Countess Track Ride or Sweet Nuggs Ride by heading north when you reach the Yankee and Old Blackwood Road intersection. It's a fairly simple ride initially being on a good gravel road which runs along a ridge but then there is a large climb to reach the top of Blue Mountain on a washed out trail. The road rises 120 metres in approximately one kilometre so its a good climb followed by a quick down hill run back.

A view of the surrounding area can be obtained at the summit. In the old days, you used to be able to climb the fire tower to get a really good view but unfortunately the tower is now out of bounds to the public. The summit area has a bit of a natural rock garden at the base of the tower which can be good fun to muck around on.

The trail is the light blue trail at the centre of the picture above.

This ride is based on taking Old Blackwood Road from the intersection with Yankee Road but Albion Track could be taken as described further down.

Heading north from the intersection of Old Blackwood Road and Yankee Road. Fairly standard gravel road for the main section.

To get a more off road experience, the Albion track can be used for part of the way. The Albion Track is sign posted at the northern end where it intersects with Old Blackwood Road so you can pick it up easily from that end - refer second photo below. The southern end can be accessed from Yankee Road. Head west from intersection of Old Blackwood Road and Yankee Road. There is a tree stump where Albion Track intersects with Yankee Road - refer first photo below.

Albion Track is a good track but can get extremely wet in the winter with huge bog holes - you can usually get around these. Don't go through them unless you want a swim as they're usually deep with lot of mud in the bottom. Photos below are from north to south with the first being the signpost on the Old Blackwood Road. Note in some of the photos below, the brown stuff is not track but bog holes / lakes.

Stump at southern end of Albion Track on Yankee Road, sign at northern end of track and pictures of Albion Track from north to south.

Tower Track is relatively easy initially but quickly steepens the further you go up to the point where, if its wet, it's hard to maintain traction. It rises about 100 metres in under a kilometre. The road has numerous rain gutters to make the downhill run fast and interesting. The trail seems to get regraded at the start of each bushfire season to maintain access to the fire tower.

Tower Track turnoff and photos

Heading up towards summit.

When you get to a side track with a private road sign (see first photo below), you are getting close to a pioneers cemetery which is very well hidden. If you look to the left, you will see two wooden gateposts (shown in the second photo below). Head in there and there are a couple of graves well hidden but if you head right down the back of the paddock there is a better area which has been cleared.

There are some newer graves but there are some quite old ones and there are some child graves which drive home how hard life must have been in the region. You won't be able to read the picture below but its for two kids - one just under six years and one just two days old.

Keep an eye out for Pronks Track on left coming back into Tower Track (look for sign on tree) - pioneer cemetery is just past this on left

Gold rush graves.

This is a story of the few spoiling it for the majority. In the old days, you used to be able to climb the tower and get an absolutely fantastic 360 degree view of the surrounding district. Due to vandalism and public liability issues, the tower has been closed to the public but the view is still half reasonable. As you can see there are some good rock gardens at the base of the tower for mucking around on as well.

Heading towards summit of Blue Mountain and fire tower at top.

Rock gardens at the summit.

The road is clayey in the wet and it readily fills treads turning them into slicks.

No video for this trail.

	Parking is available at intersection of Old Blackwood Road and Yankee Road.
	No toilet facilities are available.
	No drinking water is available.
	No food or drinks are available in the immediate area.
	No local information facilities are available.