Places That Rock: Lake Crackenback Resort
Lake Crackenback Resort offers easy access to both Thredbo and Jindabyne, and great riding within the resort to boot!
In the fifth and final article looking back on our 2020 Snowies Roadie we’re focussing on Lake Crackenback Resort (LCR). LCR has everything you need for a mountain bike holiday in the NSW Snowies. Located halfway between Jindabyne and Thredbo, LCR has great riding, homely accommodation, family activities, and food options galore. Read on for our experience staying and riding at LCR.
We headed up to LCR on the third afternoon of our trip after finishing up at Mill Creek. Before checking into our accommodation, we went and met up with Jay, the manager of Activate, the in-house bike shop at LCR. Jay gave us the lowdown on everything including what trails were running well, the other activities on offer at LCR, and even some local knowledge on the alpine flora and fauna.
The accommodation at LCR is top notch for mountain bikers. Firstly, the trails intertwine their way throughout the resort, meaning from all of the accommodation you can roll out your front door and straight onto the trails. Secondly, the accommodation itself is fantastic. Upon arrival our house was immaculate, and the heaters had been thoughtfully turned on. The accommodation has a rustic feel but is furnished with all the modern touches you’d expect like cooking facilities, a dishwasher, and a washing machine.
After we’d dropped our stuff off it was time to hit the trails. Whilst LCR is often seen as a base to ride Thredbo, Jindy, and the TVT, there’s 18km of singletrack within the resort itself. Whilst it’s not the most technical singletrack by any means, it’s a cross-country riders delight, and fantastic for families to boot. The trails are really well signposted, with warning signs for features that experienced mountain bikers might not blink twice at. We love that the signage allows less experienced riders to relax and enjoy the trails, safe in the knowledge that anything tricky will be signposted.
Aside from the singletrack network, LCR also have a pretty tidy pump track, skills park, and the NSW Snowies only dual slalom track. Between Tumut, Bungarra, LCR, and Thredbo there’s pump tracks and skate parks galore, so it’s worth bringing a dirt jumper or BMX if you’ve got one.
LCR is the ideal launching pad for the TVT. Once again, the team at Activate are able to help you out with rentals, shuttles, and anything else you might need to take on the 40km epic from Thredbo to Jindabyne, or however many sections you’re feeling up to. Now that the TVT goes all the way to Jindabyne via the Hatchery trail you can make a real day of it, and maybe reward yourself in the afternoon by booking into the spa!
In terms of other activities, LCR and the team at Activate have you covered. Anyone staying at the resort can enjoy archery, golf, frisbee golf, tennis, trout fishing in the lake, canoeing, and trampolines. It’s the breadth of activities on offer, as well as its prime location that makes LCR a great choice for families. If you’re not staying at the resort, for the bargain price of $10 you can enjoy all the trails at the resort as well as the other activities.
On our second morning at LCR we got up early and went for a beautiful sunrise ride around the resort. We really enjoyed the flowing nature of the trails, and the ability to tune out and enjoy our surroundings. The riding at LCR makes for a nice contrast to the speed of the Mill Creek trails, or the technical offerings up at Thredbo.
Regarding the all-important food offerings, LCR has a great selection on offer. Cuisine offers sit down, high end dining, while the Alpine Larder is a little more low key. We had a pizza and a salad from the Alpine Larder for dinner on the first night, and the portions were exactly what we wanted after a long day on the trails. With the kitchen facilities you can whip up your own meals, but you’ll need to stock up in Jindy as there’s no grocery store at LCR.
Where: Lake Crackenback Resort is located on Bullocks Drive off the Alpine Way. The trails twist and turn their way around the resort, so you’ll almost always be in eyesight of some singletrack.
Accommodation: Head to Lake Crackenback Resort’s website for a variety of accommodation options. We stayed in a house with all the amenities you need, including a washing machine, whole house heating, a fireplace, and a dishwasher.
Riding style: Cross-country/trail. Whilst there’s nothing too gnarly within the confines of the resort, if you’re into more aggressive riding it’s only 15 minutes up the road at Thredbo.
Trail surface: The trail surface is predominantly hardpack with some rocks and roots. The trails are well signposted, with all of the more technical options featuring B-lines.
Don’t forget: There’s so many other activities to do in LCR, as well as the Snowies only dual slalom track. Pop into Activate, the resort’s bike shop and activity hub. Other activities that are included with your accommodation include canoes, frisbee golf, archery, trampolines, and tennis.
What’s on? The Snowies Mountain Bike festival bases itself out of Lake Crackenback Resort, so it’s a great option for race accommodation. The 2022 edition is scheduled for the 4th to the 6th of February.
Local shops: Activate has you covered for the little stuff, with a small selection of parts and accessories. Activate also stock a full range rental bikes, as well as eBike rentals. For any major repairs you’ll need to head to Thredbo or Jindy.
More details: For information on Lake Crackenback Resort, head to their website. For more information on the trails, check out Trailforks or give the team at Activate a call.
