Mt Pilot National Park

Mt Pilot National Park is located on the Beechworth - Chiltern Road approximately 15 minutes from Beechworth. The parl covers 21,600ha of low hills surrounding Chiltern and includes the striking Mt Pilot Range and Woolshed Falls. Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park includes the protected box-ironbark forest that once covered much of north-east Victoria. There are also several historic goldmining sites and aboriginal art sites. Short or day-long walks can be made on vehicle tracks through open forest and a 25km historic drive is also marked out from Chiltern through the forest and goldfields.

Pastoralists introduced cattle to the area in the 1830's and began to clear and sette the fertile valleys and low foothills. Mining followed in 1852 and continued in many forms until 1950. Evidence of mining can be seen at a number of places within the park. Agriculture, mining and the growth of towns have required land and large amounts of timber. All these activities have had a significant impact on the park.

Mt Pilot National Park is home to several rare and threatened species including the Regent Honeyeater, Turquoise Parrot, Peregrine Falcon, the Brush-tailed phascogale and Squirrel Glider. When the ironbarks are in full bloom during the winter months is the best time to see the birds. Approximately 150 bird species have been recorded in the area. Eastern Grey Kangaroos are often seen grazing in the late afternoon and smaller tree-dwelling creatures such as Feathertail and Sugar Gliders, Brushtail and Ring-tail Possums live in tree hollows in the southern areas. Many reptiles, including Lace Monitor are also seen in the park.

The north-western sector of the park is open eucalyptus forest, with Red Stringybark and Blakeley's Red Gum among Grey Box and Ironbark. Spring wildflowers are extensive and include wattles, orchids, bush peas and Cassinia. White Box is also found in the park. The dry granite ridges and outcrops are characterised by the presence of Black Cypress Pines

There are a number of things to do in and around Mt Pilot National Park including a drive through the forest to the Donchi Hill Lookout, visit the open-cut Magenta Mine (in Chiltern) which produced up to 13,000 ounces of gold between 1860 and about 1910. Mountain bike rides along the forest tracks at Donchi (Donkey) Hill in the west are also popular. One of the best views of the district comes from the walk to the summit of Mt Pilot where there is a fire lookout at the top. Take care here as there are sharp falls over the edges and the uneven rocks on the way to the top of the mountain. The Yeddonba Aboriginal art site is also located at Mout Pilot