CYCLISTS from across the country are expected to descend on the King Valley during autumn when a network of hundreds of kilometres of gravel cycling trails is unveiled in May.

The King Valley Gravel project is being jointly funded by the Victorian and Australian governments through Regional Development Victoria, and a Community Bushfire Recovery Grant of $200,000.

It will see 10 trails marked with signage and digitally mapped from Moyhu to the Upper King Valley, with a total of about 500km of trails mapped and signed, and courses ranging from 20km to 100km.

Rural City of Wangaratta community resilience and recovery coordinator, Denise Pirko, said the initiative was sparked by representatives from local wine businesses including Pizzini Wines and Chrismont Wines, in the wake of last year's bushfires and following repeated seasonal setbacks.

Ms Pirko said local businesses had expressed how dependent they were on the busy summer tourism season, and suggested the growing sport of "gravel grinding" may address the problem by bringing tourists to the region year round.

"At the time there wasn't really the capacity for it, but then we were lucky enough to get a grant from Regional Development Victoria to work towards an event," she said.

"The idea was to have an event that would encourage tourism to the area, expand the offering and let people know everything was fine and it was good to visit the King Valley again, but then COVID-19 hit."

Ms Pirko said with the pandemic restricting events, permission was sought to use some of the money to develop a gravel road riding site map, supported by the necessary infrastructure.

A launch event could then be held for what would be an attraction effectively extending the tourism season in the King Valley through the autumn and winter months.

Local company Gravel Mob have been engaged to carry out the design and mapping, with input from local gravel road cyclists, which will be marked with appropriate signage, before the "King GRAValley" event is held on May 1 and 2.

Ride High Country's Martin Young said part of the brief was that trails would suits riders of differing skill levels and endurance.

"There will be fairly straight forward loops which will still be really enjoyable, right up to much more challenging, long distance rides over difficult terrain for more experienced riders," he said.

"The beauty of gravel riding is exploring the unknown trails and the High Country in general has amazing, undiscovered gravel riding, with Rose River having some of the best of the entire region.

"The King Valley is starting to become established on the bikepacking trail from Melbourne through to Wodonga.

"Gravel riding is quite niche at the moment but it is the fastest growing segment in cycling, so the King Valley is getting in quite early and it will put the King Valley on the map."

The King GRAValley event will be held on May 1 and 2 and include a 'family fun day' on Saturday featuring food, wine and market stalls at the Whitfield Recreation Reserve, followed by a major cycling day on Sunday in the Rose River area.

Further story page 14.