In the early to mid 1990's, one of the original members of Wangaratta BUG (Leigh Gribble) was fortunate enough to have access to a facility called 'The Internet'.  From the 'Internet', Leigh viewed the rails-to-trails developments in the USA.  (This general research was timely as it supported the Wangaratta BUG cycling advocacy activities to support Wangaratta Council's local tracks and trails establishment).  It was from the 'Internet' that pictures and details were extracted, showing the reclamation of old disused railway lines and turning them into safe, off-road cycling/walking trails.  Wangaratta BUG liaison with Wangaratta Council and other North East councils ensued with support for a rail trail development along the old Wangaratta to Bright/Beechworth railway easement gaining momentum.  Further, invaluable support came from local State Government members Pat McNamara (Benalla), Graeme Stoney (Mansfield), who pursued the conversion of old railway lines into safe cycling/walking trails.

From the mid 1990's, planning was underway by Rural City of Wangaratta in conjunction with the Alpine Shire and Indigo Shire to convert the old railways lines into Rail Trails. By the year 2000, Stage 1 of the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail was constructed as a completely sealed trail from Wangaratta to Everton, Myrtleford onto Bright with a branch trail to Beechworth.

A small section of the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail (Stage 2) has since been constructed from the old Rutherglen Railway Station to Wahgunyah with an on-road connection from Rutherglen to Chiltern joining the Stage 1 near Londrigan.

The original plans for the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail development included a full off-road sealed trail from Bowser to Springhurst then onto the old railway line formation from Springhurst to Rutherglen.

The planned Stage 3 of the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail development will see the continued fully-sealed construction from Oxley to Whitfield/Cheshunt.  The first section from Wangaratta to Oxley was completed in 2010.