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Length: 12km
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Duration: 4hrs
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Grade: 4
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Style: Circuit
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Start: Warburton Main Street
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End: Warburton Main Street
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Location: Warburton
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Closest Town: Warburton
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Distance from CBD: 75km
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State: VIC
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Latitude: -37.75470193
Longitude: 145.6888072
Keep the Trail Access info current...
Winding Road
Large Car Park
2WD Access
Bitumen Road
Select items to indicate conditions for access to the trail.
2WD Access
4WD Access
Public Transport
Bitumen Road
Gravel Road
Steep Road
Winding Road
Speed Bumps
Vehicle Ford
Entry Fee
Large Car Park
Small Car Park
Accessible Parking
Accessible Toilet
Public Toilets
Drinking Water
Untreated Water
Picnic Shelter
Picnic Table
BBQ Facilities
Campfire Pit
Camping Area
Keep the Trail Features current...
Rough Trail
Dog Friendly
Steep Terrain
Gravel Path
Warburton...
Select items to indicate features found along the trail.
Concrete Path
Timber Boardwalk
Gravel Path
Sandy Trail
Rough Trail
Undefined Trail
Prams & Strollers
Manual Wheelchair
Motorised Wheelchair
Bicycle Trail
Mountain Bike Trail
Historic Rail Trail
Dog Friendly
Urban Walk
Coast & Beach
Historic Lighthouse
Waterfalls & Lakes
Rainforest Walk
Goldfields & Mining
Heritage Walk
Aboriginal Art
Alpine Region
Alpine Huts
Exposed Ledges
Rock Scrambling
Steep Terrain
Bush Bashing
River Crossings
Scenic Viewpoints
Well Marked
Drinking Water
Untreated Water
Fishing Spots
Swimming Spots
Overnight Campsites
Trail Running
Horse Riding
Hike Summary
For walkers who want to tick off a summit, here's a trek that will get the heart rate up, Mt Little Joe - the 469m mini-mountain that stands proudly to the south-west of town, between Warburton and Millgrove.
The access to Little Joe is one of the prettiest sections of this loop, taking walkers west along the Lilydale-Warburton Rail Trail before turning up the Backstairs Track at Scotchmans Creek. Named for a cunning old Scotsman who fossicked for nuggets on this spot, Scotchmans Creek was one of the earliest goldfields in the Upper Yarra district (opened late 1859) and was one of the Valley's richest sources of gold.
Before starting the climb up the southern flanks of the valley, the route takes you through historic Dolly Grey Park. Backstairs Track itself – once known as Blackstairs Track - used to link Old Warburton to the 'new' Warburton, the steps long ago worn down by packhorses.
At the top of Backstairs Track, the route swings off to the rear flank of mighty Mt Little Joe, named after Portuguese Joe, a 'packer' friend of local historical character, Yankee Jim (James McAvoy). Steel yourself here because the wide track up Little Joe plows straight up very steeply to the summit. At least at the top you can catch views across the valley through stands of trees burned in Black Friday and Ash Wednesday as you catch your breath.
The route then loops back around passing under the north side of the summit, heading out to the rear-side entry of Little Joe. For a shorter walk (9km), from here you can head back down Backstairs track and into town. Or for 3km of extra exercise, take the diversion into Old Warburton where you can pick up an old benched tramway that edges along pleasantly back to the high side of the Warburton township. A leisurely drop downhill into town and it's time for café rest-stop!
For more information about this trail go to Visit Warburton
More information
For more information about this trail go to Visit Warburton
About the region
With the Yarra River meandering through the town, lined with gorgeous trees and numerous parks, Warburton offers a relaxing experience. The Lilydale-Warburton Rail Trail begins here. Warburton is where it all begins. Just one hour from Melbourne, the Warburton Valley is life at nature's pace. Always green, Warburton is where the Yarra River runs clear.
Getting there
From Melbourne City to Yarra Valley (via Eastlink Tollway) - Make your way onto the Eastern Freeway and travel towards Ringwood. The Eastern Freeway turns into the Eastlink Toolway after Springvale Road. If you have an Eastlink or Citylink pass, continue on the Eastlink Tollway and go through the Mullum Mullum tunnel - make sure to stay in the left lane as the turnoff is straight after the tunnel ends. Turn left after exiting the tunnel towards Ringwood. Turn left onto the Maroondah Highway towards Lilydale. Once past Lilydale, turn right at the Warburton Highway turnoff to explore the Warburton Valley. Continue on Station Rd. Drive to Highfield Rd.
By Public Transport Public Transport Victoria has regular trains heading to Lilydale Station. From Lilydale Station, catch a Martyrs bus to travel to Warburton .
Tips
Can be done any time of the year, although Backstairs Track, Little Joe and Tramways Trail can get muddy and slippery in winter.
GPX File
Max elevation: 514 m
Min elevation: 155 m
Total climbing: 652 m
Total descent: -652 m
Alternative Trail - 9km
You can choose to just complete Mt Little Joe Loop and return down Backstairs Track. If you're not after too much vertical ascent, cut out the Mt Little Joe Loop, which will save your legs from just over 4km and 312m of vertical.
GPX File
Max elevation: 514 m
Min elevation: 155 m
Total climbing: 534 m
Total descent: -534 m
Hikes Nearby
11 thoughts on “Backstairs Track – Little Joe Loop – Tramway (12km)”
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Renee Magor
Tania Smith ?✨???????
Perhaps a nice picnic spot Bronwyn Robinson
Greg
Brian Sheedy
Sarah Black and Warren Doyle one for the list!
Definitely!!
Vaughan Bowman
Brendan Gillet lets put this on the list for a day trip
Just a heads up for March-May 2019.
We completed this walk today and came across a notice that there will be fuel reduction burns on Mt Little Joe between 15 March and 31 May 2019. The sign is at the start of the steep climb (120m climb over 900m)
Did the full hike today. Went the round in the given direction and would recommend to do so, cause the the steeper parts that can slippery are uphill and good to walk. Would recoomend hiking poles as well for the two steep parts, the rest can be done without.
Burning seems to me, is history, but still saw the notice like Darren Edwars noticed.
The climbs pushed the heart rate and there are realy nice trails in it.
Thanks for sharing. was worth the drive there.
Good Parkin Spot as well and nice Cafes with good food around (Enjoed a wondeful Burger @ ” Three Sugars Cafe”)