Hike at a glance

7,130

Quick overview: Beginning at Blackwood Mineral Springs Reserve, the Ruths Gully Circuit takes you through Lerderderg State Park. You will cross the Lerderderg River multiple times and navigate steep river valleys alongside historic water races. The trail includes sections with faint tracks and challenging terrain, making it suitable for experienced hikers comfortable with navigation and solitude. You will return to the historic township of Blackwood at the end of the hike.

Length

17km

Duration

6 hrs

Difficulty

Grade 4 (Hard)

Trail type

Circuit

Trail details

Max elevation: 695m
Min elevation: 466m
Total Ascent: 641m

Start: Mineral Springs Reserve

End: Mineral Springs Reserve

Location: Lerderderg State Park

State: Victoria

Nearest town: Blackwood

State capital distance: 90km

Latitude: -37.47088803651241

Longitude: 144.31335121393207

Check current conditions
Track conditions, access and closures can change quickly due to weather, fire, maintenance or safety concerns. Always check the relevant land manager’s website before you visit. Trail Hiking Australia does not provide real-time track and closure monitoring, and land managers remain the authoritative source for current alerts, closures and access restrictions.

About this trail

Difficulty

Planning

Safety

Getting there

The region

Photos

Weather

About this trail

This circuit hike passes along the boundary of the Ruths Gully Reference Area. Please do not enter this area and obey all signs and map directions.

The Ruths Gully Circuit is a 17-kilometre hike that takes you deep into the heart of Victoria’s Lerderderg State Park and Wombat State Forest. With a grade 4 rating, this trail presents a challenging yet rewarding experience, typically taking around 6 hours to complete. The hike offers more than just a physical challenge; it’s an opportunity to connect with nature, enjoy stunning views, and explore a region steeped in history.

Starting at the Blackwood Mineral Springs Reserve, the journey begins with a crossing over a bridge near the mineral springs, followed by a turn left along a water race. From here, the trail gradually ascends through open woodland, leading you toward the serene Shaws Lake. As you pass the lake to its northern side, the route shifts, guiding you along a mix of walking and vehicle tracks that take you from Lerderderg State Park into the Wombat State Forest. Along the way, you'll travel the Ruth and Hayden Tracks, heading south along the eastern boundary of the Ruths Gully Reference Area. This area is off-limits to hikers, so it's important to follow the signs and map directions carefully.

From here, the trail descends into the rugged depths of the Lerderderg River. The path crosses the river before continuing along Amblers Lane and a brief section of the Byers Back Track. After another crossing of the Lerderderg River, you’ll connect to Tunnel Point Track. This part of the trail can be tricky to navigate, as the path is less defined, so it’s essential to be comfortable with map reading and direction finding.

Tunnel Point Track takes you north to North Blackwood Road, where you’ll retrace your steps towards Shaws Lake and back to the Blackwood Springs Reserve. Along the way, you’ll be treated to moments of peace, a sense of isolation, and the kind of wild beauty that makes this hike truly memorable. Whether you’re after a challenging trek or a chance to lose yourself in nature, the Ruths Gully Circuit delivers on both counts.

Starting and finishing at Blackwood Mineral Springs Reserve, the circuit also places you just a short walk from the historic Blackwood Hotel, making it an ideal place to enjoy a meal or drink after completing the hike.

Historic Blackwood Hotel

Located in the heart of Blackwood, the Blackwood Hotel is a great place to stop before or after exploring the Wombat State Forest and nearby Lerderderg State Park. Whether you’re after a hearty meal, a cold drink or simply somewhere to relax after a day on the trail, the hotel combines country hospitality with open fires in winter and a menu of classic pub favourites.

The hotel has welcomed travellers since 1868, when it first opened as the Family Hotel during the Blackwood gold rush. It later became a booking office for Cobb & Co. coaches, and today remains one of the town’s most recognisable heritage buildings, with historic photographs throughout the hotel offering a glimpse into Blackwood’s rich past.

For hikers, the location is particularly convenient. Street parking is available around the hotel, with additional public parking directly opposite near the Blackwood Town Hall and public toilets. The hotel does not have its own private car park. It also offers a covered, heated deck that is pet-friendly, along with an outdoor beer garden, making it a comfortable place to stop in a range of conditions.

Blackwood Hotel
1 Golden Point Road, Blackwood VIC 3458

Opening hours

Monday–Friday: 12:00 pm – 11:30 pm
Saturday–Sunday: 11:30 am – 11:30 pm

Menu: https://blackwoodhotel.com.au/menu/

Historical information adapted from research by Margot Hitchcock for the Blackwood & District Historical Society.

Shaw's Water Race

Shaw's Water Race is a remnant of the gold rush era, built in the 1850s to divert water from Yankee Creek to auriferous (gold-bearing) ground. It's a tangible reminder of the area's mining past. The race is about 3.5 kilometers long and winds through picturesque bushland, offering glimpses of the forest's diverse flora and fauna.

Ruths Gully Reference Area

The Ruths Gully Reference Area in Wombat State Forest is a place of untouched natural beauty and ecological significance. It's not your typical hiking destination - instead, it's a protected zone where conservation reigns supreme. This area is strictly off-limits to the public, allowing native flora and fauna to thrive undisturbed. It's a haven for rare and threatened species, like the Leadbeater's Possum and the Powerful Owl. This untouched wilderness also protects vital water catchments and fragile ecosystems.

The area serves as a vital living laboratory for researchers and scientists. They study the delicate balance of ecosystems, monitor threatened species, and learn about the natural processes that sustain this unique environment. This knowledge is important for conservation efforts across the region.

By keeping human interference minimal, Ruths Gully acts as a reference point for how healthy ecosystems function. This knowledge is invaluable for restoring degraded landscapes and ensuring the long-term survival of native species. It's a reminder of what we can achieve when we prioritise conservation.

Remember, even though you can't explore the heart of Ruths Gully, respecting its boundaries and appreciating its role in protecting our natural heritage is an adventure in itself. It's a chance to connect with the wild places we choose to safeguard for future generations.

Trail difficulty

Grade 4 (hard) badge

Grade 4 (Hard)

Steep, rough, and demanding
These are challenging walks suited to experienced hikers. Expect sustained climbs, rough and uneven terrain, and longer distances.

Tracks may be less defined, and signage can be limited, so navigation awareness is important. These walks require good fitness, confidence on difficult terrain, and the ability to manage fatigue over time.

Safety note: Fatigue, poor navigation, or a sudden weather change can turn a hard walk into a serious situation.

Planning information

Preparation matters: Plan your day hike well and bring the right gear, weather-appropriate layers, food and plenty of water. Before you head out, read up on bushwalking safety and use this day hike planning guide to make sure you're ready. Need help getting started? Check out the full hike preparation guide.

This circuit hike passes along the boundary of the Ruths Gully Reference Area. Please do not enter this area and obey all signs and map directions.

While a great deal of this hike is along well formed trails, it does involve steep sections on and off formed tracks, two river crossings and some off track navigation. A good topographic map as well as competent navigation skills are required.

Dog Friendly
Goldfields & Mining
Lakes
Rivers
Scenic Viewpoints
Steep Terrain

Map and GPX file

Ruths Gully Circuit Hike (17km)

Total distance: 17258 m
Max elevation: 695 m
Min elevation: 466 m
Total climbing: 641 m
Total descent: -641 m

GPX files, maps and content are copyright Trail Hiking Australia. Not to be copied, redistributed or uploaded to other platforms including AllTrails.

Safety and preparation

Think safety first

Australian conditions can turn a small oversight into a serious situation faster than most walkers expect. The Hiking Safety Systems and planning calculators are designed to help you identify and close those gaps before you leave home. Work through the Interactive Safety Scenarios to see how incidents unfold, then use the tools to build your plan and make sure a trusted contact has your trip details before you head out.

Free checklists

Download the hiking preparation and safety checklists before leaving home to help you think through your plans. They help ensure important considerations are not overlooked and support safer decision-making on the trail.

Let someone know

Before you go, complete a trip intentions form and share it with a trusted contact. Agree on a Late-Back Time and ask them to call 000 (Police) if you have not checked in. A clear trip plan is one of the simplest and most effective safety steps you can take, and it only takes two minutes.

Let someone know your plans →

Heading somewhere remote, off-track or overnight? Use the comprehensive trip intentions form instead — your emergency contact will need more detail. Register your trip plan here →

Getting there and travel options

Lerderderg State Park

Drive to Blackwood on the Western Highway via Melton and Bacchus Marsh, taking the Greendale-Myrninong Rd turn-off from the highway and then the Greendale-Trentham Rd to Blackwood. In Blackwood follow Martin Street north to Golden Point Road. Follow this east for 500m to the Mineral Springs Reserve on the left.

Get there with Google Maps

2WD Access
Bitumen Road
Entry Fee
Large Car Park
Public Toilets
Untreated Water
Picnic Shelter
Picnic Table
BBQ Facilities

Travel arrangements

Whether you are travelling from across Australia or exploring closer to home, these options can help you organise your journey to the trail and make the most of your visit.

✈️ Find flights →
🚗 Compare car hire →
🥾 Explore nearby experiences →

Accommodation before / after your walk

Find hotels, cabins, and campgrounds near the trailhead. Click the button below to open an interactive map automatically centred on this hike's location — no searching required.

Or search accommodation in nearby towns: Bacchus Marsh, Ballan, Blackwood, Bullengarook, Coimadai, Darley, Daylesford, Gisborne, Kyneton, Macarthur, Macedon, Maddingley, Melton, Myrniong, Sunbury, Trentham, Woodend

Accommodation →

Explore the region

About the region

A deep, narrow gorge cut by the Lerderderg River gives Lerderderg State Park a harsher, more remote character than many reserves this close to Melbourne. The river has sliced through sandstone and slate to create a landscape of steep slopes, broken ridgelines and long enclosed valleys, with the gorge running as the park's central feature. Although it sits within easy reach of Bacchus Marsh and the outer west, the country feels distinctly cut off once you are inside it, and that sense of separation is part of what makes the area memorable.

The park also makes more sense when seen as part of a broader block of bushland. It adjoins Wombat State Forest, and together they form one of the larger remaining forested areas in this part of north-central Victoria. That setting helps explain the contrast between the enclosed river country and the more open ridges above, as well as the park's importance as a refuge for native plants and animals in a region that has otherwise been heavily cleared in places beyond the forested ranges.

Plant communities change noticeably across the park. In the south, drier stringybark and box forest and box-ironbark woodland sit on higher ground, while the northern boundary carries taller, damper messmate, peppermint and gum forest. Along the gorge itself, riparian vegetation including blue gum and manna gum survives in a relatively intact corridor. More than 320 native plant species have been recorded here, and the variety owes a lot to the park's mix of elevation, rainfall and rugged terrain rather than to any single dominant landscape type.

Human history is written into the gullies and river flats as clearly as the geology. The area is associated with Wurundjeri and Wathaurung people, and a small number of Aboriginal archaeological sites are recorded within the park. From the 1850s, gold mining spread through the district after discoveries near Blackwood, and its remnants still shape the landscape today: water races, sluice banks, stonework, old diggings and other scattered relics are especially common in the northern half and along the river. These traces give the park a layered feel, where steep bushland, mining country and river gorge are all bound together in the same piece of country.

More hikes nearby

Photo gallery

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Weather on the trail

Lerderderg State Park

The map below shows the rain forecast for the trail area. Tap the toggle in the top right corner to explore other layers including wind, temperature, UV index, thunderstorms, fire danger, and weather warnings — all useful for planning a safe hike.

Trail Reviews

8 Reviews on “Ruths Gully Circuit Hike (17km)”

Overall rating

John Jore

The GPX track has a different start/finish to the description which might confuse some.
Also, it took us less than 5h, with breaks. Probably 4h walk time.

24/03/2022, 05:20

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Aryan Sinanan

This is an excellent hike with some steep climbs and descents. It should be noted that a 4WD vehicle is required to access this trail. My mate and i did this hike in pouring rain and it was very enjoyable and challenging but getting back out with the vehicle was just was challenging and required some winching.

24/03/2022, 05:20

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Acknowledgement of Country

Ruths gully circuit hike (17km) - trail hiking australia

Trail Hiking Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we hike and pay respects to their Elders, past and present, and we acknowledge the First Nations people of other communities who may be here today.

Curated by: Darren Edwards | Trail Hiking Australia

Last modified:

August 12, 2026

Ruths Gully Circuit Hike (17km)

Hike at a glance

Trail details

About this trail

Important Info

Route in detail

Additional information

Historic Blackwood Hotel

Shaw's Water Race

Ruths Gully Reference Area

Trail difficulty

Grade 4 (Hard)

Planning information

Trail tips

Walk features

Map and GPX file

Safety and preparation

Think safety first

Free checklists

Let someone know

Getting there and travel options

Access conditions

Travel arrangements

Accommodation before / after your walk

Explore the region

About the region

More hikes nearby

Ruths Gully Byers Back Track (18km)

Yankee Creek Hike (8.5km)

Lerderderg Heritage River Walk (9km)

Whipstick Loop Walk (6km)

Photo gallery

Weather on the trail

Trail Reviews

8 Reviews on “Ruths Gully Circuit Hike (17km)”

Leave a Review. Cancel reply

Notice something different about this trail?

Acknowledgement of Country

Curated by: Darren Edwards | Trail Hiking Australia

Last modified:

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