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Length: 16km
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Duration: 6.5hrs
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Grade: 4
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Style: Circuit
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Start: Mineral Springs Reserve
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End: Mineral Springs Reserve
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Location: Lerderderg State Park
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Closest Town: Blackwood
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Distance from CBD: 90km
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State: VIC
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Latitude: -37.47105
Longitude: 144.31271
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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
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Lerderderg State Park...
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
The Blackwood - Ruth Gully Circuit hike involves some steep climbing and descent, two river crossings and some off track walking.
About the region
Rising in the Great Dividing Range, the Lerderderg River has cut a 300 metre deep gorge through sandstone and slate, almost bisecting the park. The park has a wide variety of vegetation and wildlife and some interesting relics of gold mining. Lerderderg State Park encompasses scenic and geological gorge formations surrounding the Lerderderg River as well as the volcanic cone of Mount Blackwood. The adjacent and separate block called the Pyrete Range forms part of the park. The Lerderderg is known for its remote setting and the 300m deep Lerderderg River gorge is a dominant feature. Private land abuts the park to the south and the Wombat State forest abuts to the north and west.
Lerderderg State Park (incorporating the former Pyrete State Forest) is a 14,250-hectare park located between Bacchus Marsh and Blackwood, an hour's drive from Melbourne, Australia. There are several maintained tracks for walking through the park and camping is allowed.
The park is named for the Lerderderg River which has cut the 300 metre deep Lerderderg Gorge through sandstone and slate, almost bisecting the park. Parks Victoria maintains six designated walks: three short walks of 3.5 km or less; Blackwood-O'Briens Crossing and return (22 km); O'Briens Crossing-Cowan Track loop (14 km); and the overnight walk O'Briens Crossing to Mackenzies Flat (20 km).
In addition, one leg of the Great Dividing Trail, the Lerderderg Track, passes through the park, entering from Blackwood in the park's northwest, and exiting south towards Bacchus Marsh. Bicycles are prohibited from one section of this track, due to a conservation area.
Getting there
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.
GPX File
Max elevation: 688 m
Min elevation: 472 m
Total climbing: 526 m
Total descent: -526 m
Hikes Nearby
3 thoughts on “Blackwood – Ruth Gully Circuit (16km)”
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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.
Glad you enjoyed the hike. Also interested to hear where you started the hike as it starts from the Blackwood Mineral Springs Reserve which is accessible by 2WD vehicle at any time of year.
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.