Grade 4

Clearwater Gully Hike (15.5km)

Lerderderg State Park

Victoria

15.5km

6-8 hrs

Grade 4

Circuit

Save

Bookmark

Compare

Favourite

Hike at a Glance

Quick overview: Explore the rugged and secluded beauty of Clearwater Gully on a 15.5km circuit trail located in Victoria's Lerderderg State Park, just 76km from Melbourne. Starting and ending at Lerderderg Track, near the town of Gisborne, this Grade 4 hike requires a solid level of fitness and experience, taking 6-8 hours to complete. Traverse diverse terrain, from open grassy flats to densely vegetated gullies, with a descent into the Lerderderg River and Clearwater Creek, revealing remnants of the area's gold-mining past.

Max elevation: 646m

Min elevation: 329m

Total Ascent: 601m

Important info


Hike overview


Tips


Content use


Please don’t copy GPX files or content from this site to AllTrails or other platforms. Each trail has been personally mapped, documented, and refined to support Australia’s bushwalking and hiking community. While some details come from land managers, every listing reflects significant personal effort. This is a free, community-driven initiative—your respect helps keep it that way.

Walk map and GPX file

Clearwater Gully Hike (15.5km)


Getting there


Getting to the trailhead: Lerderderg State Park.

Get there with Google Maps

Closest towns to this walk: Bacchus Marsh, Ballan, Blackwood, Bullengarook, Coimadai, Darley, Daylesford, Gisborne, Kyneton, Macarthur, Macedon, Maddingley, Melton, Myrniong, Sunbury, Trentham, Woodend

About the region


Similar walks nearby


Looking for more walks in or near Lerderderg State Park? Try these trails with a similar difficulty grade.

Grade 4
Grade 4
Grade 4
Grade 4

Track grade


Grade 4 (Hard) - Challenging Walks for Experienced Walkers: Grade 4 on the AWTGS signifies challenging walking tracks. Bushwalking experience is recommended for these tracks, which may be long, rough, and very steep. Directional signage may be limited, requiring a good sense of navigation. These walks are suited for experienced walkers who are comfortable with steeper inclines, rougher terrain, and potentially longer distances.

Explore safe


Plan ahead and hike safely! Carry enough water, pack layers for changing conditions, and bring safety gear like a torch, PLB, and reliable communication device. Check official sources for trail updates, closures, and access requirements, and review local weather and bushfire advice. Most importantly, share your plans with someone before you go. Being prepared makes for a safer and more enjoyable hike! Stay Safe, Explore More, and Always #ExploreSafe.

Packing checklists


What you carry in your pack depends on factors like weather, terrain, and your adventure type. Not sure what to bring? My free planning, food, and packing checklists are a great starting point, covering day hikes, overnight trips, and multi-day adventures. Use them to customise your kit and always prioritise safety.

Let someone know


Before heading out, take a moment to fill out your trip intentions form. It’s a quick way to share your hike details with family or friends. If something goes wrong, they can notify emergency services, ensuring a faster response and peace of mind. Stay safe and enjoy your adventure

Reviews

Clearwater Gully Hike (15.5km)


5 Reviews on “Clearwater Gully Hike (15.5km)”

Overall rating
  • This is definitely a walk for experienced bushwalkers. The section along the creek is slow and tough going. Make sure you start early and allow plenty of time for this one.

  • Avatar of dean herman Dean Herman

    I’ve done the Clearwater Gully starting from Lohs Lane, up the gully over the spur and down Old River and back up. Adds an extra climb but well worth it. But tributaries are worth exploring.

  • Avatar of seam ung Seam Ung

    Where we diverted off the unmarked track and made our own way and I nearly fell to my death. ?? Anny Au my hero. Let me just tag you guys so you can relive that special day. Cheng Ung, Cindy Au, Alvin Vitor.

  • Avatar of robert ian mair Robert Ian Mair

    The Sardine and Clearwater Creeks make a great walk destination. Some photos to show what it is like.

  • An extremely challenging and somewhat dangerous hike. We were a small group in our late twenties that ending up taking almost 9 hours to complete the route. Extra time was required due to high water levels in the creek that we needed to cross on a few occasions. As it took far longer than expected, we spent several hours navigating in the dark with torchlight and were only able to get out thanks to pre-loading the GPX map on our phones. The lengthy walk along the creek bed was covered in mossy, slippery rocks and plenty of pools of water to try and avoid. Additionally, countless fallen trees made this extremely challenging. Even without rain for a few days, there were extremely wet and slippery conditions. The situation became extremely concerning and we were at risk of not finding the dirt road back up the mountain if not for the torches and the GPX map. Would strongly recommend allowing plenty of daylight for experienced hikers, or avoiding this hike altogether due to the dangerous conditions. May be more suitable in summer (drier, longer daylight), as this was undertaken in winter.

Leave a Review.

Suggest an edit


Spotted a change on this trail? Maybe there are new features, the route has shifted, or the trail is permanently closed. Whatever the update, I’d love your input. Your feedback helps fellow hikers stay informed and ensures that our trail info stays fresh and reliable.

Acknowledgement of Country

Clearwater gully hike (15. 5km)

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.

Last modified: