The Lerderderg State Park is rugged and remote with limited directional signage. You should be prepared for all conditions and have suitable navigation experience (not just a phone app) before venturing beyond the main picnic/parking areas or Grahams Dam. Many rescues have occurred in this park that could have been avoided.
Beautiful area with some road walking, clear trails and off track sections. This trial starts on the corner of Blue Gum track and O'Briens Road with a few kilometers of road walking before a right hand turn takes you down then a gradual decent with short steep sections to a river bed. You will cross a creek bed before a short steep hill climb and decent to another part of the creek. Follow the trail uphill which is quite gradual after an initial steep climb for several kilometers. You can shorten this hike by about 6km by heading directly to Firth Road or take a right hand turn for an undulating walk into beautiful fern valleys. There is a couple of short off track sections before you return to tracks beside Firth Road (and at times walking along Firth Road) to make you way back to the start point.
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.
- This hike should not be attempted with navigation aids.
- Keep an eye out for motorbikes which often use some of the tracks
Total distance: 23170 m
Max elevation: 718 m
Min elevation: 377 m
Total climbing: 1238 m
Total descent: -1209 m
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This hike is in the Lerderderg State Park about an hour and 15 mins from Melbourne. Take Carrolls lane off Bacchus March Road which becomes Firth Road then O'Briens Road. Start point is where O'Briens road meets the Bluegum Track.
- 2WD Access
- Gravel Road
- Small Car Park
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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.
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While planning your hike, it’s important to check official government sources for updated information, temporary closures and trail access requirements. Before hitting the trail, check local weather and bushfire advice for planned burns and bushfire warnings and let someone know before you go. Plan ahead and hike safely.
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What you carry in your pack will depend on the weather, terrain, time of year, type of adventure, and personal preferences. Having trouble deciding what gear’s right for you? My free planning, food and packing checklists provide an introduction to things your could consider (as well as the Ten Essentials) on your day, overnight and multi-day adventures. Customise your kit according to your personal needs, always considering safety first.Â
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1 Review on “Blue Gum Loop Hike (22km)”
Steven Parker Lynda Maddison Mani Andreetta
This was a very unexpected hike. I’ll certainly be exploring this area more
Grant Hollingworth it is a lot of fun