Hike at a Glance
Max elevation: 1251m
Min elevation: 702m
Total Ascent: 867m
Track grade
Grade 3 (Moderate) - Walks for Most Fitness Levels: Grade 3 on the AWTGS represents moderate walking tracks. These are ideal for walkers with some fitness who are comfortable with some hills and uneven terrain. While suitable for most ages, some bushwalking experience is recommended to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Tracks may have short, steep hill sections, a rough surface, and many steps. The total distance of a Grade 3 walk can be up to 20 kilometers.
Explore safely
Planning this hike? Most incidents develop before you even start. Safe outcomes depend on how navigation, hydration, environment, load and judgement work together. Small oversights can compound quickly in Australian conditions. See how it happens in the Hiking Safety Systems Foundations. Then use the Hiking Safety Systems, planning calculators, and make sure a trusted contact has your trip plan before heading out.
Leave a trip plan
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.
Planning 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.
Getting there
Getting to the trailhead: Yarra Ranges National Park.
Need a rental car to get you to the hike? Find one here.
Accommodation nearby
Find accommodation close to the trailhead including hotels, cabins, and campgrounds. Use the interactive map to explore available options in nearby towns.
Nearby towns: Belgrave, Emerald, Healesville, Lilydale, Marysville, Monbulk, Montrose, Mount Dandenong, Olinda, Warburton
Similar walks nearby
Looking for more walks in or near Yarra Ranges National Park? Try these trails with a similar difficulty grade.
/Mount-Ritchie-Hike_1.jpg "Mount Ritchie Hike (16km)")
/Mount-Ritchie-Hike_2.jpg "Mount Ritchie Hike (16km)")
/Mount-Ritchie-Hike_4.jpg "Mount Ritchie Hike (16km)")
/Mount-Ritchie-Hike_3.jpg "Mount Ritchie Hike (16km)")
Suggest an edit
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Acknowledgement of Country
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.
1 Review on “Mount Ritchie Hike (16km)”
We completed the Mount Ritchie walk mid September after a fresh snowfall. The fire trail was easy to follow climbing at a comfortable rate.
The temperature was 2° at the start of the walk and the snow commenced about halfway up the track.
The lower half of the track has rainforest which transforms to tall stands of mountain ash.
A number of trees had fallen across the track after the recent heavy wind but easily traversed.
The return trip was about four hours with not many stops.
A great walk to do if you wish to walk in light snow.
The road in to the start of the track is gravel and quite narrow and muddy in places. . We saw four or five lyrebirds on the return trip to the Mount Doona Buang turn off.
The consensus was we would do it again at a similar time of the year.