Mount Sugarloaf Loop Walk (12.5km)

The Mount Sugarloaf Loop is a 12.5-kilometre circuit through the Pyrete Range in Victoria’s Lerderderg State Park. Graded at level 3, this hike generally takes between three and four hours to complete and offers a more immersive and less-travelled route than the standard out-and-back to the summit. While the climb isn’t overly steep, it’s the rougher, unmarked nature of sections of the track that gives this walk its character. For those seeking a sense of quiet exploration and connection to the landscape, this route delivers.

Starting from the end of Antimony Mine Road, the track leads you through dry, open woodland typical of the Pyrete Range. Instead of following the wider vehicle trails commonly used to reach the summit, the loop makes use of lesser-known foot tracks that weave gently uphill through stands of eucalypts and sparse undergrowth. While unmarked in places, the path remains well-formed underfoot, and the natural contours of the land guide your progress upward. As you near the summit, the trail merges briefly with a more familiar vehicle track for the final push to the top.

From the summit of Mount Sugarloaf, sweeping views open up across the western side of Lerderderg State Park, with Mount Blackwood rising in the distance. It's a peaceful vantage point, often quiet, where the open skies and rustle of wind in the treetops add to the sense of distance from the bustle of everyday life.

The descent begins by heading northeast before the track arcs southward, easing you down into a series of gentle valleys. At a four-way junction nestled in the bush, take the right-hand path—a narrower trail that carries you deeper into the woodland. From here, the landscape is shaped by small gullies and seasonal watercourses, and the sense of remoteness remains as the path winds steadily back towards your starting point at Antimony Mine Road.

This loop walk offers a rewarding experience for those comfortable navigating less-defined trails and looking to spend a few quiet hours immersed in the Australian bush. It’s best undertaken with a map or GPS, as signage is limited, but the terrain is forgiving and the scenery worth the effort.