To help prevent the spread of Phytophthora cinnamomi (cinnamon fungus) in the park, please stay on designated tracks at all times. Before entering or leaving the park, ensure all soil is removed from your footwear using a sturdy brush and a 70% methylated spirits/water solution.
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.
The presence of Phytophthora cinnamomi (Cinnamon Fungus) poses a serious threat to flora and fauna of the park. This microscopic pathogen attacks plant root systems causing die-back. Patches of dead or dying vegetation can indicate the presence of the fungus and grass trees are particularly susceptible. The disease is spread through the movement of contaminated soil and gravel and there is no known cure. Please make sure you clean your shoes/boots before and after this hike.
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.
There are a lot of unofficial trails in this section of the park so its important to be aware of which direction you need to head at each junction.
Total distance: 12521 m
Max elevation: 461 m
Min elevation: 267 m
Total climbing: 710 m
Total descent: -701 m
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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.
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 to the trailhead: Lerderderg State Park.
From Melbourne, follow the M1 towards Ballarat. Drive from National Highway M8 to Hopetoun Park. Take the exit towards Hopetoun Park from National Highway M8. Follow Long Forest Rd, Diggers Rest-Coimadai Rd/C706 and Antimony Mine Road to Antimony Mine Track in Coimadai. There is s small space for about five vehicles at the end of a gravel road.
Need a rental car to get you to the hike? Find one here.
- 2WD Access
- Gravel Road
- Small Car Park
Find accommodation close to the trailhead including hotels, cabins, and campgrounds. Use the interactive map to explore available options in nearby towns.
Nearby towns: Bacchus Marsh, Ballan, Blackwood, Bullengarook, Coimadai, Darley, Daylesford, Gisborne, Kyneton, Macarthur, Macedon, Maddingley, Melton, Myrniong, Sunbury, Trentham, Woodend
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.
Looking for more walks in or near Lerderderg State Park? Try these trails with a similar difficulty grade.
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2 Reviews on “Mount Sugarloaf Loop Walk (12.5km)”
Decided to head out and do this one again (as its right near my home). The hike started off on well-formed tracks, winding through dry woodland as we climbed towards the summit. The final section on the familiar vehicle track was a breeze, and the views from the top towards Mount Blackwood were definitely worth the effort. The descent was interesting – a turn south and then a gradual down into the valley. Keep an eye out for the four-way junction – taking a right here led to a narrower track that wound back through the woodland. Overall, this was a great grade 3 hike – 3-4 hours well spent for anyone looking for a scenic loop with some off-track exploration!
Thanks for writing up this hike. Most enjoyable
The usual hike to the summit of Sugarloaf follows vehicle management tracks, so this was a nice variation that follows unmarked trails to and from the summit. The views from the summit are excellent to the west but are becoming more and more obscured in other directions due to vegetation growth. This was a really nice (and peaceful) half day hike.