Hike at a glance
Hike length
Average duration
Trail Difficulty
Hike Type
Technical details
Max elevation: 452m
Min elevation: 242m
Total Ascent: 655m
Check current conditions
Track conditions, access and closures can change quickly due to weather, fire, maintenance or safety concerns. Always check the relevant land manager’s website before you visit. Trail Hiking Australia does not provide real-time track and closure monitoring, and land managers remain the authoritative source for current alerts, closures and access restrictions.
Trail details
Hike summary
Track difficulty
Uneven terrain and steady climbs
These walks require a reasonable level of fitness and confidence on rough ground. Expect hills, rough surfaces, and sections with steps or short, steeper climbs.
While not technically difficult, these tracks are no longer "easy" and can feel demanding over distance, especially in heat or with a pack. Some bushwalking experience is recommended, particularly for managing footing and pacing. Distances can extend up to 20km.
Worth knowing: Many hikers underestimate Grade 3 when conditions change or fatigue sets in.
Planning essentials
Map and GPX file
Safety and preparation
Planning this hike?
Small oversights can compound quickly in Australian conditions. See how it happens in the Interactive Safety Scenarios. Then refer to the Hiking Safety Systems, planning calculators, and make sure a trusted contact has your trip plan before heading out.
Let someone know
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, and it only takes two minutes..
Planning something more serious? The comprehensive trip intentions form is designed for remote, overnight, and off-track trips where your emergency contact needs more detail. Register your advanced plans here →
Free 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
Need a rental car to get you to the hike? Find one here →
Accommodation nearby
Find hotels, cabins, and campgrounds near the trailhead. Click the button below to open an interactive map automatically centred on this hike's location — no searching required.
Or browse accommodation in nearby towns: Bacchus Marsh, Ballan, Blackwood, Bullengarook, Coimadai, Darley, Daylesford, Gisborne, Kyneton, Macarthur, Macedon, Maddingley, Melton, Myrniong, Sunbury, Trentham, Woodend
Discover more
About the region
Explore nearby hikes
Photo gallery
Do you have any photos from this hike?
Your photos can help others plan. Share shots from along the trail so fellow hikers know what to expect.
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Weather on the trail
The map below shows the rain forecast for the trail area. Tap the toggle in the top right corner to explore other layers including wind, temperature, UV index, thunderstorms, fire danger, and weather warnings — all useful for planning a safe hike.
Trail Reviews
Notice something different about this trail?
Whether it’s a new feature, a route change, or a closure, share your update so we can keep our info accurate and helpful for fellow hikers.
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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.
10 Reviews on “Mt Sugarloaf & Djerriwarrh Creek Circuit (20km)”
This is a great walk. Totally worth 4 stars especially when you ware walking through typical Aussie bush. Its not to difficult but in places you feel like you are in the middle of an ancient world. A couple of camp sites near Djerriwarrh Creek which i have not seen running water in as i did this walk and a version of it extended through summer.
Well worth the effort to go have a look and if you don’t want 20km you can cut it in half
Totally agree Peter. It is a great walk. Glad you got out there to do it again.
Great and manageable overnight hike with kids (ages 10… for one of them his first overnight)! Just completed this on 12/13 April although got chatting at the 2k mark and stayed right and bush “bashed” back up (very easy) to meet the trail… cutting out a few cheeky ks both ways. Even though it’s not the most remarkable and wild bush, we loved seeing the grass trees appear and disappear and there are flat spots all along the trail from where it meets the creek to where it cuts back again. Lots and lots of firewood. Thank you, Darren, for the gpx file, there is no way I could have pieced together these trails, they are kind the way they go everywhere!
Fantastic, great to hear you guys managed to get out and do this one. Really pleased you enjoyed it.
This is a great day hike or possible overnighter (with kids) in a lesser known section of the Lerderderg State Park. Plenty of dry open woodland with a few spots where you can see past the treetops across the surrounding area. The section along Djerriwarrh Creek is fun to explore with a few spots where you can easily access the creek. Well worth the time to explore.