Hike at a glance

9,160

Quick overview: The Old River Circuit is a challenging 16.7km circular hike in Lerderderg State Park, starting and ending at Lohs Lane. This trail immerses you in the remote Lerderderg Gorge, with steep, slippery descents and rocky gullies. You will encounter off-trail sections that require navigation skills and multiple river crossings. The terrain demands experience and caution, making it suitable for seasoned hikers looking for a more isolated journey.

Length

16.7km

Duration

7 hrs

Difficulty

Grade 4 (Hard)

Trail type

Circuit

Trail details

Max elevation: 629m
Min elevation: 270m
Total Ascent: 867m

Start: Lohs Lane

End: Lohs Lane

Location: Lerderderg State Park

State: Victoria

Nearest town: Myrniong

State capital distance: 77km

Latitude: -37.56063619

Longitude: 144.36505079269412

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.

About this trail

Difficulty

Planning

Safety

Getting there

The region

Photos

Weather

About this trail

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.

The Old River Circuit, a 16.7-kilometre hike in Lerderderg State Park, offers a challenging and rewarding experience for seasoned hikers. Taking roughly seven hours to complete, this grade 4 hike is a more demanding variation of the Bears Head Circuit, delving into one of the most secluded sections of the Lerderderg Gorge. The sense of isolation and adventure that comes with this hike makes it one of my personal favourites in the park.

The journey begins with a steep descent into the gorge, either from Bears Head Range or the Ah Kow Spur. This section of the track can be slippery, so it’s essential to take extra care when navigating the steep slopes. Once you’re in the gorge, the terrain remains rugged, with rocky outcrops and steep banks, particularly in the Watties Gully area. This part of the trail requires a solid footing and careful attention, as the gully can be challenging to navigate.

A particularly tricky section of the hike lies between Watties Gully and Hogans Track, where the trail veers off-path. This off-trail segment demands strong navigation skills, as there are no clear markers to guide you through the rough terrain. You’ll also need to cross the river multiple times, which can be difficult, especially after heavy rainfall. In addition, some rock scrambling is required, adding an element of technical challenge to the hike.

The isolation and raw beauty of the area are what make this hike so special. With the rugged landscape and the sounds of the Lerderderg River, experienced hikers will feel a genuine connection to the wilderness. The Old River Circuit is not a hike to be taken lightly, but for those who are up to the challenge, it offers an unforgettable adventure in one of Victoria’s most remote and spectacular environments.

Trail difficulty

Grade 4 (hard) badge

Grade 4 (Hard)

Steep, rough, and demanding
These are challenging walks suited to experienced hikers. Expect sustained climbs, rough and uneven terrain, and longer distances.

Tracks may be less defined, and signage can be limited, so navigation awareness is important. These walks require good fitness, confidence on difficult terrain, and the ability to manage fatigue over time.

Safety note: Fatigue, poor navigation, or a sudden weather change can turn a hard walk into a serious situation.

Planning information

Preparation matters: Plan your day hike well and bring the right gear, weather-appropriate layers, food and plenty of water. Before you head out, read up on bushwalking safety and use this day hike planning guide to make sure you're ready. Need help getting started? Check out the full hike preparation guide.

Suggested items to pack: Day Pack with Picnic Lunch and at least 2-3 litres of water.
Do now enter the gorge following heavy rain.
Hiking poles recommended and I also highly recommend water shoes if you have them as it will make the crossings easier.
Keep your eye out for snakes as they are very active along the river.

Map and GPX file

Old River Circuit Hike (16.7km)

Total distance: 16702 m
Max elevation: 629 m
Min elevation: 270 m
Total climbing: 867 m
Total descent: -867 m

GPX files, maps and content are copyright Trail Hiking Australia. Not to be copied, redistributed or uploaded to other platforms including AllTrails.

Safety and preparation

Think safety first

Australian conditions can turn a small oversight into a serious situation faster than most walkers expect. The Hiking Safety Systems and planning calculators are designed to help you identify and close those gaps before you leave home. Work through the Interactive Safety Scenarios to see how incidents unfold, then use the tools to build your plan and make sure a trusted contact has your trip details before you head out.

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.

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.

Let someone know your plans →

Heading somewhere remote, off-track or overnight? Use the comprehensive trip intentions form instead — your emergency contact will need more detail. Register your trip plan here →

Getting there and travel options

Lerderderg State Park

Follow the Western Freeway 9km past Bacchus Marsh and take the Myrniong exit. Continue along the Myrniong-Greendale Road for 1km, then turn right on the Mount Blackwood Road. Follow this narrow surfaced road north for 8km and turn right onto Lohs Lane. Drive a further 500m to the gate and park on the right.

Get there with Google Maps

Travel arrangements

Whether you are travelling from across Australia or exploring closer to home, these options can help you organise your journey to the trail and make the most of your visit.

✈️ Find flights →
🚗 Compare car hire →
🥾 Explore nearby experiences →

Accommodation before / after your walk

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 search accommodation in nearby towns: Bacchus Marsh, Ballan, Blackwood, Bullengarook, Coimadai, Darley, Daylesford, Gisborne, Kyneton, Macarthur, Macedon, Maddingley, Melton, Myrniong, Sunbury, Trentham, Woodend

Accommodation →

Explore the region

About the region

A deep, narrow gorge cut by the Lerderderg River gives Lerderderg State Park a harsher, more remote character than many reserves this close to Melbourne. The river has sliced through sandstone and slate to create a landscape of steep slopes, broken ridgelines and long enclosed valleys, with the gorge running as the park's central feature. Although it sits within easy reach of Bacchus Marsh and the outer west, the country feels distinctly cut off once you are inside it, and that sense of separation is part of what makes the area memorable.

The park also makes more sense when seen as part of a broader block of bushland. It adjoins Wombat State Forest, and together they form one of the larger remaining forested areas in this part of north-central Victoria. That setting helps explain the contrast between the enclosed river country and the more open ridges above, as well as the park's importance as a refuge for native plants and animals in a region that has otherwise been heavily cleared in places beyond the forested ranges.

Plant communities change noticeably across the park. In the south, drier stringybark and box forest and box-ironbark woodland sit on higher ground, while the northern boundary carries taller, damper messmate, peppermint and gum forest. Along the gorge itself, riparian vegetation including blue gum and manna gum survives in a relatively intact corridor. More than 320 native plant species have been recorded here, and the variety owes a lot to the park's mix of elevation, rainfall and rugged terrain rather than to any single dominant landscape type.

Human history is written into the gullies and river flats as clearly as the geology. The area is associated with Wurundjeri and Wathaurung people, and a small number of Aboriginal archaeological sites are recorded within the park. From the 1850s, gold mining spread through the district after discoveries near Blackwood, and its remnants still shape the landscape today: water races, sluice banks, stonework, old diggings and other scattered relics are especially common in the northern half and along the river. These traces give the park a layered feel, where steep bushland, mining country and river gorge are all bound together in the same piece of country.

More hikes nearby

Photo gallery

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Weather on the trail

Lerderderg State Park

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

10 Reviews on “Old River Circuit Hike (16.7km)”

Overall rating

Tamara Morgan

This is a challenging hike & not for the faint hearted. Terrain had everything, rock scrambling, creek crossings, steep off track navigating, rock & debris hopping in the old river, snakes. All that being said, it was so gorgeous in there, remote & wild! Didn’t see another person. Wildlife was beautiful. Its not a solo hike & think safety when you plan your hike & backpack & notify someone of your trail & times. We were absolutely exhausted by the time we finished 18kms, diverting from the gpx file trek & having to navigate our own off trail journey to Hogans, due to an impassable section at big waterfall. Took 9hrs anti clockwise. Toughest hike I’ve done in this area!

08/09/2024, 21:06

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1. Darren Edwards Trail Author
  
  It certainly is tough. The waterfall section can be a challenge. Generally I just climb right through and have only once seen the falls flowing and we had to climb over the spur to the left. Sounds like you had it all on this hike. I do love how remote it feels.
  
  15/10/2024, 10:19
  
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Julie Edwards

This is a great hike but can be slow going along the river. A couple of steep and tricky sections, especially getting past the small waterfall. Avoid this walk after heavy rain as the river would be impassable

22/08/2023, 10:36

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1. Darren Edwards Trail Author
  
  I agree, this is an excellent hike. Can get a bit tiresome scrambling along the river though.
  
  22/08/2023, 10:46
  
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Leona Xu

Erryn Stephens this one for autumn?

24/03/2022, 05:21

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Acknowledgement of Country

Old river circuit hike (16. 7km) - trail hiking australia

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.

Curated by: Darren Edwards | Trail Hiking Australia

Last modified:

August 12, 2026

Hike at a glance

Trail details

About this trail

Important Info

Route in detail

Trail difficulty

Grade 4 (Hard)

Planning information

Trail tips

Map and GPX file

Safety and preparation

Think safety first

Free checklists

Let someone know

Getting there and travel options

Travel arrangements

Accommodation before / after your walk

Explore the region

About the region

More hikes nearby

Bears Head Circuit Hike (16km)

Razorback & Ah Kow Spurs Hike (13.5km)

Razorback, Chadwick & Ah Kow Spurs Hike (17km)

Razorback, Lerderderg & Lower Chadwick Circuit Hike (13km)

Photo gallery

Weather on the trail

Trail Reviews

10 Reviews on “Old River Circuit Hike (16.7km)”

Leave a Review. Cancel reply

Notice something different about this trail?

Acknowledgement of Country

Curated by: Darren Edwards | Trail Hiking Australia

Last modified:

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