Hike at a Glance
Max elevation: 724m
Min elevation: 296m
Total Ascent: 553m
Safety advice
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.
Hike overview
The Razorback and Ah Kow Spurs hike is a 13.5-kilometre circuit tucked deep within Victoria’s Lerderderg State Park. Graded as level 4, this route typically takes around six hours to complete and offers a mix of singletrack trails, steep climbs, river navigation, and long-forgotten gold mining relics. It’s a physically demanding hike that rewards those who are prepared with a genuine sense of solitude and discovery.
The walk begins at the Square Bottle Track carpark, where a short warm-up stretch leads to a turn-off onto the Razorback Track. This track soon veers right and meanders for a couple of kilometres through dry forest and open ridgelines, before reaching the Razorback North Track on your left. Keeping to the righ at this junction, you’ll continue to follow the Razorback Track as it gradually descends into the gorge. This is one of the more pleasant spurs in the area, with the descent easing you into the landscape. That said, the lower sections become steeper and the surface looser, so take your time and watch your footing, particularly in damp conditions.
Reaching the Lerderderg River marks a dramatic shift in the walk. The formed trail disappears, and with it, any signage or clear guidance. From here, you’ll head south along the river, picking your way between boulders and banks, occasionally needing to cross the water or scramble over rocky sections. The gorge here feels still and enclosed, with steep cliffs and thick bush pressing in on either side. There’s a raw beauty to this part of the walk — the kind that asks you to slow down, take note, and tune into your surroundings. Navigation is essential through this section, as the track becomes more of a concept than a reality. A GPS or reliable map-reading skills are a must, as the entry point to Ah Kow Spur can be easy to miss.
As you make your way downstream, you’ll pass two Emergency Markers: LER516 near Lower Chadwick Track, and LER515 at McKenzie Track. Continue on to LER514, which signals the point where you leave the river behind and begin the long haul up Ah Kow Spur. This is one of the steepest climbs in the park, and it doesn’t ease off quickly. The gradient bites hard, especially after the energy spent navigating the gorge below. There are few distractions here — just the steady pull of the climb and the rustle of dry leaves underfoot.
At the top of the spur, the track levels off before intersecting with the Blackwood Ranges Track. A right turn takes you past Lohs Lane and onwards to the more open terrain of Mount Blackwood. The forest gives way to grassy hillsides, and while the final climb to the summit is steady, it’s nowhere near as punishing as the one you’ve just completed. The views from the top stretch out across the surrounding ranges and valleys, a quiet, open contrast to the closed-in feel of the gorge below.
The return leg follows Tower Track, a narrow sealed road that gently winds down to Mount Blackwood Road. A right turn here leads you back towards the Square Bottle Track carpark, closing the loop. The appeal of this route lies in its contrasts — the balance of isolation and exposure, the mixture of terrain, and the sense that you’ve travelled through a part of the park few others take the time to explore. It’s a challenging day walk, but one that offers both natural beauty and a brush with the area's gold rush past for those willing to venture off the beaten path.
Tips
- A section of this hike (at least a 2.5 kilometres) follows the Lerderderg River. You may need to cross several times to find the best path so poles and water shoes will benefit if you have them. Wading may also be required.
- 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.
Content use
Please don’t copy GPX files or content from this site to AllTrails or other platforms. Each trail has been personally mapped, documented, and refined to support Australia’s bushwalking and hiking community. While some details come from land managers, every listing reflects significant personal effort. This is a free, community-driven initiative—your respect helps keep it that way.
Walk map and GPX file
Max elevation: 724 m
Min elevation: 296 m
Total climbing: 553 m
Total descent: -552 m
Getting there
Getting to the trailhead: Lerderderg State Park.
From Melbourne, follow the Western Freeway 9km past Bacchus Marsh and take the Myrniong exit. Continue along the Myrniog-Greendale Road for 1km, then turn right on the Mount Blackwood Road. Follow this narrow surfaced road north for 10km to pull into a turnoff on the right at Square Bottle Track (just 250m past Shuter Track). Park near the gate overlooking a small dam.
Closest towns to this walk: Bacchus Marsh, Ballan, Blackwood, Bullengarook, Coimadai, Darley, Daylesford, Gisborne, Kyneton, Macarthur, Macedon, Maddingley, Melton, Myrniong, Sunbury, Trentham, Woodend
About the region
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.
Similar walks nearby
Looking for more walks in or near Lerderderg State Park? Try these trails with a similar difficulty grade.
Track grade
Grade 4 (Hard) - Challenging Walks for Experienced Walkers: Grade 4 on the AWTGS signifies challenging walking tracks. Bushwalking experience is recommended for these tracks, which may be long, rough, and very steep. Directional signage may be limited, requiring a good sense of navigation. These walks are suited for experienced walkers who are comfortable with steeper inclines, rougher terrain, and potentially longer distances.
Explore safe
Plan ahead and hike safely! Carry enough water, pack layers for changing conditions, and bring safety gear like a torch, PLB, and reliable communication device. Check official sources for trail updates, closures, and access requirements, and review local weather and bushfire advice. Most importantly, share your plans with someone before you go. Being prepared makes for a safer and more enjoyable hike! Stay Safe, Explore More, and Always #ExploreSafe.
Packing checklists
What you carry in your pack depends on factors like weather, terrain, and your adventure type. Not sure what to bring? My free planning, food, and packing checklists are a great starting point, covering day hikes, overnight trips, and multi-day adventures. Use them to customise your kit and always prioritise safety.
Let someone know
Before heading out, take a moment to fill out your trip intentions form. It’s a quick way to share your hike details with family or friends. If something goes wrong, they can notify emergency services, ensuring a faster response and peace of mind. Stay safe and enjoy your adventure
Suggest an edit
Spotted a change on this trail? Maybe there are new features, the route has shifted, or the trail is permanently closed. Whatever the update, I’d love your input. Your feedback helps fellow hikers stay informed and ensures that our trail info stays fresh and reliable.
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.
6 Reviews on “Razorback & Ah Kow Spurs Hike (13.5km)”
Love this hike. Its nice to be so close to Melbourne but able to get so remote. It’s a challenging hike that requires good navigation skills and a reasonable level of fitness. The Ah Kow spur is certainly steel but thankfully didn’t feel that long. Highly recommended but just remember it is remote and slow going along the river where you have to cross multiple times. Would not be passable after a lot of rain.
Rory Thomson-McIntyre Kathleen Boag ?? Another hike for another day ?
This has to be one of the best Lerderderg hikes. The western side of the park is where all the adventure is
This is one of my favourite hikes. Nice steep sections in and out of the gorge
Hmmm..you’ve got me thinking Darren Edwards..☺ Last time the river was too high to cross:-(