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Length: 15.5km
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Duration: 5hrs
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Grade: 4
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Style: Circuit
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Start: Pyrete Range car park
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End: Pyrete Range car park
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Location: Lerderderg State Park
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Closest Town: Bacchus Marsh
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Distance from CBD: 60km
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State: VIC
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Latitude: -37.580918
Longitude: 144.507757
Keep the Trail Access info current...

Select items to indicate conditions for access to the trail.


2WD Access


4WD Access


Public Transport


Bitumen Road


Gravel Road


Steep Road


Winding Road


Speed Bumps


Vehicle Ford


Entry Fee


Large Car Park


Small Car Park


Accessible Parking


Accessible Toilet


Public Toilets


Drinking Water


Untreated Water


Picnic Shelter


Picnic Table


BBQ Facilities


Campfire Pit


Camping Area
Keep the Trail Features current...

Lerderderg State Park...
Select items to indicate features found along the trail.


Concrete Path


Timber Boardwalk


Gravel Path


Sandy Trail


Rough Trail


Undefined Trail


Prams & Strollers


Manual Wheelchair


Motorised Wheelchair


Bicycle Trail


Mountain Bike Trail


Historic Rail Trail


Dog Friendly


Urban Walk


Coast & Beach


Historic Lighthouse


Waterfalls & Lakes


Rainforest Walk


Goldfields & Mining


Heritage Walk


Aboriginal Art


Alpine Region


Alpine Huts


Exposed Ledges


Rock Scrambling


Steep Terrain


Bush Bashing


River Crossings


Scenic Viewpoints


Well Marked


Drinking Water


Untreated Water


Fishing Spots


Swimming Spots


Overnight Campsites


Trail Running


Horse Riding
Hike Summary
The Pyrites Creek Gorge hike negotiates a scenic section of the the Pyrites Creek Gorge and includes the historic Drapers Lode Antimony Mine. The Pyrete Range is a recent addition to the Lerderderg State Park. Pyrites Creek winds its way through the range before flowing into the nearby Merrimu Reservoir.
Tips
I would rate this a moderate hike during dry months when there is no water in Pyrites Creek as 5km of this trail require you to negotiate a trail along the creek or walk up the creek bed. During wet months I would rate this as a difficult hike.
Poles are useful in the creek bed, particularly after rain when the rocks will be very slippery.
The presence of 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.
Help to minimise the spread of this disease through the park by remaining on formed tracks at all times. All soil should be removed from footwear prior to entering and leaving the Park using a 70% methylated spirits/water solution and a sturdy brush.
GPX File
Max elevation: 358 m
Min elevation: 223 m
Total climbing: 381 m
Total descent: -377 m
Hikes Nearby
103 thoughts on “Pyrites Creek Gorge (15.5km)”
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Kelly Crossing
Diane McCann another one to try
Sounds good
Anita Ferreira we have to try this one.
It is a great hike and i have done it twice. Last weekend i did the hike and there is pretty much no water, couple of waterholes to slightly detour around and a lot of growth in the creek bed. I feel that the orange arrows are fewer than last year and the GPX map was very useful to detect the turn into the gully out of the creek bed. I also seem to think that the terrain has changed and we did eventually get to the fence line but there is now a very steep fire break from Wobbly Gully (not sure) which lead to the fence from a different direction. Further along the fence line there was a cairn and a path and i think this is where we should have come out to the fence based on the GPX. Easy enough to wing it in this last part and go slightly off the “line”. Just wanted to mention the fire break as it seems like to really obvious path to take. Snakes were out too!
Hey Leonie. It is a great hike. Thanks heaps for the trail update.
Mitch Andrew
Antony Accary
Linda looks good
Amanda Hua
When!
Amanda Hua I hope can be soon, I miss our hikes together on the weekend.☹️
Shelly Dee more creek walking?! Maybe not after the last adventure ?
Phwoarrrrrr we would need a compass!!
Shelly and bum pads for all the falls !
Bianca Stewart hahaha you can wear bike shorts.
Are you going Nicole? If so, enjoy!
Fav hike..really snakey in summer though and exit off the river bed is a little unclear as is the foot pad after this. Use your gpx and map and eyes is my suggestion.
Logan Only 5 hours and a 358m elevation. So close to home. I’ll put you down as a yes??????
?
Sandy Petersen
Looks good. We’ll have to add this one to the list!
Sandy Petersen that’s the one we did with TSA a couple of weeks ago with some off trail walking too. Weather was brutal but a great hike?
Jo-anne Crowther thanks Jo. ?Thought it might’ve been.
It is
Lynda Katthagen can you ask Bernard if this is where he took us with Andrew please
Bernard here: That is the area we walked with Andrew. It is a bit confusing because the Pyrete Range is an extension of the Lerderderg State Park.
Lynda Katthagen and we have more exploring to do!
Andrew Clough seen by Bernard…..he says the sooner the better.
might have to wait a little while yet
Day trip Kat?
Might need a backpack!
hahaha definitely
Let’s do it though!
Kat Nina yes! Let’s organise over the next month ?
Tony Anne Margaret
Leanne Moss Lee Bee training session?
????? Grade 4!!!! Ok I’m in.. what Grade is Kilkunda? I will have to look that up. Well always looking for a good challenge.
I’m not sure actually, I’ll see if I can find out. Can’t wait for lunch at that cafe again ?
?
Can’t find it
It says moderate
The one above is moderate in dry season and hard in wet season.. 1000 steps is moderate
Cameron Forrest Harley Ravaillion B-jade Bedford
Sunny Regan I’m keen x
Georgette Karvelas, Caspar Roxburgh, Elisa Shio, Nina Georgieva, D William James. Our next hike? Good location for all.
Isabelle Day anthor day trip?
Yeah I’m down for this, I just might need to get myself some kicking boots!!! But definitely down for another day trip ??
Tepene. Here it is again ?
Serene Silva bit below our minimum haha but maybe if we want a leisurely stroll ?
Pretty much babe i think this weekend were gonna do 50 ks 😉
:/
John Kachami keep a eye out for gold
Brooke – just up the road next time your down
Shane Slade if you haven’t done it. Looks good.
Kerrie, Alison how about this??!
I Have heard about this one a little bit.
Let’s set that as a 2019 goal ?
Cristina Almada
Michelle Playfor Kleeham
Pamela Evers let’s do it! Stop dicking around and lets get it done!
I don’t dick around. Don’t think I didn’t see you get in your car last night in active wear and the dog lead….no invite for me
Ummm wrong neighbor! I got back from the farm last night so deffo didn’t walk the dog. Dale took tjem down to the Gorge.
Someone owes someone an apology…..
Anyhow. I’m free this weekend but let me guess….
Michelle Playfor Kleeham I know what I saw
Mmm concert saturday night, working Sunday. Better ask my husband if he’s going gliding again seeing as that’s why I’m home on Saturdays. Not for my own well being or anything…
Stop avoiding the question. I am free this weekend but are youuuu….?
?♀️
Ok so Saturday or Sunday?
Michelle Playfor Kleeham can you not read? I’m working Sunday ^^^
“
Sounds like you are dicking around to me….
Pamela Evers on a scale of 1 to 10, how important is this “concert”. Choose your words wisely, after all, I know where you live….
Michelle Playfor Kleeham it’s the last of the 2018 season. Pretty fkn important actually! I so know where you live and saw you geeting in the car in active wear holding a dog leash at approximately 6.45pm last night
Matt Back she has no idea who she’s dealing with…
Ok then. Soooo on a scale of 1 to 10, how important is “work”?
Don’t bring Matt Back into this. What’s he gonna do? The guy has T-Rex arms.
Michelle Playfor Kleeham that was a low blow… I also know where you live and will be around sooner than u think
Michelle Playfor Kleeham I dunno, how important is your work? Maybe we could go on a Tuesday
This coming from the people who couldn’t steal a pellet….
Tuesday evening is good. Lock it in. Biatch.
Michelle Playfor Kleeham no no, we stole it. Then had no use for it
Michelle Playfor Kleeham not tomorrow. Working.
#makingmemories #mattamdpamsadventures
Michelle Price
Kirbit OB
Cynthia Tat! Go another round? ?
Amy Meldrum lol…maybe in the winter when the snakes are hibernating…….
Good idea!
Sian
Marjorie Andrea
That’s cool ?
Mel Ann another one for our bucket list xx
Sharon Finlay probably.
Thats a good year down the track for me.15km grade 4 ?
Im aiming for Kosciuskzo next year 🙂
Mel Ann good aim!!
Laura Jane Cassandra Evans next?
Vikki
Yes!!! Good find!
Wendy Loft
Chloe Elise
Carey Allen