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  2. Pyrites Creek Gorge (15.5km)
Pyrites-Creek

  • Length: 15.5km

  • Duration: 5hrs

  • Grade: 4

  • Style: Circuit

  • Start: Pyrete Range car park

  • End: Pyrete Range car park

  • Location: Lerderderg State Park

  • Closest Town: Bacchus Marsh

  • Distance from CBD: 60km

  • State: VIC

  • Latitude: -37.580918

  • Longitude: 144.507757

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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

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Concrete Path

Timber Boardwalk

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Mountain Bike Trail

Historic Rail Trail

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Urban Walk

Coast & Beach

Historic Lighthouse

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Heritage Walk

Aboriginal Art

Alpine Region

Alpine Huts

Exposed Ledges

Rock Scrambling

Steep Terrain

Bush Bashing

River Crossings

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Well Marked

Drinking Water

Untreated Water

Fishing Spots

Swimming Spots

Overnight Campsites

Trail Running

Horse Riding

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Pyrites Creek Gorge is a 15.5km, grade 4 Circuit hike located in Lerderderg State Park Victoria. The hike should take approximately 5hrs to complete.

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.

 

Total distance: 15561 m
Max elevation: 358 m
Min elevation: 223 m
Total climbing: 381 m
Total descent: -377 m
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Centenary Walk and The Island (12.5km)

103 thoughts on “Pyrites Creek Gorge (15.5km)”

  4. 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!

    5. 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…

    15. 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