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Length: 16km
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Duration: 6hrs
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Grade: 3
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Style: Circuit
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Start: MacKenzies Flat Picnic Area
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End: MacKenzies Flat Picnic Area
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Location: Lerderderg State Park
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Closest Town: Bachhus Marsh
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Distance from CBD: 75km
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State: VIC
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Latitude: -37.61567073
Longitude: 144.4254342
Keep the Trail Access info current...
2WD Access
Bitumen Road
Gravel Road
Large Car Park
Picnic Shelter
Picnic Table
BBQ Facilities
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...
Gravel Path
Sandy Trail
Rough Trail
Steep Terrain
River Crossings
Scenic Viewpoints
Well Marked
Swimming Spots
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 Scenic Rim and River via Spur Track hike is a difficult 16km circuit . The trail includes river crossings (possibility of your feet getting wet unless river is dry), a steep and steady climb our of the river from Grahams Dam and a significant river section back to Grahams Dam on loose and possibly wet terrain.
Follow the river upstream from Mackenzies Flat Picnic Area to Grahams Dam, which is an attractive pool ideal for swimming. Cross the river at this point and continue along the eastern river bank upstream for approximately 600m (trail marker LER503). Turn right and ascent the 1.6km Spur Track to the top of the range. Turn left when you reach the Lerderderg Tunnel Access Track and follow this a short distance to the track junction. Keep left and pass through the Southern Rural Water gate and descend into the weir below via the well made access road.
Once you reach the weir, locate a set of metal stairs that run alongside a concrete fish ladder which consists of a series of stepped concrete boxes with two holes connecting to the next box up and down. Head down the stairs and south along the Lerderderg river. The level of the water and surrounding area will dictate the path you take as you pick your way along the river and its banks. There are no trail markers in this section so take time to look ahead and plan which side to take. There are a few places where there is a cliff on either side that would need to be avoided so use your best judgement Once you arrive back at Graham's Dam simply follow the river track back to Mackenzies Flat.
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.
Getting there
Follow the Western Freeway and turn left off at C704 the Bacchus Marsh -Gisborne exit (this is a clearly sign posted Freeway exit). Drive 1.8kms towards Gisbourne then turn left along Lerderderg Gorge Road and follow it 5.4kms to Mackenzies Flat picnic area.
Tips
- The amount of water in the river will dictate how difficult this is. If it is low it should be quite straightforward, but if the river is full it will be much more challenging. Therefore, if there is a lot of water, then add an extra hour or so to it.
- There can be many snakes in the area so do keep a look out for them.
GPX File
Max elevation: 465 m
Min elevation: 142 m
Total climbing: 765 m
Total descent: -763 m
Hikes Nearby
53 thoughts on “The Scenic Rim and River via Spur Track (16km)”
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That was quick 😉
It’s Darren Edwards favorite!?
I really don”t want to open every walk. Could we have the state in the headline? I certainly welcome ideas in NSW
I’m based in Victoria so most of the hikes are currently in VIC. I certainly welcome any submissions from NSW and other states so feel free to suggest some. Good idea to put the state in the headline. I’ll have to work on that as I’ll have to go back through close to 300 hikes and do it manually.
Jo Jo Lewis what about this one. Seems like an adventure.
Oh I like this but bit scared of the no markers! I’ll need a buddy!
Jo Lewis you can’t really get lost if you stick to the river. It’s the only section that doesn’t have an actual trail.
Trail Hiking Australia that’s great to know, thank you ?
Cool info thanks
Jo Lewis I’ll be your buddy!!!
If you do have any hikes to share please submit them here so I can include them on my site for others to access. https://www.trailhiking.com.au/map-view/submit-a-hike/
who else really loves this ?
Did this walk yesterday. Plenty of water in the river. Track slippery in places.
Brendan Kolehmainen
Sandy Petersen
We’ll have to add this one to our list! ?
pretty hairy in today’s conditions!
Yep, best left for drier days.
Sheree, Angela, Rebecca, Lita, Kylie
It’s beautiful up there
Suzie Sharp, Joelene Gordon-Cooke
When are we going?
Karen H McGregor Baker ?
Stephen Knight I trip to vic is needed.
Note that this one is different to the standard Scenic Rim as it returns from the Weir via the river itself. But it is a fun day out!
I did not see that. It would be interesting to do. Might wait till the river is lower to do this alternative.
It is a great alternative to the scenic rim and I think much more interesting. But I would recommend doing when the river is lower.
Just with the standard scenic rim track, is crossing the river manageable this time round?
It is if your balancing skills are ok, otherwise you might get wet feet.
Muriel Pepper cool, thanks! Obviously the river will be subjected to high level floods post rain?
Carlo Tran not sure about that, check with ParksVic.
The flow is regulated further upstream.
Muriel Pepper thanks for the info!
Amy Song Cheng Ung Rob Lim Cindy Au Anny Au Judy Au Alvin Vitor next hike
grade 3 sounds good ?
Yea need to get into it ?
Stephanie Wong
River crossing, sounds like fun and it is not too far out from cbd
Darvy Yun, your husband will like this track. There are shorter tracks that suit you and bub.
Viability for a hiker in decent fitness to do with a kiddy carrier and a two year old?
16km, steep hills. I would NOT recommend it.
Definitely not recommend it. This is quite a challenging hike even for adults. But for a 2 year old.. no way….
Emily is this the one you were talking about last week?
Perhaps ?
Laura Johnson up for it?
Sounds good
Warmer weather and I’m in
Yashinthinie Kandasamy ?
?Your favourite track ?
Yashinthinie Kandasamy You make it 27km and it becomes my ‘super favourite’ track! ??
? The world needs you. Pick your super favourite tracks wisely ??♀️
Just did this one by myself today. Did not have to take my shoes off once. Most likely because it hasn’t rained significantly recently. Wear sturdy shoes, pants and long sleeve if possible. Get ready to figure your own path through thick scrub. It was well worth it. I wouldn’t recommend doing it by yourself like I did though, just in case something happens.. I counted 9 campsites along the river. One had a fantastic swimming hole. I have the GPX file and waypoints of the campsites if anyone plans on making it an overnight hike.