Length: 6.9km
Duration: 4-5hrs
Grade: 4
Style: Circuit
Start: Falcons Lookout Car Park
End: Falcons Lookout Car Park

Location: Werribee Gorge State Park
Closest Town: Bacchus Marsh
Distance from CBD: 69km
State: VIC
Latitude: -37.66591391
Longitude: 144.3349446

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Werribee Gorge State Park...

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Werribee Gorge Offtrail is a 6.9km, grade 4 circuit hike, located in Werribee Gorge State Park, Victoria. The hike should take approximately 4-5hrs to complete.

Warning

Parts of this hiking trail traverse through private land. You will need to seek an alternate route or seek permission of the land owner to access their land.

Hike Summary

This Werribee Gorge Offtrail hike explores Western Bluff, Pyramid Rock and a number of steep and rocky spurs. the Circuit hike commences at the Falcons Lookout Car Park and gradually descends the ridge to the rocky outcrop of Western Bluff. From the bluff the main trail descends steeply via Needles spur into the depths of the Werribee Gorge before climbing to the summit of Pyramid Rock.

There are a number of ways to ascend and descend the summit of Pyramid Rock so select a path suited tto your level of skill. We dropped off the face of the rock structure on the descent.

From this high vantage point you will be rewarded with possibly the best views of Werribee Gorge and the Werribee River below. To the south east you will see the plains of Bacchus Marsh while to the north you can see as far as Centenary hill at the other end of the gorge.

The trail then descends down into the heart of the Werribee Gorge, following the river across to Needles beach before ascending an unnamed spur to picnic point and Western Viewpoint. From here you will descend back into the gorge before traversing a narrow ridge and saddle back to the start of the Granties trail and the Ironbark Gorge Track which will return you to the start.

There will be plenty of rock scrambling, a few river crossings and a few steep ascents to get the heart pumping.

About the region

Werribee Gorge is a wild, rugged natural beauty shaped by 500 million years of geological history. A range of challenging walks amid the steep, river-washed gorge and surrounding rocky ridges offer spectacular views and access to a rock-climbing site within the park. The main feature of this park is the Werribee Gorge, through which the Werribee River meanders. This gorge has acquired some renown throughout the 20th century for its geological value.

Werribee Gorge has attracted the attention of geologists as one of the earliest known ancient glacial deposits, parts of which can be seen. The 200m deep gorge was formed about a million years ago when movements along a fault in the Earth's crust steepened the river's gradient. Since then the stream has continued to deepen the gorge through underlying rock to ancient sediments deposited in a sea more than 400 million years ago. Other geological events that have since occurred include the advance and retreat of an ice sheet and the inflow of volcanic lava.

Getting there

Werribee Gorge State Park is approximately 11.6km west of Bacchus Marsh via Ironbark Road (Ballan-Ingliston Road) from Bacchus Marsh-Balliang Road."

Tips

This is an unofficial off-trail hike without formed trails or signage. You will need to be confident with navigation and steep and rocks ascents and descents.

GPX File

Total distance: 6969 m
Max elevation: 399 m
Min elevation: 174 m
Total climbing: 528 m
Total descent: -527 m

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2 thoughts on “Werribee Gorge Offtrail (6.9km)”

Candice says:

13/02/2016 at 21:05

Friends and I attempted the trail today. Tracks were closed. Does archive mean that the trail is no longer available? Thanks.

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1. Darren Edwards says:
  
  14/02/2016 at 20:23
  
  Hi Kathy. When you say tracks were closed were there signs in place saying so other than the one near needles beach? That sign has been in place for years but you can still follow the spur. This is an unofficial off-trail hike, meaning there are no trails so it a matter of navigating on your own.