Lerderderg Heritage River Walk

The Lerderderg Heritage River Walk is an 8.9 km circuit along the Lerderderg River from Jack Cann Reserve at Blackwood, through gold country wet forest and ferny gullies. Dogs on lead are allowed on this particular walk, which is the exception rather than the rule in Lerderderg State Park, so it pays to know exactly where the boundary sits before you set off.

The walk

AllTrails puts it at 8.9 km and grades it moderate, about two and a half to three hours moving. It runs on a mix of established fire trail and narrower riverside track, past historic water races and the remains of the Crown Dam wall. The start is at Jack Cann Reserve, opposite the Garden of St Erth, with toilets and picnic tables at the trailhead.

Leash status

Parks Victoria permits dogs on lead on the Lerderderg Heritage River Walk, on Byers Back Track and at O'Briens Crossing. They are prohibited in the park's conservation and reference area zones, at Mackenzies Flat and on the Lerderderg Gorge Circuit.

Those are hard boundaries, so read the signage at junctions rather than assuming a side track is fair game. Prospecting and digging are not allowed along the trail, and solid fuel fires are banned in this section.

Water

The river is beside you for most of the circuit, and the shallow stretches give dogs a chance to cool off. There is no drinking water at Jack Cann Reserve, so carry everything you both need.

Watch-outs

Max: old mine shafts sit off the edges of this track and they are not all fenced. Keep the dog on the formed trail, and do not let a lead run out into the scrub while you read an interpretive sign.

Getting there

From Melbourne take the Western Freeway, exit toward Greendale and continue to Blackwood, roughly an hour and a half. Park at Jack Cann Reserve on Simmons Reef Road, opposite the Garden of St Erth. The trailhead suits 2WD vehicles and public transport does not realistically reach it.

More walks nearby

The shorter Whipstick Loop Walk covers the same country in less time, and Blackwood Mineral Springs Caravan Park takes dogs if you want to make a weekend of it. The Little Leaf and Bean Cafe in the village handles the post-walk coffee.

When to go

Autumn and spring, in the morning. Check Parks Victoria alerts after heavy rain, because the river rises and the low crossings go first. Good for big runners with a long attention span.

More options are on the Victoria dog walks guide and the Blackwood destination page.