Zig Zag Trail

The Zig Zag Fire Trail climbs from the end of Kanimbla Valley Road in Collinsvale up towards Goat Hills, a steady switchbacking ascent along a wide gravel fire trail with open views over kunanyi/Mount Wellington, the Derwent and south towards Hobart. Depending on how far you push, figure on roughly 1.9 km one way or up to about 5 km for the fuller Goat Hills loop, and allow one to two hours for the return.

Leash status

Dogs are allowed on lead on this fire trail, which is shared with walkers and mountain bikers. Keep your dog leashed the whole way and carry out the waste. That is not a formality: much of the surrounding Wellington Park network, including tracks closer to the summit and the drinking water catchments, bans dogs outright, so this trail is one of the few dog-legal climbs on the mountain's north-east side. There is also a separately named Zig Zag Track inside the park proper where dogs are not permitted, so confirm you are on the Fire Trail starting from Kanimbla Valley Road before setting off.

Max: the two Zig Zag names get mixed up constantly. If the signage says dogs prohibited, you are on the Wellington Park track, not the fire trail.

Water and hazards

There is no creek, tap or any other water source on the trail and nothing at the trailhead, so carry enough for both of you. The gravel surface is easy to follow but turns slippery on the steep sections in wet weather, particularly on the descent. Powerlines and comms towers run along parts of the climb, mist can roll in and erase the views, and no bins or toilets exist at the start, so pack out everything you bring in.

Getting there and parking

From Hobart, head out through Glenorchy and Berriedale onto Collinsvale Road, then continue to Kanimbla Valley Road, where the sealed surface ends and the trail begins. Parking is informal roadside space at the hairpin bend near the trailhead, room for only a handful of cars, with a little more about 250 metres back down the road. No public transport reaches the trailhead, so plan on driving.

When to go

Weekdays and early mornings are quietest; weekends bring more walkers and mountain bikers sharing the same narrow trail. This suits dogs that are solid on lead and happy with a sustained climb, and it is a poor match for dogs that struggle on steep grades. Check the weather before committing to the full climb, since the top can be socked in while the valley is clear.

More walks nearby

For a flat warm-up or a quieter leg stretcher afterwards, the Collinsvale Fenced Dog Park is in the village, and the New Town Falls Track is another bush climb on this side of the mountain. Agent Cooper in Glenorchy is the coffee stop on the drive back.

More routes are in the Tasmania dog trails guide and the Collinsvale destination page.