Emerald to Cockatoo Trail

The Emerald to Cockatoo Trail follows an old railway alignment through the Dandenong Ranges, with dogs welcome on lead for the whole 13.5 km return distance. The only hard restriction sits at the Emerald end, where dogs are kept out of the water and the wading pool area at Emerald Lake Park.

The walk

Thirteen and a half kilometres return, rated moderate, on a well formed gravel surface that stays gentle underfoot. Allow three and a half to four hours end to end and back, and expect the distance rather than the climbing to tire a dog out.

Most people start behind the Gemco Players Community Theatre on Kilvington Drive in Emerald and follow the yellow arrow markers south through Wright Forest to Alma Treloar Reserve at Cockatoo. The route runs through Mountain Ash and fern gullies beside the Puffing Billy line, with glimpses of the steam trains on the historic bridges.

Leash status

Cardinia Shire Council and Puffing Billy Railway manage the corridor and dogs stay on lead the length of it. Inside Emerald Lake Park, dogs are not permitted in the water or in the wading pool area, so a hot dog gets a drink from your bottle rather than a swim.

Within Wright Forest, keep to the designated management vehicle tracks rather than branching into the reserve. Several trails in the neighbouring Dandenong Ranges National Park are closed to dogs altogether, so read the signage at junctions instead of assuming a side track is fair game.

Water

Bring your own. Water points thin out once you are into the forested sections, and the lake is off limits for swimming.

Watch-outs

Max: the trail runs beside the Puffing Billy line. A steam whistle at close range is a lot of noise for a sound-sensitive dog, so pick a weekday when the trains are not running.

Getting there

Parking sits behind the Gemco Players Community Theatre in Emerald. Toilets are at Emerald Lake Park and at Alma Treloar Reserve in Cockatoo. If you would rather walk one way, the 695 bus links Emerald and Cockatoo and connects back to the train at Belgrave.

More walks nearby

Pepis Land Dog Off Leash Area in Emerald is the local off-lead run, and Alma Treloar Reserve gives you the same at the Cockatoo end. The Cockatoo to Gembrook Trail picks up where this one finishes.

When to go

Early on a weekday is the sweet spot, while the trail is quiet and the trains are not running. Weekends bring families and cyclists to the shared path, so keep your dog on a short lead through the busier sections.

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