Carrum to Warburton Trail - Brushy Creek Connection

The Brushy Creek connection of the Carrum to Warburton Trail slices through Mooroolbark between Taylor Road and Hull Road, about 1.7km of wide sealed shared path with green pasture on one side and suburban back fences on the other. It is a pleasant leash-on leg stretch that hooks into the region's biggest rail trail network, not an off lead run.

The walk

The segment runs roughly 1.7km on a 3 metre wide concrete path, undulating with a few steeper pinches as it follows the Brushy Creek line. Green pasture and grazing land border one side, which is a novelty this close to Melbourne's eastern suburbs. The path links into the wider Carrum to Warburton Trail, so you can extend towards Croydon or Lilydale as far as the dog's paws fancy.

Leash status

Dogs are on lead at all times along the shared trail within Yarra Ranges. This is a high traffic corridor for cyclists, runners and scooters, so keep the dog close and on the side away from the bike line, and step off the path when you hear a bell. A short lead works better than a long one here; retractables are a trip hazard on a narrow shared corridor.

Water and hazards

There are no reliable dog water fountains on this stretch, so carry a bottle and bowl. The main hazard is fast bikes on the narrow path. The trail edges working pasture, so in the warmer months keep an eye out for snakes near the grass and creek line, and give the low creek sections a miss after heavy rain.

Getting there and parking

Access is from either end: street parking near the Taylor Road end or the Hull Road end in Mooroolbark, with limited spaces in both spots. Local buses serve the Hull Road area, and Mooroolbark station is a reasonable walk away if you want to arrive by train.

Max: Pasture on one side, bikes on the other, and a strict short-lead policy. Good trotting, poor hiding.

When to go

Weekday mornings are noticeably calmer than weekends, when cyclist traffic peaks and the path becomes a proper bike corridor. Early evening also works, but the grazing paddocks mean summer evenings can be warm and still; in the heat, go early.

More walks nearby

For an off lead run to bookend the walk, Hull Road Drainage Reserve Dog Off Leash Area sits right at the southern end, and Summerhill Park Dog Off Leash Area is a short drive north. After the walk, Manna Lane Cafe is a local coffee stop.

Plot more outings on our guide to dog friendly trails in Victoria or browse what else suits dogs around Mooroolbark.