289. White Swan - Saw Pit Gully Hike 10.7km Glen Park State Forest

 U3A Hike No 289


Hike Report by Terry Bowring


Nine hikers attended the hike which commenced at the intersection of Codes Forest Road, James Hill Road and Black Snake Track, then along the Goldfields Track in the Glen Park State Forest north-west of White Swan Reservoir.  It was perfect hiking weather.

Just after Codes Forest Road, the hike saw us proceed in the north-eastern direction along the Goldfields and other tracks, including Shuttleworth Road, until Wolfes Road which we followed until we reach our northern most point of the hike near  Chapel Flat.  We then re-joined the Goldfield Track back toward Shuttleworth Road, following  a section of the original Goldfields Track (which ran parallel to Shuttleworth Road), rather than walking along the road, crossed Saw Pit Creek and stopped for morning tea.
 
After morning tea we continued in a south-western direction until reaching Codes Forest Road, where we changed to a south-eastern heading back toward the cars.  On our way back toward the cars, we diverted to a lookout that provided views across Invermay to Lake Wendouree and Ballarat.  While the lookout was a deviation, all agreed, the view was well worth the addition hundred metres or so.  We then re-joined the Goldfields Track and returned to the cars for a relaxing lunch.

The hike included reminders of the gold mining of the 1800s with several mine shafts and water channels.  The hike was excellent and included hilly bush country, a track along a water channel and eroded 4WD tracks at gully crossings.

Overall the hike covered a distance of approximately 10.7 kilometres.

Photos by Andrew Parker and Terry Bowring






















LINKS

DOWNLOAD A GPX ROUTE FILE FOR GARMIN ETC.

INTERACTIVE MAP

LOOKING BACK:- A HIKE IN 2019

ORIGIN OF THE TERM 'UNDERDOG'








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