Turn right onto the Craigieburn Environmental Education Centre road (gravel).

This pleasant walk through mountain beech forest begins at the Centre. You can have a close look at the different stages of beech tree life, and what grows on the trees - lichens, mosses and a small insect which secretes honey dew ( a small droplet of sweet liquid that birds feed on). Between late December to february the red flowers of the native mistletoe can produce patches of blazing colour in the tree canopy.

Common native birds living in this area are Rifleman, Bellbird, Tomtit and Graywarbler.

Walk past the gate, following the road to another locked gate at it's highest point. Follow the signposted track to the summit. From Bridge Hill there are panoramic views of Castle Hill Basin and the Torlesse Range in the east; look for the distinctive Torlesse 'notch' in the ridge. The Craigieburn Range in the west rises to a high point of 2294 metres at Mount Enys.

Walk up the road for about 500m to the Environmental Education Centre, the track is signposted from it's car park. The other end of the track is by another locked gate on the highest point of the road. The track passes through an area that was used for trial planting by the Forest Research Institute from 1956 to the mid 1970's, much of this is being removed now.

Return to the Jacks Pass by walking along the road.

The track leaves Jacks Pass and gradually descends to Broken River, which is crossed on a low pole bridge. The clearing is 10 minutes up through mountain beech forest.

A popular picnic site (NO OPEN FIRES!), this sheltered clearing is covered by red-brown Dracophyllum, native tussock and a host of small herbs and ground covering plants.

Return the same way for the short walk version, alternatively from the clearing you may continue on to Texas Flat, a further 30 minutes walking (Mt Cheeseman Ski-field road).

This is a mountain tramp and people should be prepared for extremes of weather, take a topographical map and compass.

The track climbs on an overgrown forestry track, zi-zagging it way up the hillside until it breaks tree-line at 1300m. In winter anywhere beyond here is in avalanche terrain!

The trail sidles up and across the hillside to Camp Saddle (1485m).

Apart from the magnificent views this tussock and scree saddle offers many interesting botanical specimens. Growing amongst the rocks are tiny plants that have adapted to the harsh environment - including celmisia, gentians and edelweiss.

This version of the walk only goes to the saddle. There are other options available from the saddle, but these are much longer, and follow unmarked routes. Visit the Craigieburn day walk page for further information.

The track crosses Cave Stream and grassy terraces before sidling steeply through regenerating mountain-beech forest to Lyndon Saddle.

Be aware that there is avalanche risk as the track approaches Lyndon Saddle. Avalanches originating on Helicopter Hill can come through the forest and across the track. We recommend walking this track outside of winter and early Spring, when there is no snow on Helicopter Hill.

There is a junction with other tracks at Lyndon Saddle. You can return back the way you came to Craigieburn picnic area, or continue on The Luge Track or Helicopter Hill Track.

From the car park, walk towards Castle Hill village on Castle Hill Drive for 300m. Turn onto Trelissick Loop Rd and follow that for a further 220m to Thomas River Track start. Follow the track for 200m into Thomas River and cross the river. This river can rise extremely rapidly during rainfall, do not to attempt to cross it if the river is running high or discoloured.

Continue following the track for a further 150m to the turn-off to the Leith Hill Loop track. After 150 m on this track a junction is met, the right-hand track is the normal ascent track, and the left-hand track is the easier return route on the loop.

Follow the right-hand track into the beech forest. The track follows a high terrace above the Thomas River. After 500m the short link track to the Thomas River track is met (300m, 5mins).

Continuing on the loop track, the track climbs onto a ridge, then continues climbing, getting progressively steeper as you approach tree-line. The track breaks tree-line and gently sidles around to the highest point on the loop at 1014 m with wide mountain views over the Castle hill basin.

The return route on the loop track re-enters the beech forest, descending rapidly on steep track back to the lower river terraces and meeting the ascent track junction. There are two unbridged creek crossings on this section of track that can pose a problem in heavy rainfall.

From the carpark, follow the gravel road (Water Intake Road) for 850 m, keeping right at the road fork. The road slowly descends to the Thomas River and the track starts in the small clearing beside the river.

Cross the river if it is safe to do so. However, this river can rise extremely rapidly during rainfall, not to attempt to cross it if the river is running high or discoloured.

The track immediately turns left, following the forested lower river terrace downstream. The track crosses the St Andrews College Lodge Rd after 550 m. The track then continues along the higher river terrace for 500 m, then meeting the Leith Hill Loop track junction.

From here, descend the steep zig zag track to the river, crossing it, then climb up another step zig zag on the other side that leads into Castle Hill Village.

The track ends at Trelissick Loop Rd. Turn left and walk 220 m to Castle Hill Drive, turn left again and walk 300 m to return to the carpark.

Please note that this track is not well marked, and Water Intake Road does not exist on many maps.

From Thomas Bush carpark, follow the gravel road (Water Intake Road) for 1 km, keeping right at the road fork. The road ends at the Thomas River (Water Intake).

There is presently no sign or markers marking the Water Intake walking track. There is a small sign on a tree indicating the “Marbar Track”. Follow this track, taking the slightly uphill right branch 80m from its start.

The track slowly climbs for a further 300m until it meets the Hogs Back Easy Up Track. Turning right, it is 1.2 km (20 min) back to the Thomas Bush carpark. Turning left it is 1.6 km (25 min) to the Hogs Back track junction.

Coal Pit Spur Track begins on Craigieburn ski field access road, not long after the turnoff from SH73. The track crosses a terrace, then drops down to Craigieburn Stream.

It crosses the stream – there is no bridge, so assess the stream before crossing. If the stream is high or you are not confident crossing, then we recommend staying turning around.

The track follows the stream, then climbs gradually away from the stream. It crosses the base of Coal Pit Spur before dropping to Manson Creek and following the creek down to the track end. This also involves another unbridged stream crossing.

The Sidle 73 Track connects the Craigieburn Picnic Area on the Broken River Ski Field access road with the Craigieburn Ski Field access road. This allows people to do loop rides or walks over Lyndon Saddle and avoid a return trip along the state highway.

Sidle 73 Track begins at the Craigieburn Picnic Area. In part the trail uses an old 4WD track and has been constructed as a walking and biking track of intermediate grade. After around 1 km, the track ends on the Craigieburn Ski Field access road, not far above the state highway turnoff.