The Hayden Track Loop is the orange loop in the picture above. It starts at the mineral springs on Golden Point Road, heads north to Shaws Lake, passes through Nuggety Gully area, Ruth's Gully before picking up Haydens Track which heads south to the gorge where it picks up Amblers Track (light blue) before heading back along Byers Back Track (red).

The section heading north from the mineral springs is a gradual rise from 500 metres elevation up to about 680 metres near Ruth's Gully. Haydens Track is relatively level following the ridge line with small roller coaster sections along the way.

At the end of Haydens Track there is a small moto track off to the right which heads down to the Amblers Lane camping area. This is not a regularly used trail but you can readily pick it out as you head down. At the time of writing, there were a number of trees down across the trail in the middle section so you have to skirt around these and pick the trail up again but it's not hard to do. It becomes a 4WD track as it gets closer to the camping area. I walk a short section of this as I normally ride this solo as it's quite steep but keener riders should be able to give it a go.

Personally I'd do the ride in the clockwise direction and drop into the gorge as the trail is quite rideable for most of it.

Please note that the section to the west of Haydens Track is Ruth's Gully Reference Area and entry to the bush on that side of the track is prohibited by law.

The description below is taken in the clockwise direction.

Please note there are a number of Hayden Tracks (numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4). Follow number 1 (also just known as Haydens Track). Hayden Track Number 2 goes into the prohibited reference area and there are no signs to indicate this. Tracks 3 and 4 are totally overgrown so you won't get confused with them. There are a number of other unnamed tracks as well so its worth taking a GPS or map to ensure you're heading in the right direction. There is a .gpx file link below.

The section at the base of Hayden's Track is relatively steep and should be walked on the steeper sections if you're not confident. This is short in length - probably 50-100 metres or so. This section can probably be ridden if you're an extremely confident rider and if you have company. Err on the side of caution if unsure as this is a remote area.

These trails are in a remote part of the forest so go prepared with additional water and food and be self sufficient in terms of being able to repair your bike.

Beware of snakes in the warmer parts of the year.

If you do get into trouble in the gorge, refer to your map as to the shortest way out. For this ride, if you are on the Ambler Lane section, follow the track back to Chettles Road. If on the Byers Back Track section, Gribbles Track  provides  a quick (but steep) way out to O'Briens Road. Reference to the map that you should be carrying will provide the best source of this information in this area. In the gorge, there are regular markers showing the distances out of the gorge.

From the Blackwood pub, head down Martin Street hill and turn into Whalebone Road. You can see a number of old log cabins that used to be more prevalent in the area - there's another group of them remaining near Simmons Reef as well. Alternatively you can just head down Golden Point Road on the bitumen to the mineral springs.

Turn right at the light pole (shown in third photo below) with the Great Divide Trail pointer on it and follow water course around to mineral springs area. There are some diggings along the way and just prior to the mineral springs is a swimming hole for cooling down in if it's a hot day. On the south side of the water hole is an old mine which you can have a look at (don't enter) to give you an idea of the style of adits which were dug in the gold mining days.

At the mineral springs bridge, check the depth of the water. This is simialr to what you will have to ford by walking at the Amblers Lane end. The water can be extremely cold in the winter so you don't want to get wet.

Head down Martin Street and onto Whalebone Road and pick up Great Dividing Trail on right near light pole.

The photos above show the trail along the old water course heading towards the mineral springs area.

Above is a picture of a water hole coming into the springs area - good for a swim on a hot day. Also Mineral Spring rotunda. There are two - one with iron water and the other with soda water. Good picnic facilities and caravan park as well. Head across the bridge and pick up the track on the left.

Trail up to to Shaws Lake (right photo) - used to supply water for sluicing and other mining operations. Good for a swim on a hot day also.

Start at the Rotunda and head down to the dam wall (on the left when looking from the rotunda) - cross the wall. Once across the wall, pick up the single trail off to the left and keep following it until you get to a fire trail where you head right to take you up to North Blackwood Road. There is a gully area of diggings about halfway along where the trail can be less obvious due to fallen trees and the like. If you get lost, just follow trails uphill and to the right anfd you will pop out somewhere along the road.

The trail finally comes out at a small fire trail - at the time I rode it there was a white quartz arrow as shown in the second photo below. Turn right up fire trail (if you turn left you can see the continuation of the water races) until you get to North Blackwood Road.

Coming in to end of trail.

Coming in to end of trail. If you come in the other way, look for marked tree in third photo above.

Once you hit North Blackwood Road, you can either follow the road or use the moto track that parallels the road on the left hand side (typically about 100 metres into the bush from the road). Head north until you get to Ruth's Track on the right hand side and enter it. There are two tracks very close to each other - the northern one is Ruths Track and is clearly signposted and has the gate which closes the track to vehicles over the winter period.

A fun little downhill section peppered with massive ruts from four wheel drives and nice and slippery clay in the wet down into a nice rain forest gully. The climb out the other side of the gully is gradual and the track is in much better shape generally.

The trail rises lightly before coming out at a reasonably open area which is the intersection with Haydens Track. Turn right and follow.

Haydens Track is a nice little fire trail with a roller coaster nature with slight up and down hills. Plenty of banksias and pink heath are in flower at the right time of year (April to June) and can make for a spectacular ride.

The trail finally comes to an area on a knoll where it weaves amongst the trees tightly to form a tight turning circle for 4WDs. In the photo below, you can see the moto trail off to the right of the trail - follow it and you will quickly drop down into the gorge.

Moto trail ducking off to the right near the turning circle
Sweet single track down the hill into the gorge - trail can be patchy in a couple of areas where trees have fallen but easily picked up again.
As you get towards the bottom, the trail opens out into a sketchy 4WD track
Coming into the Amblers Lane camping area - nice little camp site
Lerderderg River at Amblers Lane and camping area

From Amblers Lane camp ground, ford the river if safe and head up Amblers Lane on the other side until you get to Byers Back Track. Turn right and follow back to Blackwood.

	Parking is available at Blackwood town centre or the mineral springs ($2 entry fee).
	Toilet facilities are available at Blackwood (located on hill opposite pub) and at mineral springs.
	Drinking water is available at the gold stamper opposite the pub and at the mineral springs.
	Food can be obtained at the Blackwood Pub or Blackwood Provedore (both are good).
	Local area information can be obtained from the noticeboard to the right of the Blackwood Provedore.