This hike involves sections of off-trail navigation and exposes fragile ecosystems to damage. Due to the risk of environmental impact, this hike is strongly discouraged. Hikers are urged to respect the park and choose from the many established trails available.
The You Yangs Peaks Circuit is a 12.8 km, grade 4 hike in You Yangs Regional Park, Victoria, typically completed in 4 hours. This circuit is ideal for hikers seeking to enhance their off-trail navigation skills, as a significant portion of the trail bypasses formed paths and proceeds peak-to-peak. While the main trails at You Yangs are graded as level 3, this circuit's grade 4 rating is solely due to its off-trail navigation requirement. Navigation is straightforward as long as you maintain a course towards the peaks, minimising the risk of getting lost. It's advisable to attempt this hike only if you're confident navigating without formed trails.
Starting at Turntable car park, the You Yangs Peaks Circuit ascends 450 steps to Flinders Peak, offering expansive views of the You Yangs and the surrounding plains. From here, the trail continues off-trail, progressing peak-to-peak before reconnecting with the Northern Range Circuit following the final ascent of a granite tor. Along this route, hikers can navigate through overhanging rocks and encounter numerous opportunities for rock hopping, scrambling, and some unassisted climbing. Alternate routes are available for those uncomfortable with heights, ensuring accessibility across all sections of the hike.
You Yangs Regional Park is open daily from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm, including weekends and public holidays. Please note that the front gate is closed to vehicles each night.
Grade 4 (Hard) -
Challenging Walks for Experienced Walkers: Grade 4 on the
AWTGS signifies challenging walking tracks. Bushwalking experience is recommended for these tracks, which may be long, rough, and very steep. Directional signage may be limited, requiring a good sense of navigation. These walks are suited for experienced walkers who are comfortable with steeper inclines, rougher terrain, and potentially longer distances.
- The You Yangs is a great location for the family.
- Be careful on some trails as they are often used by walkers, hikers, trail runners and mountain bike riders.
- You Yangs Regional Park is open daily from 7:00am to 8:00pm, including weekends and public holidays. Please note that the front gate is closed to vehicles each night.
- There are nine picnic areas throughout the park, many with tables and accessible toilet facilities. The main picnic areas provide free gas barbecues on a first come basis. There are plenty of places to set up your own gas barbecue.
- Drinking water is available from the Visitor Centre drinking fountain.
- Please take all rubbish away for disposal or recycling.
You Yangs Peaks Circuit (return via East Walk) |Â 12.8km
This circuit returns you to the trail head via East Walk.
Total distance: 12756 m
Max elevation: 332 m
Min elevation: 70 m
Total climbing: 713 m
Total descent: -716 m
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You Yangs Peaks Circuit (return via West Walk) | 13km
This slight variation returns you to the trail head via West Walk rather than East Walk as per the hike above.
Total distance: 13044 m
Max elevation: 332 m
Min elevation: 70 m
Total climbing: 718 m
Total descent: -721 m
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Located just over 50 kilometres southwest of Melbourne in Little River, Victoria, You Yangs Regional Park is easily accessible by car. Follow the Princes Freeway (M1) for roughly an hour, with clear signage guiding you to the park entrance at 5 Branch Road. For those coming from Geelong, the park is a convenient 30-minute drive, approximately 25 kilometres away. The park itself is open every day for public enjoyment, but keep in mind closing times vary depending on daylight saving time.
- 2WD Access
- Bitumen Road
- Large Car Park
- Public Toilets
- Picnic Table
If you’ve got some great shots from this hike, I’d love to see them! Please upload your .jpg files here to help inspire other hikers and show off the beauty of the trail.
A quick note: Uploading your photos doesn’t mean you lose ownership. You’ll be credited for any photos you share, and you can request to have them removed at any time.
You Yangs Regional Park is part of an Aboriginal cultural landscape in the traditional Country of the Wadawurrung People. Parks Victoria respects the deep and continuing connection that Wadawurrung Traditional Owners have to these lands and waters, and we recognise their ongoing role in caring for Country.
Magnificent views, birdlife and a mecca for walkers, horse riders and mountain bikers - welcome to the You Yangs! The distinctive granite peaks of this park rise abruptly from the flat plains below. Flinders Peak and Big Rock have panoramic views out to Melbourne, which is just an hour away.
Explore over 50 kilometres of purpose-built mountain bike trails for beginners and experts. Ride easy, open dirt roads to technical, single-track and adrenaline-pumping downhill trailsor see the diverse scenery of the You Yangs from your car along The Great Circle Drive.
Climb Flinders Peak, the highest point in the You Yangs and be rewarded with uninterrupted views out to Melbourne and Geelong. Come with family or friends and picnic among the boulder-strewn landscape. Choose from nine designated picnic areas.
The You Yangs support a rich variety of plant species. Tall eucalypts such as manna gum, yellow gum and river red gum give way to sparse undergrowth of native shrubs and groundcovers. Patches of wattle and drooping sheoaks also occur. The endangered brittle greenhood orchid is one of 30 species of orchids found in the park.
The park provides a range of habitats for wildlife. More than 200 species of birds have been recorded and koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, brush-tail possums, echidnas and lizards are commonly seen.
Spotted a change on this trail? Maybe there are new features, the route has shifted, or the trail is permanently closed. Whatever the update, I’d love your input. Your feedback helps fellow hikers stay informed and ensures that our trail info stays fresh and reliable.
Looking for things to do in You Yangs Regional Park or nearby? Try these similar hikes or bushwalks.
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Adventure with Confidence: Register Your Trip Plans
Before you hit the trail, take a moment to fill out our trip intentions form. It’s a simple way to share important details about your hike with family or friends. If things don’t go as planned and you’re not back on time, they can easily notify emergency services, helping to ensure a quick response and reducing worry. Enjoy your outdoor adventure knowing that you’ve taken a smart step for your safety.
What you carry in your pack will depend on the weather, terrain, time of year, type of adventure, and personal preferences. Having trouble deciding what gear’s right for you? My free planning, food and packing checklists provide an introduction to things your could consider (as well as the Ten Essentials) on your day, overnight and multi-day adventures. Customise your kit according to your personal needs, always considering safety first.Â
While planning your hike, it’s important to check official government sources for updated information, temporary closures and trail access requirements. Before hitting the trail, check local weather and bushfire advice for planned burns and bushfire warnings and let someone know before you go. Plan ahead and hike safely.
2 Reviews on “You Yangs Peaks Circuit Hike (12.8km)”
It’s in my back yard and I am there often.
Lately I am picking up dog crap, people’s rubbish and roo bodies off the road.
People are traipsing off trail and destroying natural habitats and flora.
It’s not a big park and there is not a lot of space for animals to hide so they run onto surrounding roads.
Stick to the trails there are many.
Rez Rez oh that’s a very good point. I wrote up this hike many years ago when that park was not popular and I was practicing my off-trail navigation. So the impact was low and people were mindful. Will have to consider removing this one from my site as I’d hate the environment to be impacted.
Rez Rez I have added this note to the walk: This hike involves significant off-trail navigation and exposes fragile ecosystems to damage. Due to the risk of environmental impact, this hike is strongly discouraged. I urge hikers to respect the park and choose from the many established trails available. I will still consider removing it from my site but I know it is available on other platforms, so I hope the note encourages people to keep the the established tracks.
Darren Edwards thank you so very much.
Rez Rez my pleasure. Certainly didn’t want to encourage adverse impact on the environment
Mani Andreetta Joan VB Steven Parker Muriel Pepper Peter Ho
Koonung Bushwalking Club this part of the circuit I do when I am out there. I try making it a bit different and longer every time.
Muriel Pepper there’s so many possibilities for variation. Fun park to explore.
Trail Hiking Australia lots of possibilities using various modes: hiking, cycling, horseriding ….
Fun little hike this one. Half of it is offtrail so it’s been good for practicing map and compass navigation. Good features for taking bearing from and to.
Live this one. Great little off trail hike. Perfect for some navigation practice.
Where on the trail is that overhanging rock? I go to the You Yang’s at least once or twice a month and I’ve never been able to find it.
The overhanging rock (cave) is not in any of the known trails. You’d have to be following this walk and you can find the cave on the eastern side of the valley. I can’t share a pic here so it’s a hit hard to explain.
Tony Bayliss
Melissa Mathews Shane Mathews
Nicki Lowther
Stephanie
Stephanie Louise Betsarkis this sounds like a good starting hike.
Sandra Coutts Karen Millard Louise Cooke
Kim Mc Donald
Larissa Machado Tobias
Lawrence Lockwood
Cristina Almada let’s do this
Angela