Hogs Back Track (Easy Up Track and Descent Track): Walking Guide, Time & Access

Route overview

This walking and biking track leads from Castle Hill Village to Texas Flat / Mt Cheeseman Road.

This DOC directory entry covers Hogs Back Track (Easy Up Track and Descent Track) in Canterbury, within Craigieburn Forest Park. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.

Distance, time and grade

• Distance: 7.4 km one way
• Walking time: 2 hr 30 min
• DOC grade: Intermediate

Access and alerts

Source checked 2026-10-08. This page is a dated snapshot, not a live track-status report. Check current DOC route information immediately before travelling. An absence of listed alerts does not establish that a route is open.

Dog access

Dogs allowed. Keep dog under control at all times. Other pets on conservation land rules.

Description

There are two tracks accessing the Hogs Back from Thomas Bush carpark. The normal return track (Hogs Back Track) starts near the end of the carpark. It is recommended that walkers and cyclists should take the “Easy Up Track” to access the Hogs Back track.

From the Thomas Bush carpark, walk about 80 m along the Water Intake Road, passing the Hogs Back track entrance sign. The Easy Up track climbs through beech forest onto the Long Spur ridgeline, meeting the Hogs Back track after 2.8 km (45 min).

After following the ridgeline, the track then descends across the open flats below Long Spur to the beech forest at Long Creek. A ride through the beech forest is followed by a short climb up the true right of Waterfall Creek. After crossing Waterfall Creek, the track then traverses across to the western side of the Hogs Back ridge before dropping down to Texas Flat (via Ernie's Mistake).

The return ride back to Castle Hill Village can be made either by taking the reverse track route (using the Hogs Back descent track, rather than the Easy Up Track) or by riding 4.7 km down the Cheeseman Skifield access road to SH73 and then 2.3 km along SH73 back to Castle Hill (note this section of SH73 includes a 90 m climb).

This track can also be linked directly with Dracophyllum Flat Track.

Getting there

You can start this track from Water Intake Road, reached by walking from Thomas Bush car park. The carpark is located about 200 m beyond the end of the Castle Hill village (houses) on Castle Hill Drive.

Know before you go

• No horses

• No motorbikes

• No fires

Be ready for alpine weather

This is an alpine area and people should be prepared for extremes of weather. Always check the forecast before you go. Weather forecasts for Mt Cheeseman and Canterbury High Country

Carry warm layers, a waterproof raincoat and sun protection. Find packing lists here.

Shared use area

This track is used by walkers and mountain bikers – be respectful of other users. Mountain bikers should go slow and be ready to encounter walkers.

Sources and reuse

Route descriptions and practical information reproduced from the Department of Conservation, Crown copyright, under CC BY 4.0, subject to DOC's copyright policy. Formatting has been adapted, including flattening page sections; follow the original DOC page for maps, section-specific layout, current notices and linked documents. Outdoor Next is independent and is not endorsed by DOC.

The accompanying photograph is a licensed general hiking illustration, not a photograph of this route.