Silvan Dam

Silvan Dam
12km Circuit
377 metre elevation gain.
Moderate grade 3
Pace: 4km an hour

The Journey Begins
Starting from the overflow car park directly opposite the Silvan Dam entrance, your journey kicks off with a descent down a flight of steps. You will immediately plunge into a lush world of towering canopy and thick, semi-rainforest.

Tranquil Trails
The narrow trails underfoot are soft and quiet, carpeted by nature to offer a deeply peaceful walking experience. The path winds through a thick semi-rainforest that creates a deep canopy overhead. Gracefully twisting through a dense mix of native and exotic trees, the trail gives a sense of being lost in a magical, distant place even though it sits near the edge of suburbia. At this time of year the bright red berries of many holly bushes add a pretty pop of colour. Soon, you will cross a charming footbridge over a flowing stream.

Changing Landscapes
Leaving the lush canopy behind, the environment shifts into a drier, rugged native forest. The single trail continues to twist and turn, but the path becomes more adventurous. Numerous fallen trees lie across the track, inviting you to step over or navigate around these natural obstacles as you explore deeper into the bush.
From here, the trail descends toward the valley floor, dropping down to cross the flowing waters of Olinda Creek via a small footbridge. After crossing, the path quickly climbs up the opposite bank, emerging out of the dense bush onto a much wider, straight path. The landscape opens up around you as you transition to this broader path, leading directly into a steady, two-kilometre climb up the Pipeline Track.
For approximately the next six kilometres, the route follows wide forest trails flanked by towering eucalypts that stretch toward the sky. The forest comes alive with birdlife along this stretch. You will hear the delightful, musical chattering of rosellas and the occasional harsh, warning squawks of white cockatoos echoing through the canopy. Keep an eye on the ground, too, as inquisitive eastern yellow robins frequently dart along the edges of the path ahead of you. The tracks are a mix of flat trails, and gradual up and down hills.
Roughly two hours into the journey, we will arrive at the peaceful Eagle’s Nest Picnic Ground. Nestled deep within the trees, this is the perfect place to pause, unpack your lunch, and rest your legs while soaking in the quiet surroundings before tackling the rest of the loop.
The picnic ground boasts beautiful lawns of bright green grass, providing wide-open spaces to stretch out under the sun or shade. Equipped with handy picnic tables, it offers a comfortable and scenic setting to enjoy your meal, recharge, and take in the natural beauty all around you,
Packing up from lunch, the journey resumes along the steady, unsealed stretch of Eagles Nest Road before turning uphill toward the secure perimeter of the Silvan Dam. While a high safety fence keeps the water itself out of reach, walking along the boundary track adds a unique sense of scale and importance to the trek. Peering through the treeline and the fence line, you will catch glimpses of the vast, still reservoir waters glistening in the distance.
From the dam perimeter, the trail begins its long descent, eventually emerging onto Silvan Road. Here, you will step off the main roadside onto a final network of narrow forest trails. Soon, the landscape transitions one last time, swallowing you back up into the thick, dense bush where the journey first began. Following this familiar, magical path, you will soon arrive back at the stairs, leading you directly into the car park to conclude your adventure.

## 🎒 What to Bring

*1–2 L of water

• Picnic lunch + snacks
  *Sturdy walking shoes
• Weather‑appropriate layers (mountains can be cool this time of year)
  *Walking poles (optional for the steep section)

## ✔️ Requirements

• A reasonable fitness level
  *Ability to walk 12km with several moderate climbs, as well as being comfortable climbing over fallen trees (about 5 trees in the first section are lying across the track)
• Confidence on uneven forest trails
  *Comfortable moving at a conversational, group‑friendly pace

## ❤️ About Walking With Grace
Walking With Grace is a faith‑inspired, non‑profit community that welcomes people from all backgrounds and beliefs. Our walks are community‑led, volunteer‑run, and centered on connection, kindness, and enjoying nature together. Because Adventures Are Meant to Be Shared.