The trail starts in Caroline Springs, on to Burnside continuing through to Albanvale and then Deer Park. The trail starts as a concrete path in Caroline Springs, where Caroline Springs Boulevarde crosses the creek. Some 2 km later use the road section from Westwood Drive to Bilungah Place. This leads to a gravel section and a ford to access the east side of the creek. A 1 km concrete path leads to a small footbridge near the Deer Park Secondary College at Deer Park. If the ford is flooded, a nearby road route can be used to access this footbridge instead. Navigation is then straightforward with sealed concrete paths on both sides of the creek arriving at Station Road. After an easy road crossing at Station Road the path continues on the south bank along Gurnung Drv and crosses to the north bank, then through Cairnlea to Cairnlea Drive. From here pedestrians cross the Western Highway and then proceed east to Moore Park in Ardeer to the Western Ring Road Trail.
Middle section (uninterrupted)
The trail then runs directly and uninterrupted from Moore Park, Ardeer to Albion, then Sunshine and onto Brooklyn. The trail passes close to both Albion and Sunshine stations and also has easy access to the Western Ring Road Trail at Moore Park and onwards to the Federation Trail in Brooklyn. the trail ends at this intersection with the Federation Trail.
Lower section
In July 2017 a new section of the Trail, connecting Grieve Parade to Barnes Road, was opened. This section is augmented along its length with sculptures created by Geoffrey Ricardo: "A strange trail of beasts, spirits and guardians". The one kilometre link from Grieve Parade to the Federation Trail is incomplete and is being delayed by the construction of the West Gate Tunnel. There is an existing rough track but is unsuitable for riders and becomes exceedingly muddy in winter. With relative easy, this track could be improved to at least make it passable, so that riders could use the trail, rather than waiting till the West Gate tunnel is completed in late 2023.
Lowest section
The Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail goes through Altona Coastal Park - site of the old Williamstown Racecourse. A lone palm stands guard over the remains of the old grandstand. North of the park, at the ford over Racecourse Road and also at the south end of the park, trails split off that lead to a single path, that heads westerly towards Millers Road. Nearby was the old Williamstown Racecourse railway station. At Millers Rd cross the road to the serenity of Cherry Lake. A 3.7 km path circumnavigates the lake. On the way bird life including pelicans can be seen. It makes for stark contrast in this heavily industrialised area.
Future expansion
The section from the Federation Trail to Cherry Lake is still incomplete. Once the upper and lower paths are joined, there will be an uninterrupted walking and cycling path all the way from Ardeer to Port Phillip Bay.
Connections to other bike paths
The northern end of the upper section connects to Western Ring Road Trail. The southern end of the upper section connects to the Federation Trail. The northern end of the lower section is a dead end at Cherry Lake. The southern end of the lower section connects to Hobsons BayCoastal Trail. Upper: North end at. South end at.
