Inner Circle Rail Trail

The Inner Circle Rail Trail is a 5km sealed shared trail through Melbourne’s inner north, following the former Inner Circle railway between Royal Park in Parkville and Rushall Station in Fitzroy North. Just a few kilometres from the CBD, it’s an easy urban ride combining railway history, leafy neighbourhoods, parks and plenty of opportunities for a coffee stop along the way. The trail is predominantly asphalt and concrete with easy gradients, making it suitable for riders of most abilities, including families and newer cyclists. It passes through or alongside Royal Park, Princes Park, Carlton North and Fitzroy North, with attractions including Melbourne Zoo and Edinburgh Gardens close to the route. There are plenty of reminders of the old railway along the way, including the former North Carlton Station, North Fitzroy Station platform, railway cuttings, gatekeeper infrastructure and overhead stanchions. The original Inner Circle railway opened in 1888, with passenger services ending in 1948 and the line finally closing in 1981 before being transformed into the linear park and cycling corridor seen today. The trail is now part of Melbourne’s popular Capital City Trail and provides useful connections with the Merri Creek Trail and Upfield shared path, making it easy to incorporate the old railway into a much longer ride around inner Melbourne. RTS Tip: At only 5km, the Inner Circle is an easy ride on its own, but its real value is as a connector into Melbourne’s huge shared-path network. Link it with the Capital City Trail, Merri Creek or Upfield paths for a much bigger adventure. It’s also a busy commuter and recreational route, so expect plenty of other cyclists, runners and walkers, particularly at peak times and on weekends.