Campbells and Ross Lookouts is a 7.5km, grade 3 Return hike located in Burrowa-Pine Mountain National Park Victoria. The hike should take approximately 3-4hrs to complete.

Summary

The Campbells and Ross Lookouts track departs from the Bluff Falls carpark and initially climbs up to the smaller Top Falls where Bluff Creek cascades into a narrow, wet gully. The track rises again to Campbells Lookout, a rocky escarpment that overlooks the steep cliffs and scree-covered slopes of Cudgewa Bluff. The turnoff to Ross Lookout is signposted and the track continues on up a broad ridge through Wild Cherry trees and Black Cypress pines. It offers excellent views from numerous vantage points.

Terrain on the way includes some steep pinches, slippery rocks and an 18-rung steel ladder. The upward toil reveals another large cascade, as well as some interesting mini-canyons that have been carved by Bluff Creek over the millennia.

Campbells is the more popular of the two lookouts and is a 1.4km return hike on its own. There is a steel safety barrier marking the end of the track.

Ross Lookout is for the tough, being a relentless climb up into the high country; take plenty of water and some food on this section as it is quite tiring. As with the lower sections, there are some steep pinches on the way, as well as some slippery rocks to negotiate. On the ascent, it pays to keep stopping to admire the views behind you, and to take a breather. Having arrived at the Lookout, there are several places to admire the view from, with the highest of these producing a neat valley panorama, showing Corryong to the hard left.

Camping

Basic visitor facilities are located at Bluff Creek, near the main entrance to the park, and also at Blue Gum Camp, Hinces Creek and Pine Mountain.

Getting there

The park is located approximately 120 km east of Albury-Wodonga and 25 km northwest of Corryong. It lies between the Murray Valley Highway and the Murray River. Access to many popular visitor areas is from the all-weather Cudgewa Bluff Road, which passes through the park and is a pleasant scenic drive.

From the Corryong area, take the Murray Valley Highway west for about 30km, and then swing right (north) onto Jeffcott and Jewels Road (there are a few variations on the spelling of this). Veer right at an unsignposted y-junction (two kilometres from the Highway), and then veer right at a y-junction signposted National Park. From here the roadway looks rather un-used, and quite grassy, however this is the correct route, and the roadway should be followed as it disappears into the forest. Ignore all of the side tracks leading off the main gravel, and continue through to a y-junction at about the 14km mark. Veer right here (ignoring Black Mountain Track) and follow this through to a small car parking area. Here there is a signpost indicating that Ross Lookout is a short uphill stroll away.

About the region

The Burrowa-Pine Mountain National Park is a national park in the Hume region of Victoria, Australia. The 18400ha national park is situated approximately northeast of Melbourne and east of Albury-Wodonga. The park stretches between Walwa Creek in the north-west and Cudgewa Creek in the southeast , both tributaries of the Murray River. There you will find Pine Mountain, one of the largest monoliths in the southern hemisphere, which is 1.5 times the size of Uluru. Another peak is Mount Burrowye.

Tips

• The park has limited permanent water sources – carry adequate drinking water when walking.
• Walking conditions can be rough and rocky areas slippery when wet – wear sturdy footwear.
• Cliffs and rocky bluffs occur within the park – be alert near the edge and look out for falling rocks.
• Remote walking tracks may be poorly defined – carry an adequate map and compass or GPS.
• Longer walking tracks require a good level of fitness and experience
  © OpenStreetMap contributors
  Total distance: 7519 m
  Max elevation: 1051 m
  Min elevation: 612 m
  Total climbing: 595 m
  Total descent: -593 m
  
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