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Length: 2.2km
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Duration: 45mins
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Grade: 2
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Style: Return
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Start: Lyell Highway
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End: Lyell Highway
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Location: Wild Rivers National Park
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Closest Town: Derwent Bridge
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Distance from CBD: 209km
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State: TAS
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Latitude: -42.191565
Longitude: 145.940698
Keep the Trail Access info current...

Select items to indicate conditions for access to the trail.


2WD Access


4WD Access


Public Transport


Bitumen Road


Gravel Road


Steep Road


Winding Road


Speed Bumps


Vehicle Ford


Entry Fee


Large Car Park


Small Car Park


Accessible Parking


Accessible Toilet


Public Toilets


Drinking Water


Untreated Water


Picnic Shelter


Picnic Table


BBQ Facilities


Campfire Pit


Camping Area
Keep the Trail Features current...

Wild Rivers National Park...
Select items to indicate features found along the trail.


Concrete Path


Timber Boardwalk


Gravel Path


Sandy Trail


Rough Trail


Undefined Trail


Prams & Strollers


Manual Wheelchair


Motorised Wheelchair


Bicycle Trail


Mountain Bike Trail


Historic Rail Trail


Dog Friendly


Urban Walk


Coast & Beach


Historic Lighthouse


Waterfalls & Lakes


Rainforest Walk


Goldfields & Mining


Heritage Walk


Aboriginal Art


Alpine Region


Alpine Huts


Exposed Ledges


Rock Scrambling


Steep Terrain


Bush Bashing


River Crossings


Scenic Viewpoints


Well Marked


Drinking Water


Untreated Water


Fishing Spots


Swimming Spots


Overnight Campsites


Trail Running


Horse Riding
Hike Summary
Enjoy wilderness views of mountain tops and the Franklin River after this short walk. The track climbs a small hill at an easy grade and lands you perched and protected on a rocky lookout point.
Highlights
Donaghys Lookout offers a spectacular window into the wilderness of the Wild Rivers National Park. Dominating the skyline is the quartzite half dome of Frenchmans Cap, a challenging bushwalk. Below is the junction of the Collingwood and Franklin Rivers.
Frenchmans Cap
The magnificent white quartzite dome of Frenchmans Cap (1446 m) is the most prominent mountain peak in the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park. The silvery Precambrian quartzite is some of Australia’s oldest exposed rock.
The summit can be reached by a walking track that passes through buttongrass plains, unusual rainforest where Huon pine grows alongside King Billy pine, and spectacular glacial valleys, up to Lake Tahune, perched under the huge and spectacular cliff face of Frenchmans Cap. The track is considerably more arduous than many other Tasmanian walks, including the Overland Track. To do the summit climb you must have good weather and a good head for heights and exposure. Most walkers spend between 3 and 5 days completing the return trip, a distance of about 23 km each way.
About the region
The Western Wilderness
Getting there
Located on the Lyell Highway (A10) between the Franklin and Collingwood rivers.
Tips
Park entry fees apply. (Lake St Clair or Queenstown are the closest places to obtain a pass.)
Picnic and toilet facilities located at the Franklin River 9km away.
Supervise children, unprotected track edges.
No pets, firearms or bicycles.
GPX File
Max elevation: 516 m
Min elevation: 459 m
Total climbing: 87 m
Total descent: -87 m
For more information about this hiking trail please visit Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania