Hike at a glance
Length
Duration
Difficulty
Trail type
Route details
Max elevation: 1832m
Min elevation: 1351m
Total Ascent: 1403m
Check current conditions
Track conditions, access and closures can change quickly due to weather, fire, maintenance or safety concerns. Always check the relevant land manager’s website before you visit. Trail Hiking Australia does not provide real-time track and closure monitoring, and land managers remain the authoritative source for current alerts, closures and access restrictions.
About this trail
Trail difficulty
Steep, rough, and demanding
These are challenging walks suited to experienced hikers. Expect sustained climbs, rough and uneven terrain, and longer distances.
Tracks may be less defined, and signage can be limited, so navigation awareness is important. These walks require good fitness, confidence on difficult terrain, and the ability to manage fatigue over time.
Safety note: Fatigue, poor navigation, or a sudden weather change can turn a hard walk into a serious situation.
Planning information
Preparation matters: Plan your multi-day hike well and bring the right gear, weather-appropriate layers, food and plenty of water. Before you head out, read up on bushwalking safety and use this multi-day hike planning guide to make sure you're ready. Need help getting started? Check out the full hike preparation guide.
Map and GPX file
Safety and preparation
Think safety first
Australian conditions can turn a small oversight into a serious situation faster than most walkers expect. The Hiking Safety Systems and planning calculators are designed to help you identify and close those gaps before you leave home. Work through the Interactive Safety Scenarios to see how incidents unfold, then use the tools to build your plan and make sure a trusted contact has your trip details before you head out.
Let someone know
Before you go, complete a trip intentions form and share it with a trusted contact. Agree on a Late-Back Time and ask them to call 000 (Police) if you have not checked in. A clear trip plan is one of the simplest and most effective safety steps you can take, and it only takes two minutes.
Heading somewhere remote, off-track or overnight? Use the comprehensive trip intentions form instead — your emergency contact will need more detail. Register your trip plan here →
Free checklists
Download the hiking preparation and safety checklists before leaving home to help you think through your plans. They help ensure important considerations are not overlooked and support safer decision-making on the trail.
Getting there and where to stay
Need a rental car to get you to the hike? Find one here →
Accommodation nearby
Find hotels, cabins, and campgrounds near the trailhead. Click the button below to open an interactive map automatically centred on this hike's location — no searching required.
Or search accommodation in nearby towns: Benalla, Bright, Dinner Plain, Falls Creek, Harrietville, Hotham Heights, Mansfield, Mitta Mitta, Mount Beauty, Mount Hotham, Myrtleford, Omeo, Porepunkah, Tawonga South, Wangaratta
Explore the region
About the region
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Photo gallery
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Your photos can help others plan. Share shots from along the trail so fellow hikers know what to expect.
Weather on the trail
The map below shows the rain forecast for the trail area. Tap the toggle in the top right corner to explore other layers including wind, temperature, UV index, thunderstorms, fire danger, and weather warnings — all useful for planning a safe hike.
Trail Reviews
Notice something different about this trail?
Whether it’s a new feature, a route change, or a closure, share your update so we can keep our info accurate and helpful for fellow hikers.
Acknowledgement of Country
Trail Hiking Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we hike and pay respects to their Elders, past and present, and we acknowledge the First Nations people of other communities who may be here today.
5 Reviews on “Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing Hike (37km)”
Live this hike. The Fainters fire trail circuit is also excellent
Zoe Belfield would love to do this again?
any tips for how to get between Falls and Hotham if you leave your car at one end? are there transfers at all do you know?
Hey everyone, has anyone done this hike in winter? Thanks 🙂
Has anyone done this or has any views on doing this hike Falls to Dibbins Hut (2 nights) and then turn around on day 3 and return to Falls in a day (Light-ish pack)? Avoiding transfer logistics 🙂 Cheers
Brenda Belfield very true! I might relocate!!
Brenda Belfield yes one day ¸
Cassandra Meehan Easter options ‘Truckie and Midge go walking’ ????
Did this a couple of weeks ago as a return from/to Falls, skipping the last bit between Dibbins and Hotham which I find the least beautiful bit anyway. Followed the official map from Falls to Cope (first night), then from pole 333 to Weston, Blair and then to Dibbins (2nd night), then Dibbins back to pole 333 and the shortcut to Falls creek. You can either make a straight line to Pretty Valley Pondage and then Falls or from 333 to Tawomba huts and then Falls (which is the official shortcut the Falls Creek Visitor Center had recommended – they also have a map showing this, they were really helpful). That was a stunning way to go because you don’t really backtrack anywhere and on the way to Weston Hut (great place to camp, probably the cutest hut I’ve seen) you get amazing views of Feathertop. The track to Blair from Weston requires lots of fallen-tree-climbing, do make the small detour to Blair’s hut, it’s such a beautiful place next to the stream, perfect for a cuppa. Bit of a slog uphill from Blair to Dibbins.
Hi Larissa,
Thanks for the great insight.
Do you remember approx how far in km the revised last leg was (replacing the 9km on the standard trail)? Or if not, how it compared to the first two days..
Looks a fair bit further on the map.
We are interested in following your lead but just want to make sure the last leg is still palatable in terms of distance/effort.
Thanks,
Mike
Forest Air Helicopters operate a transfer service from either Falls to Hotham or Hotham to Falls. So you can leave your car at one end or the other. The helicopter ride is about 8 minutes.
Hey Laura – we have the same issue. Shuttle transfer only operates in peak summer. There is a taxi service for $300 (will take 6 people). Otherwise u have to take two cars. Cheers
Hey Laura. You can arrange a shuttle transfer. Best bet is to check out the details in the falls creek website. http://www.fallscreek.com.au/attractions/falls-to-hotham-crossing-shuttle
Hi Larisaa,
What are the approximate times it took you to walk between Cope Hut and Dibbins via Weston and Blair? Also from Dibbins back to Falls via Tawomba huts?
Hi Larissa,
We are doing falls to hotham next month but we are contemplating hiking to dibbins hut and back next day to falls. We are only doing one night so will park at cope hut and walk from there. You could maybe park at Langford Gap carpark which will save a bit of walking on the return.
I so want to do this hike !
I want to do this!! soooon
Kerryn!!! YES!!!
Marion Roberts I have no cars, boo. 🙁
Michael Neal
My wife and I will doing this in December. So looking forward to it!
thanks guys
thanks Marion