Bartle Frere Trail (Josephine Falls) is a 15km, grade 5 hike located in the Atherton Tablelands, Queensland. The hike should take around 2 days to complete.
Hike summary
Climbing the summit of Queensland's highest mountain offers a challenging way to explore part of the World Heritage-listed rainforest of the Bellenden Ker Range in Wooroonooran National Park. From Josephine Falls, walkers can walk to the summit and return or continue on to Junction Camp at the Atherton Tableland (both walks are 15 kilometres and take two days). The trail starts at an altitude of 100 metres and rises to 1,622 metres at the summit; an average gradient of one in five.
Route and GPX file
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Trail Features
- Rough Trail
- Rainforest
- Rock Scrambling
- Steep Terrain
- River Crossings
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Untreated Water
- Swimming Spots
- Overnight Campsites
Gear you might need
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Location
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Access Conditions
- 2WD Access
- Bitumen Road
- Large Car Park
- Accessible Parking
- Accessible Toilet
- Public Toilets
- Picnic Shelter
- Picnic Table
Let someone know before you go
It’s a good idea to let someone know where you’re going. Fill in a trip intention form to send important details about your trip to your emergency contact. If you are lost or require help and have phone reception, call 000 and ask for police. The international standard emergency number is 112, if you dial this number in Australia you will be treated exactly the same as a 000 call. If you believe your life is at risk, activate your personal locator beacon (PLB), then make your position visible to rescue teams and keep warm and dry.
About the region
The Atherton Tableland is a fertile plateau which is part of the Great Dividing Range in Queensland, Australia. It is located west to south-south-west inland from Cairns. Although it is in the tropical latitudes, its elevated position provides a climate suitable for dairy farming. It has an area of around 32,000 km2 with an altitude ranging between 500 and 1,280 m (1,640 and 4,200 ft). The fertility of the soils in the region can be attributed to the volcanic origins of the land.
The principal river flowing across the plateau is the Barron River. It was dammed to form an irrigation reservoir named Lake Tinaroo. Tinaroo Hydro, a small 1.6MW Hydroelectric power station is located near the spillway.
For more information on this hiking trail, please visit Queensland.com
Gallery
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Let someone know before you go. Register your trip intentions here. Your trip intentions will be emailed to your emergency contact.
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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.