Bogong High Plains Circuit (82km)

1 Review on “Bogong High Plains Circuit (82km)”

• Chris Palamountain

  I completed this route (solo) 17-21 Mar 2025. It is a FABULOUS hike, definitely challenging and firmly in the Grade 5 difficulty level. I share these notes to complement the excellent notes on the website, for others planning or considering this hike.

  Day 1 – Mountain Creek Campground to Cleve Cole Hut
  – Taking the Staircase route, it took me 4 hours to reach Mount Bogong from Mountain Creek Campground (I consider myself an average pace hiker)
  – Saw one Red Bellied Black Snake on the ascent to Mt Bogong. Glad I packed the snake bite bandage!
  – Cleve Cole Hut water source: Follow the track in front of the hut 170m.
  – Cleve Cole Hut has mattresses!

  Day 2 – Cleve Cole Hut to Johnstons/Edmondsons Hut
  – Big River: I was able to cross using stones, this would depend on rainfall of course.
  – Ropers Hut: A brilliant location for lunch or a break.
  – At the intersection of Johnstons/Edmondsons Hut I met a school group heading for Edmondsons. So, I camped at Johnstons! While the track to Johnstons is slightly longer I thoroughly recommend. It is a beautiful hut in sublime setting. However, only the small front room of the hut is accessible to visitors. This room could sleep 3 at a squeeze. A larger group would need to camp outside.
  – Water source at Johnstons Hut is a nearby creek with very good flow.

  Day 3 – Johnstons to Spion Kopje
  – Falls Creek Resort has free public showers/bathrooms. You can also charge your electronics here.
  – At time of visit there was only one option for food in Falls, the café/restaurant in the main resort complex. Prices are reasonable considering the location.
  – Access the trail to Rocky Valley Creek from within the grounds of the YCMA. It feels like you’re trespassing at first, but that’s where you go. Don’t follow the Parks VIC signs or you’ll end up on Junction Spur Fire trail, as I did!
  – Replenish water supplies at Rocky Valley Creek. For me, the next easy water source wasn’t for 24+ hours, at Bogong Creek.
  – The ascent out of Rocky Valley Creek is VERY STEEP and seems never ending. You have been warned!
  – As noted, campsite options on/near Spion Kopje are very limited. I did see an excellent spot on Little Spion Kopje, flat and with good vegetation cover. In hindsight I should have camped there. Instead, I ended up camping right on the trail/track just over the crest of Spion Kopje. Beautiful views across to Falls Creek but very exposed. Not recommended in adverse conditions. You could continue on and camp somewhere on Grey Hills Track, though here too options are limited.

  Day 4 – Spion Kopje to Michelle Hut
  – As noted, the start of Grey Hills Track is difficult to navigate. Look out for cairns, they are a godsend!
  – Parts of the track from Mount Arthur to Bogong Creek Saddle are extremely overgrown; some serious bushbashing is needed!
  – There is a water source (small creek) just past Bogong Creek Saddle. This may be your last easy water until Michell Hut.
  – Here’s where I deviated from the suggested route. Due to the inclement weather (notably strong winds) I decided not to camp at Michell Hut, as this would have required ascent of Mount Bogong. Instead, I hiked into Cairn Creek Hut, off Quartz Ridge Track. A word of warning…The track to Cairn Creek Hut is EXTREMELY overgrown in parts and poorly marked, making pace and navigation very difficult. The approx. 2km into the hut took 60+ minutes, longer on the ascent out. However, it is certainly a remarkably beautiful and remote location. The hut itself is wonderfully rustic, like early gold prospectors just wandered out and never came back! One last thing: leeches abound here…

  Day 5 – Michell Hut to Mountain Creek Campground
  – Due to camping at Cairn Creek Hut instead of Michell Hut I decided to take the Staircase route down from Mount Bogong, instead of the longer Eskdale Spur.

  Thanks to Darren and his Trail Hiking Australia website, without which I would not have discovered this, and numerous other wonderful hikes.

  04/04/2025, 14:34

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  1. Darren Edwards Trail Author

     Thank you so much for sharing your detailed trip report! It’s fantastic to hear that you had such an incredible (and clearly challenging) solo hike. Your insights add so much value to the route description, and I’m sure future hikers will appreciate the extra details—especially about water sources, navigation challenges, and those alternative camping spots.

     It sounds like you had quite the adventure, from careful river crossings to unexpected bush-bashing and even a rustic detour to Cairn Creek Hut! Great call on adjusting your route due to the weather—those kinds of decisions make all the difference in the mountains. And yes, that ascent out of Rocky Valley Creek is definitely one to remember!

     I really appreciate your kind words about Trail Hiking Australia. It’s always rewarding to hear when the site helps people discover and prepare for hikes like this. Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience—I’m sure it will help others tackling this route. Wishing you many more great adventures ahead.

     04/04/2025, 14:41

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