The Buller Stirling Loop offers a rewarding two day circuit through some of the most varied and atmospheric country in the Victorian Alps. Beginning at the foot of Mount Buller beside the Delatite River, the route climbs steadily from cool valley forest to the broad alpine ridges that link Buller, Howqua Gap and Mount Stirling. Over the course of thirty four kilometres the landscape shifts constantly, from towering mountain ash to twisted snow gums and finally to the open high plains that frame both summits. The descent along River Spur and the string of crossings on the Delatite bring a completely different feel on the second day, returning you to the valley through quiet forest and clear running water. It is a journey that captures the full character of this part of the high country, offering challenge, variety and the sense of travelling through a genuine mountain environment.
Stage 1: Mirimbah to Bluff Spur Hut via Mount Buller and Mount Stirling (18.5 km)
The Buller Stirling Loop begins quietly beside the Delatite River at Mirimbah, where the surrounding forest rises steeply toward the alpine country above. From the small carpark on Loch Street, near the toll gate entrance to the Mount Buller Resort, the Klingsporn Bridle Track slips into shadow as it climbs the northern flank of Mirimbah Spur. The grade is steady from the start, following the broad line of the spur through mature forest where the light filters softly through tall mountain ash and the understorey carries the cool scent of damp leaf litter.
As the track works its way upward it rises into a more defined ridge system, and the feeling of being held in a deep, sheltered valley gradually recedes. After several kilometres the trees thin and the trail crests onto McLaughlan Shoulder, a wide and reassuring saddle. Thank Christ Corner marks this point with a name that perfectly captures the relief many walkers feel when reaching it. The route remains true to the spur, climbing directly rather than diverting onto the lower side tracks that branch off here. The walking is honest and persistent, with the ridge drawing you upward at a natural pace that rarely feels forced but offers little opportunity for a real rest.
The character of the forest changes as you gain height. Mountain ash gives way to snow gums, their twisted forms shaped by decades of wind and winter storms. The air cools noticeably, and the ground begins to show the shallow, rocky soil typical of the high country. The spur remains clear and well defined, making navigation straightforward even as the trees thin further. As you approach the upper mountain the route merges with the higher resort trails and management tracks, gradually transitioning out of the enclosed forest into more open alpine terrain.
Nearing the summit, the start of the Summit Nature Walk is reached, where signage guides you toward Mount Buller’s highest point. This final climb is short but sharp, lifting you onto a broad, rocky crown marked by a trig station and cairn. The summit offers sweeping views across the Victorian Alps, with the Crosscut Saw, Mount Howitt, and the far ranges of the Alpine National Park visible on clear days. Even when cloud rolls through, the sense of height and exposure adds to the experience.
Descending from the summit, the trail drops toward the Buller Village, weaving between ski runs and infrastructure that feels strangely quiet outside winter. This is a handy place to refill water, take a short break, or shelter if conditions deteriorate. Leaving the village, the route swings south toward Howqua Gap Hut, following a mix of management tracks that undulate across the broad shoulders between the two mountains. The walking is easier here, with long stretches of gentle grade providing a welcome change after the steady climb up McLaughlan Shoulder.
From Howqua Gap Hut, the track to Mount Stirling climbs through snow gum woodland, a peaceful and atmospheric section where the forest opens just enough to give glimpses of the higher slopes ahead. The gradient is moderate but consistent as the trail wraps around Stirling’s flanks and eases onto the wide, rounded summit. Mount Stirling offers a different kind of alpine experience than Buller, more open and expansive, with broad snow plains and low vegetation that allow views in nearly every direction.
A final descent along the Bluff Spur Track leads to Bluff Spur Hut, a simple but welcoming shelter perched on the edge of the snow gum forest. Campsites surrounding the hut offer flat ground, shelter from the wind, and a sense of quiet that settles beautifully as evening arrives. It is an ideal overnight stop, with enough distance behind you to feel immersed in the high country but close enough to the next day’s descent to allow for a relaxed evening.
Stage 2: Bluff Spur Hut to Mirimbah via River Spur and the Delatite (15.5 km)
Leaving Bluff Spur Hut in the morning feels like stepping into a new landscape. The descent from the hut begins gently, following the old alignment of Stonefly Trail and the River Spur Track as it drifts away from the alpine zone and begins the long journey back to the valley. The track narrows quickly once you are off the main ridgeline, slipping between snow gums, fallen limbs, and patches of regrowth. The upper section has a mixture of open views and enclosed forest, and the sense of dropping away from the high country becomes more apparent with every turn.
Further down the spur the slope steepens and the forest becomes denser, with tall alpine ash replacing the snow gums. The air grows warmer and more humid, carrying the scent of damp soil and leaf litter. This middle stretch of the River Spur Track is a continuous descent, sometimes sharp, sometimes more relaxed, but always trending down toward the watercourses far below. The track eventually begins to follow the natural drainage lines, leading you toward the first crossings of the Delatite River.
The walk now shifts into a completely different rhythm as you settle into a series of crossings and river flats. The Delatite is shallow during normal conditions, though colder and swifter after rain or snowmelt, and it winds through a corridor of rich green forest that feels a world away from the exposed alpine ridges above. Each crossing along the Delatite River Trail offers another chance to pause and appreciate how quickly the environment changes in these mountains. The river provides numerous places to take short breaks and refill water if needed, though treatment is recommended.
The final kilometres follow the river closely as it carves a broadening valley toward Mirimbah. The trail becomes gentler, the forest softer, and the ground more level as you approach the picnic ground where the circuit began. The sound of the river remains constant until you step out at the edge of Mirimbah Park and return to the grassy clearing that marks the end of the loop. Looking back toward the high ridges, it is easy to appreciate the scale of the country you have covered and the varied landscapes you have passed through in just two days.
