Eagle Peaks Circuit is a 26km, grade 5 hike located in the Alpine National Park, Victoria. The hike should take around 2 days to complete.

Length: 26km

Duration: 2 days

Grade: 5

Style: Circuit

Start: Sheepyard Flat

End: Sheepyard Flat

Location: Alpine National Park

Closest town: Mansfield

Victoria

From state capital: 226km

Longitude: 146.3462591

Latitude: -37.19385287

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Hike overview

Eagle Peaks are located in the heart of The Governors Remote & natural Area of the Alpine National Park, a remote area above the Howqua River. The Eagle Peaks Circuit is an extremely challenging hike that should only be undertaken by experienced hikers.

The circuit commences at Sheepyard Flat. Follow the gravel road from Sheepyard flat until you reach a walking trail that runs over to and alongside Lickhole Creek. Follow this trail until you reach the summit of Mount Darling.

From the summit, descend into Lickhole Gap and climb steeply onto the Eagle's Peaks. The entire spur from Mount Darling, through Lickhole Gap and up to Eagle Peaks is quite overgrown and requires a lot of bush bashing. The spur is steep and rocky in places and requires that you dont have a fear of heights or exposed ledges with the terrain being near-vertical in places to the 1,445 metre summit. Once on Ealge Peaks follow the narrow and rocky ridge line west, picking up the Eagle Peaks Track back to Dubons Flat. Turn left at the road junction and follow the road back to Sheepyard Flat.

Be prepared

This hike requires that you have a sufficient level of equipment (in good working order), fitness and self-reliance. A PLB is also highly recommended as this is a remote area. The last water source is located in the creek crossing just before the ascent to Mount Darling. You will need to collect enough water to get you to your camp site and through the second day.

Route and GPX file

Total distance: 26205 m
Max elevation: 1407 m
Min elevation: 444 m
Total climbing: 1752 m
Total descent: -1755 m

Download file: Eagle Peaks Circuit.gpx

Trail location

Getting there

From Mansfield, continue along the Mount Buller Road for 19.5km to Merijig, then a further 2km to the Howqua Track turnoff on the right. Follow the unsealed Howqua Track for 16.5km to Sheepyard Flat.

Camping is available at Sheepyard Flat and if you wanted to make this a two day hike you can also camp on the saddle or summit of Mount Darling.

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About the region

The Alpine National Park is a national park located in the Central Highlands and Alpine regions of Victoria, Australia. The 646,000-hectare national park is located northeast of Melbourne. It is the largest National Park in Victoria, and covers much of the higher areas of the Great Dividing Range in Victoria, including Victoria's highest point, Mount Bogong at 1,986 metres and the associated subalpine woodland and grassland of the Bogong High Plains. The park's north-eastern boundary is along the border with New South Wales, where it abuts the Kosciuszko National Park.

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Reviews

1 Review on “Eagle Peaks Circuit (26km)”

Overall rating

Darren Edwards Trail Author

Received an update from a group who attempted this hike on 25/02/2023. We attempted this hike but couldn’t get through lickhole creek track to Mt darling due to huge blackberry infestation. Was super slow going have to cut/break down the blackberry. Turned back very cut up.

27/02/2023, 12:24

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James Bell

I’ve attempted this one twice, both times starting from Sheepyard Flat, but going clockise and anti-clockwise. To date I haven’t managed to complete the circuit. Going clockwise in May 2020 we ran out of daylight and water, camped near the final ascent up Eagle Peaks and then returned back the way we had come the next day. The second time in late 2021 going anti-clockwise the path 6-7km along the river was completely overgrown with blackberries – so I decided to turn around and try again another day. I will attempt this again, I hear the section near Eagle Peaks is great – but everything leading up to it is pretty miserable!

30/03/2022, 16:00

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