Hike at a glance
Length
Duration
Difficulty
Trail type
Route details
Max elevation: 1481m
Min elevation: 1079m
Total Ascent: 857m
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
Uneven terrain and steady climbs
These walks require a reasonable level of fitness and confidence on rough ground. Expect hills, rough surfaces, and sections with steps or short, steeper climbs.
While not technically difficult, these tracks are no longer "easy" and can feel demanding over distance, especially in heat or with a pack. Some bushwalking experience is recommended, particularly for managing footing and pacing. Distances can extend up to 20km.
Worth knowing: Many hikers underestimate Grade 3 when conditions change or fatigue sets in.
Planning information
Preparation matters: Plan your 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 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 browse accommodation in nearby towns: Belgrave, Emerald, Healesville, Lilydale, Marysville, Monbulk, Montrose, Mount Dandenong, Olinda, Warburton
Explore the region
About the region
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Photo gallery
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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
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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.
11 Reviews on “Lake Mountain & Keppel Hut Hike (25km)”
Was one of my favourite spots to run my dog team. Keppels was always our snack spot.
Media: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3559338774338972&set=p.3559338774338972&type=3
Thanks for reminding me of this one!
It’s a great walk to introduce people to an overnight hike!
Stewart Proper absolutely. I keep telling people Beeripmo Walk is a great starter for an overnighter and often forget about this one too.
Nice day hike this one. Also good as a relatively easy overnighter, camping near Keppel Hut.
I just completed the hike yesterday. Gould Track is non-existant, and the local map that I obtained (last updated Jan 2017) doesn’t even show it. I couldn’t find either end of it, so I think it’s safe to say that the track has been completely abandoned.
Upper Taggerty Rd is still closed (this includes walkers). They have cleared most trees, there are only a couple dozen left to climb over. Keppel’s Hut Walking Trail is also closed to walkers (not sure why, only closed on the Ski Field side). Lady Talbot Drive is also closed from Lower Beeches for tree removal, and I’m unaware of the status of McFadyen Tk, so it’s possible that Keppel’s Hut is (supposed to be) inaccessible to all traffic, both foot and vehicular. I expect that by spring this year (2023) this should be all cleared up.
For Keppel’s Hut Walking Trail and Boundary Hut Trail, you will want long pants that can withstand going bush. While the trail isn’t difficult to follow, there are sections that are nearly completely overgrown. There are trail markers, and there is still only one route to push through easily, so it’s reasonably straightforward navigating through it despite that. Just, don’t wear shorts. You will regret it.
Other than that, it’s a pretty decent hike. Total hiking for me was probably 7-8 hours, and I camped at Keppel’s Hut overnight. However, I did skip the Lake Mountain Summit. Views were, unfortunately, largely ruined by cloud and fog, so that detour wasn’t all that worth it for me.
Interestingly, a lot of this route follows the 7 Peaks Run markers, but I can’t find any routes by that name on this site. Might be something to look into.
Thanks Nathan. Yeah, that trail has been gone for quite some time. Bit of off trail if anyone is ever keen, but much easier to walk around. Thanks for the tip on the 7 Peaks Run. I’ll look into that. Cheers
This circuit is not currently (April 2022) viable as the Lady Talbot Drive Hazardous Tree Removal Project has closed off all of the access routes to Keppel Hut, including the full length of Upper Taggerty 4WD Road and the trails starting from Panorama.
Thanks for the update Richard
Keppells Hut is a great spot. Have run dog teams into there for the last dozen or so years when the snow conditions have been right.
Fantastic history to this Hut, rebuilt in 2011 after the Black Saturday Fires. Sadly the old log books were destroyed which detailed many people’s trips to the Hut.
Kyle Hura – spring time walk!
Laura Adams Wendy Hsieh
Laura Adams why not
Leona Xu good (but hard) question! ?
Marnie Houghton Kirsty Sims let’s do dinner and games night soon to plan!
Matt Keeble !!?
When you going to pony up son ?
Let’s go..
Matt Keeble total coverage. Get willow to pack snowshoes
Matt KeebleLETS GO !
Matthew Paulding Lets do it !
Mid November.. anybody interested?
Might do this over my Xmas break.
Mish Hannan wanna do this with me one day?
Nice idea
Not sure how it works with Trail Hiking Australia if an official organizer is not available. Is it possible to propose a Meet-Up?
One of our obstacles, a washout from the river.
Possibly Aneeta Pillai
Ray Murray as if we would
Really keen to do this! Looks like really good fun!
Samantha Smith Kirsty Sims we need to plan on pls
Vaughan Bowman