Hike at a glance

9,688

Quick overview: The Little River Gorge Walk is an 800m return trail in Snowy River National Park, beginning and ending at the Little River Gorge Carpark. This moderate hike takes approximately 30 minutes and includes a steep ascent that rewards you with views of the deepest gorge in Victoria. The path traverses rugged terrain, so ensure you are prepared for the conditions as you navigate this scenic route.

Length

800m

Duration

30 mins

Difficulty

Grade 3 (Moderate)

Trail type

Return

Trail details

Max elevation: 855m
Min elevation: 795m
Total Ascent: 59m

Start: Little River Gorge Carpark

End: Little River Gorge Carpark

Location: Snowy River National Park

State: Victoria

Nearest town: Buchan

State capital distance: 421km

Latitude: -37.07932938926402

Longitude: 148.3239805698395

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 and conditions 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 the trail

Difficulty

Route map

Preparation

Getting there

Photos

The region

Weather

About this trail

Important information

It's important to note that while much of the Little River Gorge Walk is graded as Grade 2 (Easy), the track is given a Grade 3 (Moderate) rating overall due to its steep sections, as per the Australian Walking Track Grading System. These steeper parts require a bit more effort, but the rewards are well worth it, with spectacular views waiting at the lookout.

Route in detail

The Little River Gorge Walk is a rewarding yet challenging short hike, set within the stunning Snowy River National Park in Victoria. At 800 metres in length, this Grade 3 trail is steep in parts, making it a good choice for those seeking a bit of adventure. Typically taking around 30 minutes to complete, the walk leads you to one of the most impressive viewpoints in the region.

From the start, the track descends to the lookout, guiding you to a stunning vantage point over the Little River Gorge. Carved into the landscape over thousands of years, the gorge is a remarkable feature of the park, its deep ravine formed as the river carved its way through volcanic rock. As you make your way along the path, you'll be treated to awe-inspiring views of this natural wonder, with one of the ridgelines towering 600 metres high, making it Victoria’s deepest gorge.

What makes the Little River Gorge truly special is not just its depth, but the beauty of the surrounding landscape. The cliff-top views are dramatic and expansive, offering a unique perspective of East Gippsland’s rugged terrain. As the walk return back, the views remain just as impressive, making the return journey as memorable as the initial descent. This is a hidden gem of the region, a perfect destination for those looking to experience the raw beauty of Victoria's natural world.

Little River Gorge

Little River is a substantial waterway within the Snowy River catchment, situated in the alpine region of Victoria. It is one of two rivers bearing this name that feed into the Snowy River, the other being located in Kosciuszko National Park. Originating below Mount Stradbroke in a remote alpine wilderness within the Alpine National Park, the Little River flows generally southeast before re-entering the Alpine National Park and traversing the Snowy River National Park. Eventually, it merges with the Snowy River west of the Sugarloaf. Over its 27-kilometre course, the river descends 842 metres, carving a dramatic path through the landscape.

Little River is more than just a name; it is a geological force that has sculpted a profound gorge through the surrounding volcanic rock over millennia. At 600 metres deep, this gorge is Victoria's most substantial and remains a hidden gem of East Gippsland. While the river's upper reaches are contained within remote wilderness, the lower sections are more accessible. Parks Victoria has established facilities, including walking tracks and viewing platforms, allowing visitors to appreciate the gorge's grandeur without undertaking strenuous hikes.

The traditional custodians of the land encompassing the Little River are the Bidawal and Nindi-Ngudjam Ngarigu Monero peoples.

Trail difficulty

Grade 3 (moderate) badge

Grade 3 (Moderate)

Moderate walks with some obstacles

Grade 3 walks may include short steep hills, formed tracks with some obstacles, rougher surfaces and many steps. Some bushwalking experience is recommended, and walkers may encounter natural hazards such as steep slopes, unstable surfaces or minor water crossings. Grade 3 walks are no longer than 20km.

Good to know: Not every Grade 3 characteristic will apply to every walk, so check the route description for the specific challenges of this hike.

Map and GPX file

Little River Gorge Walk (800m)

Map of the route “Little River Gorge Walk (800m)”: 0.66 km, 59 m of climbing and 59 m of descent, elevation between 798 m and 854 m. It is a loop that starts and ends at -37.07932, 148.32398 (latitude, longitude).

Total distance: 0.7 km
Max elevation: 855 m
Min elevation: 795 m
Total climbing: 59 m
Total descent: 59 m

GPX files, maps and content are copyright Trail Hiking Australia. Not to be copied, redistributed or uploaded to other platforms including AllTrails.

Preparation and safety

Plan and prepare

Australian conditions can turn a small oversight into a serious situation faster than most walkers expect. Even on a short walk, that means sturdy footwear, water, sun protection and a warm layer in case the weather turns. The day hike planning guide walks you through it.

The Hiking Safety Systems and planning calculators help you understand and close the gaps before you leave home. The Interactive Safety Scenarios show how small gaps turn into real incidents. If you’re new to planning hikes, start with the hike preparation guide.

Download the free 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.

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.

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Heading somewhere remote, off-track or overnight? Use the comprehensive trip intentions form instead, as your emergency contact will need more detail. Register your trip plan here →

Getting there and where to stay

Directions

To reach the Little River Gorge trailhead, drive approximately 67 kilometres north of Buchan. Follow Gelantipy Road out of Buchan and continue onto McKillops Road. The turn-off to the trailhead is clearly signposted.

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Photo gallery

Little River Gorge Walk (800m)

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Explore the region

About the region

Carved by one of south eastern Australia's great river systems, Snowy River National Park protects a long, rugged stretch of country where the Snowy River leaves the high country and cuts through deep gorges on its way toward the coast. This is one of the most remote parts of Victoria, with a landscape shaped by steep forested ridges, rocky river valleys and a strong sense of distance from the settled farmland further west and south. The park was reserved in 1979 and today covers more than 114,000 hectares, giving it a scale that helps explain why it still feels so wild and self-contained.

What stands out here is the variety packed into that rough terrain. Along with the big river corridor, the park includes places such as Little River Gorge and the Tulloch Ard area, where erosion has exposed dramatic escarpments and sheer-sided country. Vegetation changes noticeably from one part of the park to another. Tall forests of Alpine Ash occur in wetter areas, while drier slopes and valleys support open woodland, and the broader alpine management plan notes that Snowy River National Park contains cool temperate, warm temperate and dry rainforest. That range of habitats is one reason the park supports an unusually diverse mix of wildlife for a single region.

The Snowy itself is central to the park's identity. It bisects the reserve as it passes through Tulloch Ard Gorge, linking the higher country to the east Gippsland lowlands and giving the area much of its structure and atmosphere. The wider management setting also recognises large protected tracts of wilderness within the park, including the Bowen and Snowy River wilderness zones, which helps preserve the sense of an expansive, largely undeveloped river landscape rather than a collection of isolated sites.

Cultural history here is layered as well. Within Snowy River National Park, New Guinea Cave is one of the places included in the 2010 recognition and joint management arrangements with the Gunaikurnai people, whose native title was recognised across much of Gippsland that same year. While that arrangement applies to a specific place within the park rather than the whole park, it is part of the broader story of Country in this region and a reminder that these river valleys and forested ranges have a much longer human history than the park boundary suggests.

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Weather on the trail

The map shows the rain forecast for the trail area. Use the toggle in the top right corner to switch layers, including wind, temperature, UV index, thunderstorms, fire danger and weather warnings. Windy is a forecast model, not an official warning service. Check the Bureau of Meteorology for current warnings before you go.

Trail reviews

10 Reviews on “Little River Gorge Walk (800m)”

Overall rating

Leona Xu

Erryn Stephensaddd it to your list?

22/01/2025, 00:22

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Peter Jolly

Not grade 3 though and the path is in great condition.

21/01/2025, 18:26

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1. Trail Hiking Australia
  
  Peter Jolly land managers have graded this 2-3. As it has some steep sections the grade it carries relates to the most challenging aspect (grade 3) according to the AWTGS.
  
  22/01/2025, 00:18
  
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  1. Peter Jolly
    
    I think the most i recorded on that was 12 degrees, but i think it was where one of the water cuts had been made like they do on dirt tracks. You could walk down it in thongs to be honest.
    But then, who am I to rate them, I crawled up a 50 degree un tracked spur on the weekend rather than use a track that was 500mtrs further along.
    
    22/01/2025, 08:25
    
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  2. Trail Hiking Australia
    
    Peter Jolly the grades can be subjective and who really knows if they visited the track before grading it. I try to follow land managers grading where they exist and include notes, like the one on the hike that says it’s predominantly grade 2. It’s really not a lot of elevation change so I don’t disagree with you.
    
    22/01/2025, 09:41
    
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2. Darren Edwards Trail Author
  
  Thanks Peter. Land managers have graded this 2-3. As it has some steep sections the grade it carries relates to the most challenging aspect (grade 3) according to the AWTGS. Gradings like this can sometimes be misleading so I’ve included a note at the start of the walk to address this.
  
  22/01/2025, 15:32
  
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James Lukassen

Nice little walk and a beautiful lookout 👌

21/01/2025, 10:36

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1. Trail Hiking Australia
  
  James Lukassen totally agree.
  
  21/01/2025, 10:39
  
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Trail Hiking Australia

This is a very cool gorge. Well worth the visit if you are in the area as its a long drive for such a short walk otherwise.

21/01/2025, 08:36

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Acknowledgement of Country

Little river gorge walk (800m) - trail hiking australia

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.

Curated by: Darren Edwards | Trail Hiking Australia

Last checked:

August 13, 2026

Hike at a glance

Trail details

About this trail

Important information

Route in detail

Little River Gorge

Trail difficulty

Grade 3 (Moderate)

Map and GPX file

Preparation and safety

Plan and prepare

Let someone know

Getting there and where to stay

Directions

Accommodation nearby

Travel arrangements

Photo gallery

Explore the region

About the region

Discover activities

More hikes nearby

Silver Mine Walk (16.5km)

Mount Stradbroke Track (11km)

Tulloch Ard Lookout Walk (3.2km)

Mount Cobberas Circuit Hike (15.1km)

Explore hikes by town

Weather on the trail

Trail reviews

10 Reviews on “Little River Gorge Walk (800m)”

Leave a Review. Cancel reply

Notice something different about this trail?

Acknowledgement of Country

Curated by: Darren Edwards | Trail Hiking Australia

Last checked:

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