Trail summary
Hike overview
Commencing in the heart of Baw Baw's Alpine Village the Mount Baw Baw 3 Peaks Circuit traverses some of the most scenic alpine terrain as you hike amongst the snow gums and enjoy magnificent valley views which stretch out endlessly over Gippsland.
From the carpark follow the Mount Baw Baw Tourist Road to the Information Centre. You will need to locate the Baw Baw Village Trail as it heads south from this point. Continue along the La Trobe Trail and follow this east until it intersects with the Village and Summit Trails. The Village Trail will take you across Long Plain so you will want to keep left at this point and follow the Summit Trail as it winds it way to the summit of Mount Baw Baw (1564m).
From the summit, follow the trail north west and keep an eye out on your right for a link track leading to McMillans Trail. Follow McMillans Trail north east beyond Anthill Lookout to the junction of the Village Trail. Turning right, head north and walk to National Park Junction where you will find the trail leading to Mount Saint Gwinear. Turn tight and follow this trail to the junction of the Australian Alpine Walking Track. Turning right again, head south east over the summit of Mount Saint Phillak (1556m) and keep walking until you locate the Mount Saint Gwinear track on your left. This track will take you to the Mount Saint Gwinear summit (1509m).
From the summit, continue to walk east for approximately 1km until you locate a trail on your left. Follow this trail as it returns west below the summit and returns you to the Australian Alpine Walking Track. Retrace your steps north along the Australian Alpine Walking Track for around 1.2km but ignore the first trail on your left (this trail is n ow overgrown). Walk a little bit further and take the next trail on your left (the one you were on earlier) which will return you to the Village Trail. The trail now heads west and continues to the Five Ways junction. At the junction locate Muellers Track on your right and follow this along its length back to the Alpine Village and your start point.
Tips
It is recommended to hike this circuit during non-winter months only as some of the trails traverse ski runs.
This hike can also be started at the Mount Saint Gwinear Carpark, east of Mount Saint Gwinear. Following the circuit from here allows you to stop at the Baw Baw Village for lunch.
Note, this trail was last updated 25 January 2018 following feedback about an overgrown 1.5km section across the Baragwanath Flats
Map and GPX file
Max elevation: 1567 m
Min elevation: 1456 m
Total climbing: 527 m
Total descent: -528 m
Getting there
Closest towns to this walk: Noojee, Willow Grove, Tanjil South, Erica, Rawson
The turn off from the Princes Hwy (M1) is at the Drouin / Mount Baw Baw exit. Continue along via Noojee along the Main Neerim Rd (C426), Follow this road through Noojee where it will then follow into the Mount Baw Baw Tourist Road (C426). Travel through Icy Creek and Tanjil Bren before reaching the resort gates then continue to Car Park No 1. Last major fuel stops is at Longwarry (before you exit the Hwy)
Photo gallery
If you’ve got some great shots from this hike, I’d love to see them! Please upload your .jpg files here to help inspire other hikers and show off the beauty of the trail.
A quick note: Uploading your photos doesn’t mean you lose ownership. You’ll be credited for any photos you share, and you can request to have them removed at any time.
Track grade
Grade 3 (Moderate) - Walks for Most Fitness Levels: Grade 3 on the AWTGS represents moderate walking tracks. These are ideal for walkers with some fitness who are comfortable with some hills and uneven terrain. While suitable for most ages, some bushwalking experience is recommended to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Tracks may have short, steep hill sections, a rough surface, and many steps. The total distance of a Grade 3 walk can be up to 20 kilometers.
About the region
The Baw Baw National Park is a national park located on the boundaries between the Central Highlands and Gippsland regions of Victoria, Australia. The 13,530-hectare national park is situated approximately 120 kilometres east of Melbourne and 50 kilometres north of the Latrobe Valley.
Suggest an edit
Spotted a change on this trail? Maybe there are new features, the route has shifted, or the trail is permanently closed. Whatever the update, I’d love your input. Your feedback helps fellow hikers stay informed and ensures that our trail info stays fresh and reliable.
Similar trails nearby
Looking for things to do in Baw Baw National Park or nearby? Try these similar hikes or bushwalks.
Let someone know
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Before you hit the trail, take a moment to fill out our trip intentions form. It’s a simple way to share important details about your hike with family or friends. If things don’t go as planned and you’re not back on time, they can easily notify emergency services, helping to ensure a quick response and reducing worry. Enjoy your outdoor adventure knowing that you’ve taken a smart step for your safety.
Gear to consider
What you carry in your pack depends on factors like weather, terrain, time of year, the type of adventure, and your personal preferences. Unsure what gear to bring? My free planning, food, and packing checklists offer a great starting point, covering essentials for day hikes, overnight trips, and multi-day adventures. Use them as a guide to customise your kit to suit your needs, always prioritising safety above all else.
Explore safe
Plan ahead and hike safely! Always carry enough water and pack clothing layers to adapt to changing conditions. Bring essential safety gear, including a torch, a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), and a reliable communication device. Check official government sources for trail updates, temporary closures, and access requirements. Before heading out, review local weather and bushfire advice, including warnings and planned burns. Most importantly, let someone know your plans before you go. Being prepared ensures a safer and more enjoyable hike! Stay Safe, Explore More, and Always #ExploreSafe
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.
3 Reviews on “Mount Baw Baw 3 Peaks Hike (15.5km)”
Tim Alexander
Tess Maree
After completing this hike on the weekend, I think it’s worth mentioning that the 1.5km section linking the Village Trail to the Australian Alpine Walking Track across Baragwanath Flat has not been maintained and is now very overgrown. In many places along this section, the trail has all but disappeared which makes navigating this section very slow and challenging. It also requires a lot of ‘bush-bashing’ through thick prickly scrub which is not enjoyable. Especially if there has been recent rain! I would suggest taking the more northerly route (from National Park junction) across this section in both directions as that trail is very good.
Hi, we really liked this walk, the scenery was really beautiful and not too difficult, however we made a mistake to start off with and had a lot of trouble finding the actual entry to the national park. The maps on the boards at Baw Baw village don’t actually say where the National park starts, which is where the actual walk proper begins so we did multiple circuits of Mount Baw Baw before actually finding the National park and the start of the track to Mount Saint Gwinear. We added at least 2 hours to our walk. If you start from Baw Baw Village the easiest way to find the national park is to walk up the mountain beside the first ski lift you come to. Part way up there is a sort of fence made of big bands. Just after this there is a track to the left and when you walk a little way you will see a marker saying village track and that is what you need to follow to find the national park. All the tracks in the ski area are well marked with markers along the way but they snake around the mountain making it difficult to know where to head to. We had copied the instructions and map on the website but just couldn’t get it to work. (On other walks they worked perfectly) There are maps available at information places which have the ski routes marked as well as the national park, it is helpful to bring one of those along.
Andrew Long
Bridy-Anne Sargant…an option for March?
Did part of it 2 weeks ago. 6 km round trip.
Emma Withoff Liam Kennedy Doran Tessa Withoff
Great feedback. Thanks for the trail update Adam
Great run out on the this trail today but a big lesson learned. Always read the comments regarding trail conditions.
Further to Adam’s comments above that 1.5km section between the village trail across the Baragwanath Flat is now bordering on impassable. With the trail being either covered in thigh deep prickles or waist to chest deep dense shrubs. It wasn’t a fun 45mins getting through this.
There is a fairly new looking information map at the National Park Junction off the Village trail that I found on the way back to baw baw. This section of trail in not on the map.
If you are planning on doing this hike I recommend following village trail up and making it an out and back. Give this section of the trail a pass.
Helen Letitia and Craig Thomas Irvine
Hi Donna. You would have to camp outside of the Baw Baw Resort Boundary. You could camp on Gwinear Flat which is in a valley directly north before you commence the ascent of Mount Saint Gwinear
Hi Trail Hiking Australia thanks for this. Would it be possible to camp anywhere along this circuit?
I’m in when we going?
Kate Wildes
Looks liken awesome day hike!
Lyndal Peterson Melanie Baker
Really wish I’d read the comments first. ((This trail needs to be updated!!)) As both Adam and Benn mentioned, that 1.5km section of trail across the Baragwanath Flat no longer exists. My girlfriend and I struggled to get through for 15 minutes, before turning back.
I highly recommend wearing the proper protective gear in the summer months. We spotted one Eastern Brown snake while hiking. Another local mentioned seeing three Tiger snakes that same afternoon.