The weather in the Alpine National Park can change quickly, so be sure to pack for all types of weather conditions. The Mount Cobbler Plateau Circuit hike is a challenging hike and is not suitable for all fitness levels.
An Epic Alpine Adventure: The Mount Cobbler Plateau Circuit
The Mount Cobbler Plateau Circuit hike is a challenging yet rewarding 29 kilometre circuit in the Alpine National Park, Victoria. The hike is typically completed over two days, with an overnight stay at either Lake Cobbler or open saddle at the junction of the Mount Cobbler Walking Track.
Day 1 (14.5km): The hike begins at the junction of Speculation Road and King Basin Road. From here, follow Speculation Road through numerous gullies until you reach the plateau and a trail junction. Turn left onto Little Cobbler Road and after around 800 meters you will reach the junction of Cobbler Lake Track. Follow this track for approximately 4 kilometers and you will reach Lake Cobbler and a possible camping ground for the night.
Dandongadale Falls: From Lake Cobbler there is a walking track to the nearby Dandongadale Falls. The falls drop 255 meters (837 feet) from the plateau and are the highest waterfall in Victoria. This is a short walk of approximately 2 kilometres return.
After visiting Dandongadale Falls, from Lake Cobbler, follow the Mount Cobbler Walking Track west for approximately 3 kilometres to a trail junction. This is a great open area that is often used as an overnight campsite. If you have time, you could leave your packs after setting up camp and take a 3km return walk to the summit for sunset see details at the start of day 2). Alternatively, your could rise early and visit the summit for sunrise.
Day 2 (14.5km):Â Turning north (right) from the junction campsite is a short, moderate, and steep 1.5 kilometre climb to the summit of Mount Cobbler. From the summit, you can enjoy amazing views of the surrounding peaks, including Mount Typo to the north-east, Mount Koonika and Mount Speculation to the south-east, and Mount Stirling to the south-west.
Return to Trailhead: After leaving the summit, follow the trail back to the junction and instead of following the track past the campsite, continue heading south for approximately 5.5 kilometres until you again reach the junction of Little Cobbler Road and the Cobbler Lake Track. Follow Little Cobbler Road in a southerly direction. After about 700 metres, you will reach the Speculation Road junction. The track on your right is the track you ascended via. Pass Speculation Road and keep heading south for another 450 metres, and you will reach Muesli Spur Track on your right.
Descend along Speculation Road (described hike) or via Muesli Spur back to the trailhead and your car.
Dandongadale Falls
Towering 255 meters, Dandongadale Falls reign supreme as Victoria's tallest, gracing the Alpine National Park near Mansfield. Fed by Lake Cobbler, the water spills in a majestic dance, cascading over cliffs to reach its breathtaking finale. Yet, this beauty thrives on seasonal whims. Winter thaws and alpine rains unleash powerful gushes, while summer sun and droughts whisper silence. The stained rocks stand as silent witnesses to the falls' dynamic nature, reminding us of the fleeting power and enduring wonder of water.
Camping
Camping is available close to the trail head at the following locations.
- Speculation Road: There is a small campsite along Speculation Road (possible 4WD) on the King River approximately 3.6km from Stirling Circuit Road.
- King Hut: Camping area on the King River Track (4WD only). King Hut is perched on the western edge of the park, about 35 km east of Mount Stirling. The dramatic 4WD-access route follows the King River Track for 7 km from the junction with Speculation Rd, which is itself reached via a turn-off on Circuit Rd about 6 km east of the Craig's Hut turn-off. The hut itself is in excellent condition, having been recently rebuilt.
- A great overnight campsite can be found on an open saddle at the junction of the Mount Cobbler Walking Track and a foot trail heading north-south at the top of the plateau. This is a large camp site suitable for around 5-6 tents.
Water
Water can be procured near the trail head from the King River or Lake Cobbler at the end of day 1. Water should always be treated before drinking.
Be Prepared
This hike requires that you have a sufficient level of equipment (in good working order), fitness and self-reliance. We reserve the right for the hike leader to decline participants who are not adequately prepared at any time before the hike has commenced. We will be asking questions about your clothing, food, water and pack at the start of the hike so please do not turn up unprepared. It is vital that you take personal responsibility for ensuring you are prepared! If you are not sure, contact the hike leader prior to the hike.
Grade 4 (Hard) -
Challenging Walks for Experienced Walkers: Grade 4 on the
AWTGS signifies challenging walking tracks. Bushwalking experience is recommended for these tracks, which may be long, rough, and very steep. Directional signage may be limited, requiring a good sense of navigation. These walks are suited for experienced walkers who are comfortable with steeper inclines, rougher terrain, and potentially longer distances.
- Alpine Region
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Alpine Huts
- Exposed Ledges
- Rock Scrambling
- Steep Terrain
- River Crossings
- Untreated Water
- Fishing Spots
- Swimming Spots
- Overnight Campsites
Total distance: 28604 m
Max elevation: 1590 m
Min elevation: 851 m
Total climbing: 1508 m
Total descent: -1508 m
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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 to the trailhead: Alpine National Park.
From Mansfield, travel along Mount Buller Road for approximately 32km until you reach the toll gate at Mirimbah (you will need to pay an entry fee during winter). Once you’ve passed through the gates, turn left into Stirling Road (2WD) and keep going until you reach Telephone Box Junction (TBJ). Between Mirimbah and TBJ is approximately 8km of unsealed road. Turn right at the junction and follow the Stirling Circuit Road (2WD) for a further 16.5km where you will find Speculation Road (possible 4WD) on your right. Turn onto Speculation Road and travel 8.8km to the junction of King Basin (4WD) and Speculation Roads. This is the trail head.
During winter, vehicles are not permitted to go any further than TBJ, and all 2-wheel drives must carry chains when travelling to this point. The roads beyond TBJ open from Melbourne Cup weekend (first or second week of November). Call Parks Victoria to confirm that the road will be open as fallen trees may also cause road closure. In summer, all vehicles can continue further via The Circuit Road. The Circuit Road winds throughout the various sub-alpine and alpine forests around Mount Stirling. It is a gravel road but still accessible by 2-wheel drive vehicles.
Need a rental car to get you to the hike? Find one here.
- 2WD Access
- 4WD Access
- Gravel Road
- Winding Road
- Untreated Water
Find accommodation close to the trailhead including hotels, cabins, and campgrounds. Use the interactive map to explore available options in nearby towns.
Nearby towns: Benalla, Bright, Dinner Plain, Falls Creek, Harrietville, Hotham Heights, Mansfield, Mitta Mitta, Mount Beauty, Mount Hotham, Myrtleford, Omeo, Porepunkah, Tawonga South, Wangaratta
Mount Cobbler is a mountain in the Alpine National Park to the east of Mansfield in north-eastern Victoria, Australia. Its summit rises to 1,628 metres (5,341 ft) above sea level. The peak and surrounding Cobbler land system are composed of sedimentary rocks (conglomerate, red sandstone, silt-stone and shale), dating to the Lower Carboniferous period, some 359 to 318 million years ago.
Lake Cobbler
Lake Cobbler is a beautiful lake situated on the south eastern edge of the Alpine National Park. Lake Cobbler was created in the 1960s by damming a swamp area in the headwaters of the Dandongadale River. After leaving the lake, Dandongadale River plunges over a precipice, creating the longest drop waterfall in Victoria (a heady 255m). It then joins the Rose River, which flows into the Buffalo River, before settling down to a quiet life in the backwaters of Lake Buffalo.
Looking for more walks in or near Alpine National Park? Try these trails with a similar difficulty grade.
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3 Reviews on “Mount Cobbler Plateau Circuit Hike (29km)”
https://goo.gl/maps/WxGv5UVnBQFJwNPh8
I think this is the route you mention in your description but it looks a lot longer then you suggest. Also, the approach to the start of cobbler plateau circuit trail from the start of the start of SPeculation Rd is 6.4 km.
Would you say that all of the linked route above is accessible with a AWD Impreza?
Thanks
And, BTW Mount sterling road is currently closed
Hi Craig. I checked the link you provided. Are you asking how to access the trail head or are you asking about the actual route for the hike? This link provides you with the best driving instructions to the trail head. You will want to avoid King Basin Road as it requires multiple river crossings. https://goo.gl/maps/B8iuSEeG1V1cDpiB8 Depending on the time of year, an AWD Impreza should be fine using this route.
Thanks Darren. And yes we can navigate
Hi – can someone please confirm if the Speculation Road section after turning off Circuit Rd is flat and 2WD doable or 4WD only.
thanks
Hi Darren,
I’m interested in doing this hike. What typographical map would you recommend I use for this area?
Hi Gregg, my apologies for the delayed reply. If you were to omit the lake circuit and hike up Muesli Spur (the goat track) then head directly to Mount Cobbler, the return hike, along the same route, would be approximately 20Km. So yes, this is possible to do in one day. I would recommend chacking that the area is open though as it may have been impacted by the current fires.
Hi, Is it possible to hike to Mt Cobbler and back in one day if the circuit to the Lake is omitted ?
The Emergency Services Victoria Map (the one that identifies all the current fires) is a good online source for a map that shows contours, walking and vehicular tracks. If I am looking at the correct area on the online map it names the track at the start of the walk Muesli Spur track (is that the goat track that Darren refers to in one of his comments ?). I have a reasonable level fitness, climbed Mt Feathertop and back via Bungalow Spur in one day Thanks for any advice, great photos.
Cheers Gregg
I just checked the link to thje GPX file and it seems to download perfectly. Have you logged in before trying to download? I have posted the link to the file here: https://www.trailhiking.com.au/wp-content/uploads/gpx/Mount%20Cobbler%20Plateau%20Circuit.gpx
the area around Mount Cobbler has been impacted by the recent fires so I would certainly advise checking if the area is open before planning this one for Easter.
I was there in 2016 and the road was suitable for 2WD provided you have reasonable clearance. My suggestion is to call parks Victoria for the current road condition
Ingrid Bishop I need to go back, minus the ITB injury ??
Is this the my cobbler hike you and Julie have talked about doing again Darren?
Jack Stanton ?
Joshua Samuel Fiona Dietrich
Lake Cobbler area is still closed due to fire damage.
Nicole Walsh you had better send me your schedule then so I can plan better.
Patrick tomorrow?
Hi, we are thinking about doing this but starting and ending from Lake Cobbler. I note that its a walk you made up. Some of it looks like its on track with other bits requiring navigation? or are there faint tracks to follow/navigate? If we started from lake Cobbler would King Hut be a good overnight spot? Water?
Hi Patrick. I have updated the description as per your suggestion. Thank you for this. I do recommend that all visitors to alpine or remote areas call parks Victoria during their pre-trip planning in order to ascertain whether or not roads are open as sometimes they are closed randomly (in all seasons) in order to carry out repairs.
Hiked this 4-5 December, up the steep Muesli spur, up and up and up and then some steeper up …. but nothing crazy in terms of dangerous rock scrambles – definitely would NOT want to come down there to save the knees. That said if you really don’t want to walk down the somehwat boring 4WD track back to the car park you could go up and down Muesli. Camp area at saddle is beautiful and really sheltered even when the wind picked up at the summit. Views from summit amazing – although I don’t think we went to Cobbler proper but stayed on littel Cobbler, looks like a lot of scrambling to get to Cobbler late in the evening or early morning? Water at lake was a bit full of flies, filled up at the stream a little past the lake on the way up to plateau instead. Def worth walking to the waterfall although you end up looking down at it into the valley and don’t get the full waterfall appreciation. Camping at lake would be fine but it’s car accessible so it doesn’t have a great hiking-in feel.
I intended to do this walk last week but the road was closed. I’d like to suggest that you change the paragraph opening “During winter, vehicles are not permitted to go any further than TBJ” to include “The roads beyond TBJ open from the Melbourne Cup weekend (first or second week of November). Call the National Park to confirm that the road will be open as fallen trees may also cause road closure.”
We walked up Mt Stirling instead which was nice enough.
Thanks for the advice Darren.