Hike at a Glance
Max elevation: 731m
Min elevation: 210m
Total Ascent: 1104m
Essential information
There is no reliable track from Plantation Campground to the plateau. The route is overgrown, indistinct, and frequently lost, with sections of exposed scrambling. Progress is slow, physically demanding, and requires continuous route finding. This section will challenge even experienced hikers. Strong off-track navigation skills are essential.
Hike overview
Mount Difficult Range – Briggs Bluff is a 20 km, Grade 5 hike in Grampians National Park (Gariwerd), offering a demanding traverse through one of Victoria’s most rugged and least forgiving landscapes. Allow around nine hours, though conditions and navigation challenges can extend this significantly.
The hike begins opposite Plantation Campground and immediately commits you to a steep, sustained and difficult ascent onto the Mount Difficult Range. There is no reliable track from Plantation Campground to the plateau. The first 3 km is the crux of the route. Despite the short distance, this section is slow, overgrown, and indistinct. Expect scrub, faint pads, and long sections where the track does not exist. Progress is measured, not paced. Strong navigation and route-finding skills are essential.
Once on the plateau, the character of the walk shifts. The route joins the Grampians Peaks Trail and heads north along the escarpment, following the spine of the range toward Briggs Bluff. Here, the terrain opens into classic Gariwerd sandstone country, with expansive views, exposed sections, and a constant sense of elevation. The walking is more defined, but still demands attention, particularly in poor weather or low visibility.
Briggs Bluff marks the high point of the hike, both physically and visually. The cliffs drop away dramatically, revealing sweeping views across the northern Grampians and surrounding plains. It is a natural pause point, but conditions on the escarpment can change quickly, with wind exposure a constant factor.
The descent from Briggs Bluff is more forgiving underfoot but still requires care. The track drops toward Beehive Falls before transitioning onto a more established walking track that leads back to Roses Gap Road. While navigation becomes more straightforward, fatigue and accumulated strain from the earlier climb can affect footing and decision-making.
For those seeking to extend the challenge, a side trip to the summit of Mount Difficult adds approximately 4 km. This detour provides additional elevation, exposure, and perspective across the range, but should only be attempted if time, weather, and energy reserves allow.
This is not a casual hike. It is a committing hike where early decisions, pacing, and navigation directly influence outcome. Done well, it offers one of the most rewarding and immersive ridge traverses in the Grampians.
This is a one-way hike finishing at Beehive Falls Carpark. Return transport to Plantation Campground must be arranged in advance, as there is no practical on-foot return via the same route.
Plantation Campground
Plantation Campground features fire pits with barbecue plates, picnic tables, non-flush toilets, bush showers, and a water tank/tap (not for drinking, seasonal water level). Campfires are only allowed in designated fireplaces, please bring your own fire wood. There are no rubbish collection facilities at this campground - please take all rubbish with you.
Campsites: Plantation Campground offers 30 campsites for tents, camper trailers, caravans, and campervans. All sites are unpowered. Maximum of 6 people per site.
Bookings: No bookings or fees are required for camping at Plantation Campground.
Track grade
Grade 5 (Difficult) - Walks for the Most Experienced: Grade 5 represents the most challenging walking tracks on the AWTGS. These are only recommended for very experienced and fit walkers with specialised skills, including navigation and emergency first aid. Tracks are likely to be very rough, very steep, and unmarked. Walks may be more than 20 kilometers. These challenging walks demand a high level of fitness and experience to navigate difficult terrain, significant elevation changes, and potentially unformed paths.
Walk map and GPX file
Mount Difficult Range - Briggs Bluff (20km)
Max elevation: 731 m
Min elevation: 210 m
Total climbing: 1104 m
Total descent: -1139 m
GPX files, maps and content are copyright Trail Hiking Australia. Not to be copied, redistributed or uploaded to other platforms including AllTrails.
Mount Difficult Range - Briggs Bluff and Mount Difficult (24km)
Max elevation: 786 m
Min elevation: 210 m
Total climbing: 1270 m
Total descent: -1304 m
GPX files, maps and content are copyright Trail Hiking Australia. Not to be copied, redistributed or uploaded to other platforms including AllTrails.
Explore safely
Planning this hike? Most incidents develop before you even start. Safe outcomes depend on how navigation, hydration, environment, load and judgement work together. Small oversights can compound quickly in Australian conditions. See how it happens in the Hiking Safety Systems Foundations. Then use the Hiking Safety Systems, planning calculators, and make sure a trusted contact has your trip plan before heading out.
Leave a trip plan
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.
Planning 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
Getting to the trailhead: Grampians National Park.
Set among old Radiata Pine Plantation on the eastern edge of the Mount Difficult Range, Plantation Campground is your gateway to exploring the spectacular northern Grampians. Plantation campground is 9.5km north of Halls Gap on Mount Zero Road. This road is unsealed and suitable for two wheel drive vehicles.
Need a rental car to get you to the hike? Find one here.
Access conditions
- 2WD Access
- Large Car Park
- Public Toilets
- Untreated Water
- Picnic Shelter
- Picnic Table
- Camping Area
Accommodation nearby
Find accommodation close to the trailhead including hotels, cabins, and campgrounds. Use the interactive map to explore available options in nearby towns.
Nearby towns: Ararat, Cavendish, Dadswells Bridge, Dunkeld, Halls Gap, Horsham, Landsborough, Pomonal, Stawell, Warracknabeal, Wartook, Wartook Valley
About the region
The Grampians National Park (Gariwerd) is a place of deep cultural significance for Aboriginal Australians. Parks Victoria acknowledges the enduring connection Traditional Owners have to this land and their ongoing role as custodians.
Renowned for its natural beauty, the park offers a variety of experiences. Explore its world-famous walking trails, encountering majestic waterfalls, vibrant spring wildflowers, and inspiring mountain views. Look out for native wildlife such as kangaroos, wallabies, emus, and birds. The park's Aboriginal heritage, diverse plant and animal life, and stunning landscapes have all earned it heritage listing. Whether you choose a scenic drive or one of the many walking or hiking tracks, the Grampians will leave a lasting impression.
Traditionally known as Gariwerd, the region boasts the highest concentration of significant and ancient Aboriginal rock art sites in southern Australia. Brambuk – The National Park and Cultural Centre offers valuable insights into these sites, enriching your exploration.
Hikers of all levels are drawn to the Grampians. Challenge yourself by scaling Mount William, the park's highest peak, or choose from the numerous trails around Halls Gap and the Wonderland Range. The Pinnacle lookout offers exceptional views, but be aware that the climb is demanding. Experienced hikers can embark on overnight adventures like the iconic Grampians Peaks Trail, Major Mitchell Plateau hike, or The Fortress and Mt Thackeray Overnight Hike.
For a more relaxed pace, consider fishing, canoeing, or kayaking on Lake Wartook, Lake Bellfield, Moora Moora Reservoir, or the park's many waterways.
The Grampians' rugged sandstone ranges, spectacular wildflowers, diverse recreational activities, and rich Aboriginal heritage combine to create an unforgettable experience. These north-south ridges boast steep eastern slopes and gentler western inclines, a result of ancient earth movements that sculpted the landscape into a series of impressive peaks and valleys. Lookouts offer panoramic views, while waterfalls add a touch of grandeur.
Spring brings vibrant wildflower displays to the park, with the Grampians Boronia, Blue Pin-cushion Lily, and numerous other native plants painting the heathlands in colour. Keep an eye out for the park's abundant native wildlife, including kangaroos, koalas, emus, wedge-tailed eagles, and more.
Don't miss the opportunity to explore the park's shelters containing ancient Aboriginal rock art paintings, a testament to the long-standing connection between Aboriginal people and this land. Billimina Shelter, Gulgurn Manja Shelter, and Manja Shelter are some notable examples.
Let the park's fresh air invigorate you. Hike, rock climb, fish, or canoe. Choose from a variety of walking tracks, whether you prefer a leisurely stroll or a challenging multi-day trek.
Halls Gap, nestled beside the Wonderland Range, serves as a convenient base for exploring the park. This town is also home to Brambuk – The National Park and Cultural Centre, where you can delve deeper into the park's natural and cultural wonders.
Similar walks nearby
Looking for more walks in or near Grampians National Park? Try these trails with a similar difficulty grade.
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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.




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1 Review on “Mount Difficult Range - Briggs Bluff Hike (20km)”
My wife and I did this a while back and we nearly gave up on the ascent from Plantation Campground on several occasions. There were even tears. There’s no track, it’s overgrown, and the undergrowth just wants to rip everything apart. We did it as an overnight hike, camping near Mount Difficult, and we dreaded that we had to come back down the same way.
I suggest there should be no posts on the Grampians. Apart from the Halls Gap area, it’s largely closed due to bushfires.
https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/grampians-national-park#change-of-conditions
Richard Clarke great suggestion. I did consider this a lot as that was my immediate thinking too. After speaking with tourism agencies in the region, I was encouraged to continue sharing walks in the Grampians as they want people to continue planning for when the park reopens, whenever that may be. For now, the best thing people can do is check the link you shared to understand what is open, as that will progressively change
See parks victoria website for updates. This trail has closed from plantation campground and now starts at beehive falls.
Completed Mt Difficult yesterday. Track very over grown 2/3 of the way and difficult to spot at points, we did our best to clear some of it. Pay attention for piles of rocks on the way up that some legend(s) have left, they do an excellent job of keeping you on the right track. GPS coordinates downloaded from this site are excellent thanks a lot for proving them.