Shadow Lake Circuit is a 13.2km, grade 3 hike located in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania. The hike should take around 5 hrs to complete.
Hike overview
From Lake St Clair, this walk will take you through rainforest, sub-alpine moorland and highland eucalypt forest on this circuit walk via Shadow Lake. Clear weather allows splendid views of Mount Hugel.
Highlights
Near Shadow Lake the vegetation changes to sub-alpine forest. Here snow gums, buttongrass and sedges flourish. Pencil pines fringe the lake edge. The lake contains the introduced brown and rainbow trout. These can be fished if you have a licence. Picnic spots can be found around the lake edge but please remember that campfires are not permitted.
Route and GPX file
Max elevation: 1070 m
Min elevation: 755 m
Total climbing: 420 m
Total descent: -420 m
For more information about this hiking trail please visit Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania
Tips
Park entry fees apply. (Self registration park entrance.)
The track climbs approximately 270m over a distance of 6.6km.
Visitor centre, restaurant and accommodation.
Supervise children , tracks subject to severe weather conditions all year round, weather may change quickly, tracks are difficult to navigate when covered in snow and may be impassable.
No pets, firearms or bicycles.
Trail location
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Gallery
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About the region
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is located in the Central Highlands area of Tasmania (Australia), 165 kilometres northwest of Hobart. The park contains many walking trails, and is where hikes along the well-known Overland Track usually begin. Major features are Cradle Mountain and Barn Bluff in the northern end, Mount Pelion East, Mount Pelion West, Mount Oakleigh and Mount Ossa in the middle and Lake St Clair in the southern end of the park. The park is part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
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Gear to consider

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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.