Hike at a glance

6,248

Quick overview: The Howitt & Helicopter Spur hike is a challenging 27 km circuit in Alpine National Park, starting and finishing at Upper Howqua Camping Area. This Grade 5 trail includes steep ascents and descents, with sections of alpine plains and panoramic views of the Victorian Alps. The hike generally spans two days, so carry sufficient water, as sources are limited along the route. Prepare for varied terrain and shifting landscapes throughout this strenuous journey.

Length

27km

Duration

2 days

Difficulty

Grade 5 (Difficult)

Trail type

Circuit

Trail details

Max elevation: 1734m
Min elevation: 840m
Total Ascent: 1711m

Start: Upper Howqua Camping Area

End: Upper Howqua Camping Area

Location: Alpine National Park

State: Victoria

Nearest town: Merrijig

State capital distance: 246km

Latitude: -37.173555572451676

Longitude: 146.56111518354916

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

This is a challenging grade 5 hike in a remove and rugged area. Trails may be ill-defined, the terrain will be steep and challenging with multiple rock scrambles required. This hike is for experiences, self-reliant hikers with excellent navigation skills.

Route in detail

This spectacular Howitt and Helicopter Spur alpine hike visits both Mount Magdala and Mount Howitt traversing one of the best sections of the long-distance Australian Alps Walking Track. Helicopter Spur, the route used to reach the tree line, is one of the steepest and most challenging climbs in the region. Except for Helicopter Spur this walk follows generally good walking trails and offers magnificent views across the heart of the Victorian Alps.

Day 1 (10km): Upper Howqua Campsite to Hellfire Creek Campsite

The ascent of Helicopter Spur starts at the Upper Howqua Campsite and winds through eucalyptus forests, eventually reaching the high alpine plains. Look for the old fire vehicle track starting on your right as you cross the bridge into the campground. The trail soon narrows into a single track, potentially overgrown with young eucalyptus trees and fallen logs, but still manageable.

After a few kilometers of ascent, you'll encounter a daunting section of rock faces that seem to block the path. Fear not, that's exactly where the track goes! The route up these rocks is steep but well-defined. Take your time and prioritise safety, as a fall could lead to serious injury. However, for those who enjoy a bit of a challenge, this section can be the exciting start of an unforgettable adventure.

After finally reaching the top of Helicopter Spur, turn east (left) at the 4WD track then follow the trail for approximately 2 kilometers. This section leads to a well-known long-distance route in the area, the Australian Alps Walking Track (AAWT). The route takes you past Picture Point, the scenic summit of Mount Magdala, past the every popular Hells Window and down to the shaded Hellfire Creek campground.

Water is plentiful at the start point of this hike but it is essential that you carry enough ( I recommend 3-4 litres) to last through to the overnight camp at Hellfire Creek. Finding water at Hellfire creek can be hit and miss as it is not a permanent spring. Last time I completed this hike, I had to dig around for water so its advisable to plan for this and maybe carry enough for both days. While it's recommended to carry enough water for the entire journey, there might be streams along the way for refilling.

Day 2 (17km): Hellfire Creek Campsite to Upper Howqua Campsite

Day two commences with an enjoyable climb from Hellfire Creek Campsite, over Big Hill before the final ascent to the open summit of Mt Howitt. You will then traverse the early sections of the infamous Cross Cut Saw before descending along Stanleys Name Spur and Queens Spur Road and lower section of the Howqua Feeder Track.

You will need to carry enough water (I recommend 4 litres), although the final few km are along the Howqua River.

Trail difficulty

Grade 5 (difficult) badge

Grade 5 (Difficult)

For very experienced bushwalkers

Grade 5 walks are likely to be very rough, very steep and unmarked. They require a high level of bushwalking experience, specialised navigation skills and strong self-reliance, including preparation for emergencies and changing weather. Walks may exceed 20km.

Safety note: If you haven't comfortably completed Grade 4 walks, including off-track navigation, build up to those before attempting this one.

Map and GPX file

Howitt & Helicopter Spur Hike (27km)

Map of the route “Howitt & Helicopter Spur Hike (27km)”: 26.73 km, 1,711 m of climbing and 1,711 m of descent, elevation between 841 m and 1,732 m. It is a loop that starts and ends at -37.17381, 146.56131 (latitude, longitude).

Total distance: 26.73 km
Max elevation: 1734 m
Min elevation: 840 m
Total climbing: 1711 m
Total descent: 1711 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

Trail tips

Be Prepared: This hike requires that you have a sufficient level of equipment (in good working order), fitness and self-reliance. 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.

Warning: This is a challenging hike that should not be underestimated. Helicopter Spur is steep and rocky requiring exposed scrambling in places. Some people may find that ropes will be useful. Some navigational experience is required.

Plan and prepare

Australian conditions can turn a small oversight into a serious situation faster than most walkers expect. For an overnight hike, that means the right gear, weather-appropriate layers, enough food and water, and a plan for where you'll camp. The overnight 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.

Let someone know your plans →

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

From Mansfield follow the Mount Buller Road for 32km to Mirimbah. Turn left and continue up the Mount Stirling Road for 9km to Telephone Box Junction. Keep right on Circuit Road and continue over Howqua Gap to the Bindaree turnoff (60km from Mansfield). Follow Bindaree Road down to the Howqua Valley. Turn left and after 200m you will arrive at the Upper Howqua Camping Area.

Get there with Google Maps

Accommodation nearby

Search accommodation in nearby towns: Jamieson, Mansfield, Merrijig, Whitfield

Find somewhere to stay near the trailhead. Click the button below to open an interactive map automatically centred on this hike's location.

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Travel arrangements

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Photo gallery

Howitt & Helicopter Spur Hike (27km)

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Explore the region

About the region

Much of Alpine National Park sits high in the Victorian Alps, where long ridgelines, snowgrass plains, alpine ash forests and deeply cut river valleys meet across a huge sweep of eastern Victoria. It forms the largest national park in the state and anchors Victoria's part of the Australian Alps, so the country here changes markedly with elevation, from sheltered forests and watercourses to exposed tops that can stay snow-covered through winter. That range is a big part of what gives the park its particular character: it is not a single mountain block, but an expansive piece of high country with many distinct landscapes within it.

The park protects some of Victoria's most important alpine and subalpine environments, including herbfields, heathlands, bogs and mossbeds that exist in a narrow climatic zone and recover slowly when damaged. Above the tree line the country can feel open and spare, while lower slopes carry extensive forests of alpine ash, montane eucalypts and mixed woodland. Major headwaters rise in these mountains and feed river systems that run north, south and east, which means the park is as much about water as it is about summits. Its scale also helps explain why conditions, vegetation and even the feel of the landscape can shift quickly from one part of the park to another.

Fire is part of the story of this high country. Large bushfires this century have reshaped broad areas of the Alps, and in some places the pattern of regrowth, dead standing trunks and young forest is still obvious. In alpine and subalpine country, repeated fire can have lasting effects on fragile plant communities, especially wetlands and boggy ground. Introduced animals, including deer, pigs and horses, have also affected sensitive habitats, particularly in wetter alpine areas where trampling and erosion can be hard to reverse.

Alpine National Park is also part of an Aboriginal cultural landscape with connections to multiple Traditional Owner groups across the Victorian Alps. The broader management plan for the region names Bidawal, Dhudhuroa, Gunaikurnai, Jaithmathang, Mitambuta, Monero-Ngarigo, Ngarigu-Currawong, Taungurung, Waywurru and Wurundjeri as First Peoples of these mountains and rivers, reflecting how extensive and interconnected this country is. For walkers, that wider context matters: the park is not just high scenery, but a large, layered alpine region shaped by climate, fire, water and long human connection.

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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

4 Reviews on “Howitt & Helicopter Spur Hike (27km)”

Overall rating

Tomas Rozbroj

March 2024:
– Fun trail, with amazing views on the ridges.
– Please don’t assume there’ll be water at Hellfire. Was dry, so we carried up 6+L.
– Tricky going on both days. Steep at high altitude, overgrown at lower altitude (esp. on Stanley’s Name spur). Navigation was OK enough but would be tricky at night in the scrub sections.
– Some scrambling required. Fine to do with pack on.
– Very cheeky foxes (I think) at Hellfire camp. Tried to steal my backpack, and even nicked a foam mat from under my closed vestibule. No fear at all sniffing centimetres from my head though my tent. Hang up your food folks.

11/03/2024, 13:21

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1. Darren Edwards Trail Author
  
  Sounds like you had a fun trip. I love this hike and your comments brought back great memories. Good tips about Hellfire as it often runs dry. Sneaky little foxes, that’s certainly something to be mindful of. That’d suck if your pack was stolen.
  
  12/03/2024, 10:20
  
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Mick Woods

Did this over the 22/23 New Year with a group of four. Trail is in great condition and was great fun. Bushwalking Vic have done work on Queens Spur to clear it between the Howqua River and Stanley Name Spur (although the blackberries are coming back fast – always a problem in that valley). You may have seen some news reporting of a hiker having trouble at the HellFire Creek/Mount Magdala Campsite. There is definitely a confident animal of some sort hanging around that site. Tore open one of our tents and dragged items all over the place. Dragged a pack from underneath a vestibule. We saw a pair of beedy eyes in the dark, but didn’t see what it was. Its strong though, perhaps a big possum or even a wily wild dog/Alpine Dingo. Unsure, but keep your gear packed properly in case.

07/01/2024, 10:49

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1. Darren Edwards Trail Author
  
  What a great way to spend New Years. Great tip on the ‘thief in the night’.
  
  12/03/2024, 10:34
  
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Lynda Maddison

Mani Andreetta

02/12/2023, 21:17

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1. Mani Andreetta
  
  Lynda Maddison thx, looks tough and amazing. I’ve wanted to do Mt, Howitt, the Crosscut Saw and Bluff track for such a long time.
  
  02/12/2023, 22:25
  
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Dean Herman

Trail Hiking Australia how hard is helicopter spur?

01/12/2023, 22:38

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1. Darren Edwards
  
  Dean Herman it’s steep and seemingly relentless but honestly, not too bad. There’s one section where you approach what seems like an impassable rock face but with a bit of investigation, it’s easy enough to find a way to climb/scramble up.
  
  01/12/2023, 23:26
  
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Ken Scott

Love it!! My first hike when I started hiking – down track was very overgrown with blackberries last I did it

01/12/2023, 22:17

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Michael Wilson

Nina Birss
Jason Goldstein
In One day ?
We did Viking fast 🤷🏻‍♂️
( and not a single meltdown😂)

01/12/2023, 22:16

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1. Jason Goldstein
  
  Michael Wilson more of a moment than a meltdown…
  
  02/12/2023, 08:31
  
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Darren Edwards

Love this hike. An excellent challenge.

01/12/2023, 21:56

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Trail Hiking Australia

This is one of my alpine favourites. A sensational hike.

01/12/2023, 21:50

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Adeline Dickson

we should

16/02/2022, 12:00

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Acknowledgement of Country

Howitt & helicopter spur hike (27km) - 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 12, 2026

Hike at a glance

Trail details

About this trail

Important information

Route in detail

Trail difficulty

Grade 5 (Difficult)

Map and GPX file

Preparation and safety

Trail tips

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

Howitt & the High Country Hike (22km)

Howqua Feeder and Stanleys Name Spur Hike (25km)

Delatite River Trail (23km)

Mount Koonika via King and Muesli Spurs (16km)

Explore hikes by town

Weather on the trail

Trail reviews

4 Reviews on “Howitt & Helicopter Spur Hike (27km)”

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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