Lake Mountain and Keppel Hut is a 21.7km, grade 3 hike located in Yarra Ranges National Park, Victoria. The hike should take around 7 hours to complete.
Hike overview
The Lake Mountain and Keppel Hut hike explores the outer reaches of Lake Mountain with its extensive network of well marked and maintained trails. Lake Mountain offers a range of options for exploring the resort area and the bordering Yarra Ranges National Park.
Commencing at the Snowy Hill Car Park follow the Upper Taggerty 4WD Road through alpine ash forest for approximately 6km. The road is easy to follow as it passes a number of adjoining tracks. The road heads generally north for the 6k's before you need to keep an eye out for the Gould Track on your right (see note below). The start of the very overgrown Gould Track is difficult to find at this point but the track, once found, leads up through thick bush to the well defined but also overgrown East Boundary Track. If you find yourself heading due west on the Upper Taggerty 4WD Road then you have gone too far.
Important note on this overgrown section. The bush bashing is through very overgrown bush. If you are not confident with this section remain on the road and follow it all the way to Keppel Hut. The off trail section is for very experienced hikers only. Refer to diversion map and gpx file below.
Turning west, the East Boundary Track is followed to the Keppel Hut Road. A short distance to the right along the road will bring you to Keppel Hut. The Keppel brothers built a number of huts in this area from 1885. The present hut was built in 1985 and is in excellent condition. It is representative of a typical hut of the mountain cattlemen. A good spot for a lunch break. If you had elected to do this as a leisurely 2 day adventure then Keppel Hut is a popular camping spot on the headwaters of the Keppel Hut Creek. There are toilet facilities nearby and the creek is generally flowing.
Retrace your steps along the East Boundary Track and continue on, climbing through magnificent snow gum forest to the Bullfight Lookout and the ruins of the Boundary Hut, the highest point on the Lake Mountain Plateau at around 1460m. From the hut head south along Boundary Trail being sure to take a short side trip to Panorama lookout. Continue heading south via triangle junction, echo flat then via the Royston Trail to Gerratys Car Park.
Now no hike would be complete without a mountain summit so from Gerraty's, continue south along the Lake Mountain Summit Trail to the 1433m summit. Heading east from the summit, follow the trail as it slowly descends through what is known as the Snowy Hill Playground and back to the Snowy Hill Car Park.
Overnight hike
This is a great introductory overnight hike. There is a clearing around Keppel Hut that is perfect for setting up tents. You can use the hut but just be mindful you will need to sleep in a tent or your own shelter, not in the hut.
Route and GPX file
Route with off-trail section
Max elevation: 1480 m
Min elevation: 1078 m
Total climbing: 795 m
Total descent: -795 m
Route with diversion along road to avoid off-trail section
Max elevation: 1480 m
Min elevation: 1078 m
Total climbing: 823 m
Total descent: -823 m
Tips
The quickest return route commences at Gerraty's and heads north past Melbourne lookout to Triangle Junction then to Panorama and Hut trails from where the track to Keppel Hut is clearly marked. This track descends quite steeply in parts, with some spectacular views out towards Mount Margaret. Keppel Hut is a popular camping spot on the headwaters of the Keppel Hut Creek.
Trail location
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Getting there
Lake Mountain Alpine Resort is approximately a two hour drive from the Melbourne CBD, travel out through the Eastern suburbs, through the picturesque Yarra Valley then wind across the Black Spur to Narbethong and take the turn off to Marysville. Arriving at Marysville, follow Woods Point Road for 11km where you will take a left onto Lake Mountain Road. Drive a further 11km and you will arrive at Lake Mountain Alpine Resort Village. The car park will be on your left.
About the region
Situated between Melbourne and the Victorian Alps, the Yarra Ranges National Park is a place of epic views, majestic rainforest scenery and fun-packed snowplay. Enjoy the panorama from Mount Donna Buang, or go deeper into the park on the Black Spur Drive, and wind through towering Mountain Ash forests to Lake Mountain.
The Yarra Ranges spans an extensive, mountainous area of cool temperate forest around the three towns of Marysville, Healesville and Warburton. This national park is home to the world's tallest flowering tree, the Mountain Ash, which towers over lush tree ferns and mossy Myrtle Beech. Dark gullies are home to clear streams which feed the Yarra River and major reservoirs from which Melbourne draws its drinking water.
The Yarra Ranges boasts some stunning lookouts, one of the best being Mount Donna Buang. From here you can see awesome views of Westernport Bay and Port Phillip - or walk the Rainforest Gallery and see the Mountain Ash from a different perspective. In the winter, Mount Donna Buang is Melbourne's closest winter playground. Many Melburnians have enjoyed their first sight of snow here through the years.
Healesville is the start of the Black Spur Drive, a short but beautiful scenic car journey. The road winds through majestic Mountain Ash forest to Narbethong, passing a number of pleasant walking trails and picnic areas, such as Donnelly's Weir, Dom Dom Saddle and Maroondah Reservoir Park.
Similar trails nearby
Explore Safe
While planning your hike, it’s important to check official government sources for updated information, temporary closures and trail access requirements. Before hitting the trail, check local weather and bushfire advice for planned burns and bushfire warnings and let someone know before you go. Plan ahead and hike safely.
Let someone know
Adventure with peace of mind: Fill out your trip intentions form. Before you hit the trail, fill out an online form to privately send important details about your hike to your family or friends. If you don’t return on time, they can easily alert emergency services, preventing worry and ensuring a swift response. Hike with peace of mind and enjoy your outdoor adventure to the fullest. Be smart, be safe: Register your plans here.
Gear to consider
My free planning, food and packing checklists provide an introduction to things your could consider (as well as the Ten Essentials) on your day, overnight and multi-day adventures. Customise your kit according to your personal needs, always considering safety first.Â
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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.
2 Reviews on “Lake Mountain & Keppel Hut Hike (21.7km)”
Was one of my favourite spots to run my dog team. Keppels was always our snack spot.
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Thanks for reminding me of this one!
It’s a great walk to introduce people to an overnight hike!
Stewart Proper absolutely. I keep telling people Beeripmo Walk is a great starter for an overnighter and often forget about this one too.
Nice day hike this one. Also good as a relatively easy overnighter, camping near Keppel Hut.
I just completed the hike yesterday. Gould Track is non-existant, and the local map that I obtained (last updated Jan 2017) doesn’t even show it. I couldn’t find either end of it, so I think it’s safe to say that the track has been completely abandoned.
Upper Taggerty Rd is still closed (this includes walkers). They have cleared most trees, there are only a couple dozen left to climb over. Keppel’s Hut Walking Trail is also closed to walkers (not sure why, only closed on the Ski Field side). Lady Talbot Drive is also closed from Lower Beeches for tree removal, and I’m unaware of the status of McFadyen Tk, so it’s possible that Keppel’s Hut is (supposed to be) inaccessible to all traffic, both foot and vehicular. I expect that by spring this year (2023) this should be all cleared up.
For Keppel’s Hut Walking Trail and Boundary Hut Trail, you will want long pants that can withstand going bush. While the trail isn’t difficult to follow, there are sections that are nearly completely overgrown. There are trail markers, and there is still only one route to push through easily, so it’s reasonably straightforward navigating through it despite that. Just, don’t wear shorts. You will regret it.
Other than that, it’s a pretty decent hike. Total hiking for me was probably 7-8 hours, and I camped at Keppel’s Hut overnight. However, I did skip the Lake Mountain Summit. Views were, unfortunately, largely ruined by cloud and fog, so that detour wasn’t all that worth it for me.
Interestingly, a lot of this route follows the 7 Peaks Run markers, but I can’t find any routes by that name on this site. Might be something to look into.
Thanks Nathan. Yeah, that trail has been gone for quite some time. Bit of off trail if anyone is ever keen, but much easier to walk around. Thanks for the tip on the 7 Peaks Run. I’ll look into that. Cheers
This circuit is not currently (April 2022) viable as the Lady Talbot Drive Hazardous Tree Removal Project has closed off all of the access routes to Keppel Hut, including the full length of Upper Taggerty 4WD Road and the trails starting from Panorama.
Thanks for the update Richard
Keppells Hut is a great spot. Have run dog teams into there for the last dozen or so years when the snow conditions have been right.
Fantastic history to this Hut, rebuilt in 2011 after the Black Saturday Fires. Sadly the old log books were destroyed which detailed many people’s trips to the Hut.
Kyle Hura – spring time walk!
Laura Adams Wendy Hsieh
Laura Adams why not
Leona Xu good (but hard) question! ?
Marnie Houghton Kirsty Sims let’s do dinner and games night soon to plan!
Matt Keeble !!?
When you going to pony up son ?
Let’s go..
Matt Keeble total coverage. Get willow to pack snowshoes
Matt KeebleLETS GO !
Matthew Paulding Lets do it !
Mid November.. anybody interested?
Might do this over my Xmas break.
Mish Hannan wanna do this with me one day?
Nice idea
Not sure how it works with Trail Hiking Australia if an official organizer is not available. Is it possible to propose a Meet-Up?
One of our obstacles, a washout from the river.
Possibly Aneeta Pillai
Ray Murray as if we would
Really keen to do this! Looks like really good fun!
Samantha Smith Kirsty Sims we need to plan on pls
Vaughan Bowman
The Gould Track section is now completely overgrown and effectively no longer exists. You will need to take the longer route following the road right the way round. Another point to note is that there a number of large trees down along the Upper Taggerty Road and a lot of climbing is involved along this section of the track. Other than those two small issues, its still a great track and a great spot close to Melbourne for an overnight hike!