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Length: 17.5km
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Duration: 8-9hrs
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Grade: 5
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Style: Circuit
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Start: Yellow Pinch Reserve
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End: Yellow Pinch Reserve
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Location: Mount Barney National Park
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Closest Town: Rathdowney
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Distance from CBD: 117km
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State: QLD
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Latitude: -28.28230992
Longitude: 152.7326712
Keep the Trail Access info current...







Select items to indicate conditions for access to the trail.


2WD Access


4WD Access


Public Transport


Bitumen Road


Gravel Road


Steep Road


Winding Road


Speed Bumps


Vehicle Ford


Entry Fee


Large Car Park


Small Car Park


Accessible Parking


Accessible Toilet


Public Toilets


Drinking Water


Untreated Water


Picnic Shelter


Picnic Table


BBQ Facilities


Campfire Pit


Camping Area
Keep the Trail Features current...











Mount Barney National Park...
Select items to indicate features found along the trail.


Concrete Path


Timber Boardwalk


Gravel Path


Sandy Trail


Rough Trail


Undefined Trail


Prams & Strollers


Manual Wheelchair


Motorised Wheelchair


Bicycle Trail


Mountain Bike Trail


Historic Rail Trail


Dog Friendly


Urban Walk


Coast & Beach


Historic Lighthouse


Waterfalls & Lakes


Rainforest Walk


Goldfields & Mining


Heritage Walk


Aboriginal Art


Alpine Region


Alpine Huts


Exposed Ledges


Rock Scrambling


Steep Terrain


Bush Bashing


River Crossings


Scenic Viewpoints


Well Marked


Drinking Water


Untreated Water


Fishing Spots


Swimming Spots


Overnight Campsites


Trail Running


Horse Riding
Hike Summary
Mount Barney, at 1359m, is QLD's 4th highest mountain and one of the state's most spectacular mountains. and is a mecca for experienced bushwalkers and climbers. It's part of the McPherson Range and presents walkers with some formidable challenges and is no place for novice walkers.
There are many established walking tracks up and around the mountain, although none of them are easy. All routes require a reasonable level of fitness and advanced route-finding and rock-scrambling skills. Mount Barney via SE and Peastant Ridge is the most common route and for this reason will be the only one I provide on this site. Please note the wearings however as this is a hike for the experienced ONLY. People have gone missing and have died on this hike.
Another popular hike in this region is the Lower Portals track, which is the best-marked track in the park, but still requires Grade 4 walking experience. The 7.5k round trip leads to one of the most spectacular water holes in the region, with a cave and waterfall and 30m cliffs above it.
About the region
The distinctive peaks of Mount Barney, Mount Maroon, Mount May, Mount Lindesay, Mount Ernest, Mount Ballow and Mount Clunie make up Mount Barney National Park. These rugged peaks are the remains of the ancient Focal Peak Shield Volcano which erupted 24 million years ago. Mount Barney is the second highest peak in South East Queensland.
The park has extremely varied vegetation with open forests around the foothills of the peaks, subtropical rainforest above 600m and montane heath shrublands towards the summits. The summit of Mount Ballow is cool temperate rainforest, and on Mount Maroon there are mallee eucalypt shrublands. Many rare and unusual plant species grow in the park. Cronans Creek provides a beautiful spot to cool off, track leaves from the Yellow Pinch reserve.
There are picnic tables, toilets, barbecues and information displays at Yellow Pinch at the base of Mount Barney.
Tips
- Although there is a worn foot track to follow most of the way, the trail is not constructed or maintained by QPWS, just by repeat footfall. As there is no track from the saddle to the summit, knowledge of the area and map skills apply. It is essential to prepare your knowledge base before trying this walk.
- Care must be taken at the summit, as the 60m cliff break is unfenced.
GPX File
Max elevation: 1347 m
Min elevation: 219 m
Total climbing: 3572 m
Total descent: -3578 m
Hikes Nearby
20 thoughts on “Mount Barney Summit (17.5km)”
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Cameron Forrest
Lorraine Placid Barham
Kylie Esler Ok let’s go
Lorraine. Let’s catch up soon and work out which one we are going to do
Kylie Esler Ok I’m keen as
Ron Belle Isle
I’ll get u here Karen Luzan
amazing hike… one of the best
Add this one to the list Libby Mc ?
?
Can we go for a hike here? Jason Fitzsimon ??
Love Mt Barney ?.
5 visits in 3 months. It’s a hard/tough day but worth the effort ?!
Oliver
Cathie Lambert have you done this one?
I’ve never done this one. Will have to do it. Although the ‘people have died here’ part puts me off a bit.
Cathie Lambert ☹️?
Over 400 rescues and 700 people lost in the last 30 years. It’s worth proceeding with caution on this one. If you are confident with off-trail navigation, steep climbs, rock scrambles and free climbing a few vertical sections then you should be fine. All I say to people is be prepared to turn back if weather turns bad or you are taking longer than expected. My wife and I completed the hike in 7.5 hours but I had a mate with his group of friends who had to turn back after 7 hours because they hadn’t made it to the summit (and that’s only half way)
Sam Dermody – an alternative?
David Scallion… hopefully next time on the scenic rim!