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Length: 8.8km
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Duration: 4hrs
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Grade: 4
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Style: Return
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Start: Stony Top Track
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End: Stony Top Track
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Location: Alpine National Park
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Closest Town: Harrietville
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Distance from CBD: 341km
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State: VIC
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Latitude: -36.86137512
Longitude: 147.1353482
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...

Alpine 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
The Mount Feathertop - North Razorback hike summits Mount Feathertop, the second highest mountain in Victoria and one of the most picturesque peaks in the state. It is linked to the nearby Mount Hotham ski resort by The Razorback, a high narrow ridge, but otherwise surrounded by steep slopes which continue right to the summit. Unlike most nearby mountains, Mount Feathertop has steep slopes right to the top and does not have the rounded summit dome that is typical of many nearby peaks.
Mount Feathertop is probably the most appealing peak in the high country. It provides terrific hiking in summer and in winter it is a great venue for mountaineering and extreme skiing. But be careful, as it averages a death per decade. Most deaths are in winter and most come from not treating cornices with the respect they deserve.
Access and Trail Notes
To get to the North Razorback, turn off the Great Alpine Road (B 500) just south of Bright at Germantown on the Mount Beauty Road (C 536). Cross the Ovens River and immediately turn south along Snowy Creek Track (aka Dungey's Track). If you're in a low clearance 2WD, park at the end of the freehold land and walk. If you're in a 'soft roader' or 4WD, continue southwards, turning right at every main road junction (ignoring short logging tracks). Eventually you will climb up to Stony Creek Tops.
At Dungey Gap (1300 m) you will find the seasonal road closure gate (locked between Queen's Birthday and Cup Weekend), and a large clearing that has recently been cleared of a blackberry infestation (Thanks Steve!). 100 metres north east of the road is a large metal fire water tank full of pretty rancid water and a small creek which flows most of the year. (Don't rely on it from January to April).
The road deteriorates from here, so walk the last 3.2 km unless you have a real 4WD. At the end of the road, it is only 4.1 km to the summit along the North Razorback walking track which continues over undulating ground for another 3 km . At the treeline the track fades to a footpad and is easily lost. But the steep 1 km route to the North Peak is obvious. Find the track again and walk along the summit ridge to Mount Feathertop.
If you have an older map (or a VicMap published at any date), ignore the walking track shown between the North Razorback and MUMC Hut. It was built to transport material when the hut was being built and has been overgrown for 40 years. The ground the former track traversed is very steep and scrubby, so even if you are heading for MUMC Hut, it's much faster and easier to take the indirect route over the summit.
The 1st edition of the Rooftop map also indicates a walking track from the trout farm at the base of North West Spur to Stony Tops. This was in reasonable condition before the 2006 fires, but it has not been restored and is no longer maintained.
Summer
8.8 km from the summer 4WD road head to the summit and return
Winter
14.6 km from the winter gate to the summit and return.
Maps
The most useful and accurate map is Mount Feathertop - Hotham 1:30,000. 2nd edition. Rooftop, 2009.
Route shown below is 8.2 km from the summer 4WD road head to the summit and return
Summary provided by: David Sisson | www.australianmountains.com/#8
About the region
The Alpine National Park is a national park located in the Central Highlands and Alpine regions of Victoria, Australia. The 646,000-hectare national park is located northeast of Melbourne. It is the largest National Park in Victoria, and covers much of the higher areas of the Great Dividing Range in Victoria, including Victoria's highest point, Mount Bogong at 1,986 metres and the associated subalpine woodland and grassland of the Bogong High Plains. The park's north-eastern boundary is along the border with New South Wales, where it abuts the Kosciuszko National Park.
GPX File
Max elevation: 1898 m
Min elevation: 1449 m
Total climbing: 621 m
Total descent: -621 m
Hikes Nearby
43 thoughts on “Mount Feathertop – North Razorback (8.8km)”
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One of my fav hikes.!!!
A bit hard to get up there at the moment though. The Alpine road is closed due to flooding. And there’s still a bit of snow cover up there too.
Vaughan Bowman??
Only if you climb Mt Hotham on a bike
The AAWT runs through this from Walhalla to Canberra 670km of track.
Kathleen Boag
This was the view last weekend! Just lovely soft snow everywhere
Oh. Beautiful.
Max Max Slinger
James Goonan we should do this one too :)!
Yes you should.
John Goonan we had to do some of this when I was at school. Still remember the bruises from the packs. Not sure how far we went, but it was over night
I did the Razorback as a solo last November. There was still snow on the peaks. A wonderful experience with only my thoughts for company.
Meaghan bucket list
Vaughan Bowman Next?
Saw this and thought of you. Wilson was my pick, next is your pick.
I did Feathertop solo in November 2015. Fantastic trek, can be very busy if you go on a long weekend.
Great camp sites!
Karen Kost- we will get there one day!!
Nice walk and quickest/shortest access to Feathertop if you have a 4WD. just back from this walk and National Parks staff have done a good job of recently clearing the initial path that was overgrown as you commence walking on the trail. Now an easy obvious route through the scrub before you exit the treeline.
Thanks heaps for the trail update. Glad you enjoyed the hike
Ja Cee
Brendan Gillet
I’m keen man! Looks steeper than it is I reckon ?
Jade Masters my next hike
Wouldn’t mind getting into some hiking big marn
Luke Fisher
Did this one a few years ago and camped towards the end, was lovely, we should do this spring ?
Jamie Jamie
Such a great walk
Rebecca Sheree, Anita I’ve not been up this side. Shall we do a day trip over coming months?
Carolyn Bennett sounds good, I’m in. Good training walk!
Carolyn Bennett yes me too
Glen Mywee
Mary Swoffer you organize it I’ll come.
Glen Mywee ok
Ryan Nichols lets do this over summer
I hiked there 25 years ago
Pretty snow covered right now… plan ahead for summer.
Mick Sheedy
Stratos Kouvrakis we need to do this one!
Can’t wait to be able to pull the hiking boots on again and get out there.
Juzee Celentane yeah me too.
Lachlan ‘Blinky Bill’ Gordon ? ⛺️
Keeeeen!