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Length: 13.4km
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Duration: 4hrs
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Grade: 3
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Style: Circuit
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Start: Lake Catani Campground
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End: Lake Catani Campground
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Location: Mount Buffalo National Park
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Closest Town: Porepunkah (29km)
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Distance from CBD: 343km
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State: VIC
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Latitude: -36.73404343
Longitude: 146.8116975
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 Buffalo 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 Monolith and Pulpit Rock is an amazing circuit that commences at the Lake Catani campground and visits some of the most striking features of the eastern end of the Buffalo plateau. These include View Point, the Underground River, Haunted Gorge, Billsons Lookout, Echo Point, Crystal Brook Falls and the sheer cliffs of The Gorge. Commencing at the picnic area near the Jetty head north east along The Gorge - Lake Catani Walking Track. Turn off just after the bridge on to the View Point Nature Walk. Ignore a turnoff on your left to the Underground River and climb steadily through alpine ash forest before a final rock scramble to View Point. This vantage point provides excellent views from the edge of the plateau over the farmland of the Buckland Valley below.
After soaking up the views, retrace your steps to the previous trail junction and turn right onto the path that leads to the Underground River. After a short distance the trail begins to drop steeply into Haunted Gorge before crossing the river. As you are crossing the river, keep an eye out between the rocks and make sure you take a peek at the water rushing underneath you. This the entrance point to the Underground River. Do not attempt to enter the river caves as this is a place for experienced cavers only. Continue to head north as you climb out of the gorge then follow the trail through the forest to Billisons Lookout for more amazing views.
After leaving the lookout, continue north for approximately 300m to Echo Point car park; the main day visitors area which provides vehicle access to The Gorge and the Mount Buffalo Chalet. At Echo Point there are numerous view points to explore before continuing north west along The Big Walk trail that leads you to Crystal Brook Falls and The Gorge. The Gorge's North Wall is the credited as being the highest cliff in Australia and was created as Crystal Brook carved out the Gorge over 360 million years. The first view of The Gorge is from Gorge View Lookout which provides a unique vantage point into the depths far below. From Falls Lookout you can see the start point of the Big Walk 1000 metres below. Proceed over the Crystal Brook bridge, turning right to follow the trail to Pulpit Rock which has fine views of the sheer walls with climbers often clinging to them. Continue to follow the trail north east to the Wilkinson's lookout trail. Take a short side trip to Wilkinson's Lookout for breathtaking views from the 330 metres North Wall. Back on the track and again head north then west to complete a small circuit that includes both Manfields Lookout and Reeds Lookouts. From Reeds finish this circuit by returning back onto The Big Walk and follow this back to Echo Point. After returning to Echo Point don't miss the view from Bents Lookout of the sheer 300 metre cliffs of the North Wall of the Gorge and the Victorian Alps beyond.
Locate the Monolith Walking Trail (also known as the Lake Catani Trail) in the south west corner of the car park. After a short distance you will reach a junction. Keep right and follow the signs to The Monolith. After approximately 1km keep right at the junction then left towards the Monolith; a giant balancing rock that towers above Lake Catani. A ladder once allowed you to climb it but has been removed for safety reasons. After appreciating the view retrace your steps to the main trail and turn left, following the trail through the forest towards the Mount Buffalo Road. When you reach the road, near the park office, turn left and walk for approximately 500m along the road verge to reach the Lakeside Track. Take another left turn here to follow the path along the lake shore to a footbridge below the dam wall at the far end. Cross the bridge, turn right and return to the start point along the The Gorge - Lake Catani Walking Track.
Camping
There are unpowered campsites available set among picturesque Snow Gum woodland. Each is marked by a numbered post. Camping is only permitted within the boundary of these sites. Toilets, hot showers, dish washing and a basic laundry (no washing machines) are provided. A separate disabled hot shower and toilet is also available. A communal stone shelter with tables and fireplaces is located adjacent to the amenities building. Basic lighting in the amenities is provided by solar panels. Campers are required to be self sufficient with drinking water. Click here for more information.
About the region
An all-seasons national park, Mount Buffalo has sheer cliffs, imposing granite tors, tumbling waterfalls, snow gums and stunning wildflowers. First reserved in 1898, the 31,000 hectare park contains vegetation and fauna adapted to extremes of weather, as a result of its sub-alpine location. As you drive and walk throughout the park, you will see evidence of the recent fires, but you will also see the vivid colours as species begin to regenerate. There is plenty of wildlife to see including Lyrebirds, Eastern Rosellas, Wombats and Swamp Wallabies. Many animals can be seen along the main tourist road so please drive carefully, especially at dawn and dusk.
Getting there
Drive towards Bright via Hume Highway, Wangaratta and Myrtleford. Take the turn off to Mount Buffalo near Porepunkah. Drive up to the Buffalo plateau, continue past the road to the chalet and drive until you see the Parks Office on your right. Follow the signs off the Mount Buffalo Tourist Road (C535) to Lake Catani Campground and the Lakeside Day Visitor Area. Lake Catani Campground is open from the beginning of November until the end of April.
GPX File
Max elevation: 1406 m
Min elevation: 1273 m
Total climbing: 633 m
Total descent: -633 m
Hikes Nearby
3 thoughts on “The Monolith and Pulpit Rock (13.4km)”
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Great walk but the GPX file is way out from pulpit rock towards Wilkinson’s lookout trail.
Thanks Barry. Would appreciate if you can send me an updated file so that I can replace the one that I recorded. Cheers Darren.
I’ve only just worked out how to use GPX files Darren. .. might be a little longer before I can map a walk!