Alpine National Park trails
Guide updated · grades and open status change — verify Parks Victoria
Start with a clear hut ramble vs summit decision. Wallace’s Hut covers a first high-plains hour; Bogong and the Razorback are full alpine days. Distances, grades and times below are planning ranges — always confirm on Parks Victoria and park alerts. Weather, seasonal roads and closures change.
Decide before you lace up
- Easy high-plains: Wallace’s Hut — short heritage walk, still alpine weather.
- West-side waterfall: Dandongadale Falls from Mansfield — different corner of the park.
- Hard summit / ridge / multi-day: Staircase Spur, Razorback, Falls to Hotham — one big walk only, early start, a decent forecast, and a turnaround plan.
Stacking two hard walks on the first visit is how days fall apart. Pick the table row that matches your energy, then open the full trail guide for getting-there detail.
Mount Feathertop from the Razorback
Jagermax · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Start with these three
Mount Feathertop from the Razorback · Jagermax · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Wallace’s Hut
easyHistoric cattlemen’s hut among snow gums on the Bogong High Plains — one of the most visited heritage sites in the park. Short walk from the road, not a substitute for Bogong or the Razorback.
- Grade
- Short high-plains heritage walk
- Time
- 45–90 minutes typical, plus hut time
- Distance
- Short formed walk from the High Plains Road (verify signed return)
View guide →
Bogong · Staircase Spur
hardSteep climb to Mount Bogong (1,986 m), Victoria’s highest peak, from Mountain Creek Picnic Area. Forest, Bivouac Hut, snow gums, then an exposed treeless plateau. High fitness. Poor weather any month.
- Grade
- Steep, arduous alpine summit
- Time
- 8–10+ hours for a fit party
- Distance
- About 16 km return (some sources ~18 km with extra elevation)
View guide →
Razorback · Feathertop
hardClassic high ridge from near Mt Hotham (Diamantina Hut / Great Alpine Road) to Mount Feathertop (1,922 m), Victoria’s second-highest peak. Mostly above treeline, extremely exposed. Weather window is the whole plan.
- Grade
- Exposed high ridge
- Time
- 7–9 hours
- Distance
- About 22 km return
View guide →
Quick comparison (planning only)
| Walk | Effort | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Falls to Hotham | hard | 3 days (Day 1 14 km · Day 2 14 km · Day 3 9 km) | Fit parties who can book tent platforms and accept alpine weather |
| Bogong · Staircase Spur | hard | 8–10+ hours for a fit party | Very fit walkers who want Victoria’s highest summit in a weather window |
| Razorback · Feathertop | hard | 7–9 hours | Fit, mountain-experienced walkers in a clear weather window |
| Wallace’s Hut | easy | 45–90 minutes typical, plus hut time | High-plains first look, heritage hut photos, wildflowers in season |
| Bungalow Spur | hard | Full alpine day — often 8–11 hours | Fit walkers who want Feathertop from the Harrietville valley, not the Hotham ridge |
| AAWT overview | hard | Weeks as a through-walk; day sections only if you know the map | Experienced remote walkers planning a section with full self-sufficiency |
| Dandongadale Falls | easy | 1–2 hours typical at the falls precinct | West-side visitors who want Victoria’s tallest waterfall, not a summit |
Easy
Wallace’s Hut
easyHistoric cattlemen’s hut among snow gums on the Bogong High Plains — one of the most visited heritage sites in the park. Short walk from the road, not a substitute for Bogong or the Razorback.
- Grade
- Short high-plains heritage walk
- Time
- 45–90 minutes typical, plus hut time
- Distance
- Short formed walk from the High Plains Road (verify signed return)
View guide →
Dandongadale Falls
easyParks Victoria: Victoria’s tallest waterfall, plunging 255 metres over a sheer cliff on the Mansfield–Whitfield side of the park. A different park from Bogong — do not assume High Plains logistics.
- Grade
- Lookout / short walk (Mansfield–Whitfield side)
- Time
- 1–2 hours typical at the falls precinct
- Distance
- Short lookout access (verify Parks Victoria site notes)
View guide →
Hard
Falls to Hotham
hardOfficial 37 km, three-day walk from Falls Creek (Heathy Spur) to Mt Hotham (Mt Loch carpark) via Cope Hut and Dibbins Hut tent platforms. High-plains travel, snow gums, river valleys and exposed ridges. Booking is mandatory for the platforms.
- Grade
- Challenging multi-day
- Time
- 3 days (Day 1 14 km · Day 2 14 km · Day 3 9 km)
- Distance
- 37 km point-to-point (3 days / 2 nights — official)
View guide →
Bogong · Staircase Spur
hardSteep climb to Mount Bogong (1,986 m), Victoria’s highest peak, from Mountain Creek Picnic Area. Forest, Bivouac Hut, snow gums, then an exposed treeless plateau. High fitness. Poor weather any month.
- Grade
- Steep, arduous alpine summit
- Time
- 8–10+ hours for a fit party
- Distance
- About 16 km return (some sources ~18 km with extra elevation)
View guide →
Razorback · Feathertop
hardClassic high ridge from near Mt Hotham (Diamantina Hut / Great Alpine Road) to Mount Feathertop (1,922 m), Victoria’s second-highest peak. Mostly above treeline, extremely exposed. Weather window is the whole plan.
- Grade
- Exposed high ridge
- Time
- 7–9 hours
- Distance
- About 22 km return
View guide →
Bungalow Spur
hardThe valley-side climb to Mount Feathertop from Harrietville via Bungalow Spur. Forest, Federation Hut precinct, then exposed summit. Different day from the Razorback — do not mix start notes.
- Grade
- Steep forest-to-summit spur
- Time
- Full alpine day — often 8–11 hours
- Distance
- Long return from Harrietville (verify signed km on Parks Victoria)
View guide →
AAWT overview
hardThe AAWT is a long, remote, Grade 5-in-places route across the Australian Alps. Alpine National Park holds major Victorian sections. This page is an overview with self-sufficiency warnings — not a casual day-walk menu.
- Grade
- Long-distance, remote (overview only)
- Time
- Weeks as a through-walk; day sections only if you know the map
- Distance
- Hundreds of kilometres through the Australian Alps (park is one section)
View guide →
Walks FAQ
Tap a question to expand the answer.
What is the best first walk in Alpine National Park?
If you are already at Falls Creek in fair weather, Wallace’s Hut is a good first High Plains hour. Summits (Bogong, Razorback) need fitness and a decent forecast. Always verify track status with Parks Victoria.
How hard are Bogong and the Razorback?
Hard. Staircase Spur is a steep 8–10+ hour return. The Razorback is about 22 km mostly above treeline. They are not lookout strolls. Fit groups only, with early starts and an official weather call.
Can I do Bogong and the Razorback on the same trip from Melbourne?
Not as two full days stacked without rest and two clean weather windows. Do not attempt both from a Melbourne same-day return. Overnight, pick one mountain, keep a Plan B hut walk.