Mount Bogong Hike (Alpine National Park)

Located in Alpine National Park, Mount Bogong (1986m) is Victoria’s highest mountain.

Alpine National Park is the largest national park in Victoria located in the Central Highlands and Alpine regions of Victoria. It stretches to the border with New South Wales, where it adjoins Kosciuszko National Park (NSW).

Mount Bogong hike should be on every hiker’s bucket list. Although challenging, it is a very rewarding hike that boasts spectacular alpine landscapes.

Mount Bogong Hike: Route Options

There are several routes you can take to reach Mount Bogong summit. More popular and more accessible routes to the summit are Staircase Spur Track and Eskdale Spur Track, both routes are from the northern side.

1. Mount Bogong via Staircase Spur Track

This trail is a challenging and very steep climb to the top of Mount Bogong summit. This route seems to be steeper than Eskdale Spur Track.

2. Mount Bogong via Eskdale Spur Track

This is another challenging route to the summit of Mt Bogong. It is a steep rocky and exposed climb, I found it a bit more beautiful than Staircase Spur Track.

– Starting from Mountain Creek Campground

• Distance: 21.9 km return
• Elevation gain: 1501 m

– Starting from Camp Gap

• Distance: 9km return
• Elevation gain: 874m if starting from Camp Gap

3. Mount Bogong via Granite Flat Spur Track

This is the shortest route to Mount Bogong summit, but 4WD is required to get to the trailhead on Camp Creek Road.

• Distance: 7km return

4. Mount Bogong loop via Staircase Spur Track (up) Eskdale Spur Track (down)

We decided to climb Mount Bogong via Staircase Spur and ascend via Eskdale Spur Track and planned to make it a 2-day hike with overnight camping.

• Start: Mountain Creek Campground
• Finish: Camp Gap
• Distance: 13.5 km
• Ascent: 1460 m
• Descent: 880 m

Trailhead and parking options

There are two trailheads for the Mount Bogong hike via Staircase Spur/Eskdale Spur, depending on whether you have a 2WD or 4WD vehicle and when you go.

If you have 4WD you can drive 2km along unsealed Mountain Creek Road from Mountain Creek Campground and park on the side of the road. However, note that the winter gate along this road is closed from Queen’s birthday weekend until the Melbourne Cup. Also, keep in mind that there are several river crossings along this 2km stretch.

If you drive 2WD or go while the winter gate is closed, start the hike from the Mountain Creek Campground.

Track notes: Mount Bogong loop via Staircase Spur and Eskdale Spur

We decided to climb Mount Bogong via Staircase Spur Track and ascend via Eskdale Spur Track and planned to make it a 2-day hike with overnight camping near Michell Hut, but we ended up doing it in one day. There was a lot more snow than we expected, and we decided to return to Mountain Creek campground.

Ascend via Staircase Spur Track

We started the hike at around 7.30 am from Mountain Creek Campground. We parked our car there, so we walked 2km along Mountain Creek Road to the trailhead. Further, from this point, a knee-breaking ascent through dense peppermint gums forest begins. It took us about 2.5 hours to get to Bivouac Hut (1,440m), where we stayed for an early lunch and tea. There is a rainwater tank at the back of the hut, so you can refill your water bottles.

Soon after we left the hut, we started hiking on the snow. We did the hike in early October and were surprised there was so much snow, as we watched videos of people hiking in September in previous years, and there was hardly any snow even at the top. So each year is different.

Now the trail goes through snow gums for some time until you get to the ridge leading to the summit. For some time we could not see much, as we walked in the clouds, but once we got above the tree lines it suddenly cleared.

There was a stretch of the trail with no snow, but most of it was covered in snow, so we followed the snow poles. And it took us 2.5 hours to get to Mount Bogong summit from Bivouac Hut.

Mount Bogong Summit and descend via Eskdale Spur Track

Mount Bogong is the highest mountain in Victoria. Its top is quite flat and open and offers spectacular views of Alpine National Park. When we were on the top, it was 10 degrees C and absolutely no wind. The sky was partially clear, but weather conditions change very rapidly, and soon after we started descending via Eskdale Spur track, clouds covered Mount Bogong, and we were hiking in the clouds until we got down to the tree line.

There was a lot of snow, so we followed the snow poles. It is about 2km from the summit to Michel Hut and 4.5km to the end of the trail at Camp Gap. Even though we hiked in the clouds, the descent was very scenic. The trail follows the ridgeline, and as we moved further down we approached the treeline.

We planned to camp overnight near Michel Hut, but it was still early afternoon, and there was a lot more snow than we expected, so we decided to continue hiking down to Camp Gap and return to Mountain Creek campground.

It is another 2.5km descent through gum trees forest to the end of the trail which took us about 1 hour.

We parked our car at Mountain Creek campground which was another 5km hike and a few river crossings, but we were lucky: a kind skier offered to give us a lift to Mountain Creek Campground.

Overnight Camping and huts

There are three huts around Mount Bogong: Bivouac Hut, Michel Hut, and Cleve Cole Hut. If you do an overnight hike, you can camp outside of these huts. Huts themselves can only be used for emergencies only but is a good place for a lunch break. It is also possible to pitch a tent elsewhere, not necessarily near huts.

Bivouac Hut or “Bivo” (northern side of Mount Bogong, at 1,440m): a small wooden hut located approx. halfway from the trailhead to Mount Bogong summit on Staircase Spur Track. It’s a nice place for a rest stop or a lunch break after a killer hike up on Staircase Spur Track. In addition, there are some flat areas for camping around the hut, a drop toilet, and a rainwater tank.

Michell Hut (northern side of Mount Bogong, at 1,630m): a tin hut about 2km down from Mount Bogong summit on Eskdale Spur Track. Like other huts, it offers camping spots beside the hut, a drop toilet, and a rainwater tank.

Cleve Cole Hut (southern side of Mount Bogong, at 1,760m): located about 4km down on the southern side of Mount Bogong. In case you plan to camp near this hut, note that it will add an extra 4km to get there from Mount Bogong and 4km back. Although it adds extra kms to your hike, it is worth it, as it is one of the best huts in the High Country.

There is plenty of flat space for camping around it. Besides, this hut is the most equipped, its facilities include sleeping quarters (for emergency use only), a dining table and seats, wood-fired heating, a sink with running water from a stream, and a drop toilet a short walk from the hut.

Things to keep in mind

Weather conditions change rapidly and dramatically near the top of Mount Bogong. Fog, high winds or rain /snow can come unexpectedly. Make sure you are prepared for the weather change and have warm and waterproof clothes.

Water access. There are rainwater tanks at Bivouac Hut on Staircase Spur Track and Michell Hut on Eskdale Spur. They may run dry, so carry sufficient water to be safe. At Cleve Cole Hut there’s a stream nearby and running water from a stream in the hut.

Trail difficulty: don’t underestimate trail difficulty, it is hard and strenuous. The climb to the summit is steep: if you hike up via Staircase Spur the elevation gain is 1460m, or if you hike up via Eskdale Spur it is 874m.