Mt Duncan in the Dial Range
Mt Duncan in the Dial Range (photograph: Hannah Waterhouse)

Mount Duncan Track

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4 hours return, 8km return
Grade 3: Some bushwalking experience recommended. Tracks may have short steep hill sections, a rough surface and many steps.
From Mount Gnomon Carpark walk along Dial Road until it intersects with the Tall Trees Track. This track is one way. A loop of Mount Duncan (grade 4) can be added for a scenic view of the Dial Range and coastline.

About

​​The Mount Duncan walk takes you past beautiful vegetation and wildlife, and also provides fantastic views over the Dial Range and the coastline. In clear weather, you can look across to the other peaks of the Dial Range and see the towns scattering the central north-west coastline. Even if the weather begins to change, you can watch the clouds slowly settle over the peaks and wisp through the trees, creating an ethereal and magical forest.

Watch the vegetation change on this 8km return walk as you pass from dry eucalypt forest to tall, wet eucalypt forest and through small pockets of rainforest. 

Start from the Gnomon Carpark. At the junction of Ironcliffe and Dial Roads, walk down along Dial Road for approximately 500m following the sign for Mount Duncan and Tall Trees Track. Follow the signs directing you onto the walking track and the start of the Mount Duncan and Tall Trees Track.

On the Tall Trees Track you will wander amongst the towering eucalypts, go down the hill through the tree ferns before following the flow of Dial Creek. Make your way up the other side of the hill until you reach a signed junction for Mount Duncan. The Tall Trees Track acts as a linking track to the summit of Mount Duncan, so you have the option of stopping here and returning on the same track or continuing on to the summit.​

The route on the Tall Trees Track is around 7 km, takes about 3 hours return and is a Grade 3 track.

The Summit

You may choose to continue for an additional 600m up to the summit of Mount Duncan, the tallest peak in the Dial Range. The full track to the summit from the carpark climbs approximately 300m in elevation over 8km. Going to Mount Duncan including the Tall Trees Track (Grade 3) is 8km and takes about 4 hours return.

This walk can be combined with the Mount Gnomon Lookout, as they both start from the​ same carpark.​