Walkers scramble carefully over scree and rocks on the track to the the summit of Frenchmans Cap
The track to the the summit of Frenchmans Cap (photograph: Francois Fourie)

Frenchmans Cap

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3 - 5 days return, 54km return
Grade 4: Bushwalking experience recommended. Tracks may be long, rough and very steep. Directional signage may be limited.
The track is for self-sufficient, well-equipped and experienced walkers. Weather conditions can change very quickly.
A valid parks pass is required for entry to Tasmania's national parks.
Bookings:

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The trackhead is a carpark 29km west of the Derwent Bridge on the Lyell Highway.

About

​​At 1,4​46 metres in height, the striking white quartzite peak of Frenchmans Cap rises from exceptionally beautiful rainforest-clad ranges and mountain lakes. It is a mecca for both bushwalkers and rock climbers – and it won’t disappoint. 

From its glorious summit, expansive views encompass Macquarie Harbour to the west; the vast Southwest wilderness to the south; and to the north, the many peaks of the Overland Track. Surrounding this magnificence, the life-giving waters of the powerful Franklin River carve a sinuous passage to the Southern Ocean. 

Most walkers allow 4-5 days to experience this extraordinary landscape. Weather can change rapidly

Your journey to the Cap includes a wonderfully varied mix of landscapes – golden-hued buttongrass moorlands, fragrant Eucalypt forests with colourful heath understorey, moss-strewn ancient rainforests, and the delicate yet resilient wonders of the alpine flora. This land is home to the usual array of Tasmania’s wildlife: wallabies, pademelons, wombats, possums, devils, snakes, skinks, quolls, platypus, echidna and abundant birdlife.

The track includes jagged rocks, twisted tree roots, formed gravel and boardwalk. There are some steep sections with timber ladders. 

  • Frenchmans Cap - walk notes
    Located in the franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, Frenchmans Cap a rewarding and challenging experience for experienced walkers.