These walk notes are intended to aid in your decision to undertake the Eastern Arthur Range Traverse and do not give a complete breakdown of the walk. For information on trip planning, pack lists and safety information, please see our Know Before You Go pages.
To help protect sensitive vegetation that can take many decades to recover if damaged, a registration system is in place for this walk.
The Eastern Arthur Range Traverse stretches from Luckmans Lead to Cutting Camp, and can be walked in either direction and from three different starting points; The Scotts Peak Dam track head, the Huon track head and the Farmhouse Creek track head.
These walk notes follow the route from Scotts Peak Dam trackhead through to Farmhouse Creek, and do not include the Federation Peak ascent. All campsites have a maximum stay of two nights.
Day 1 - Scotts Peak to Junction Creek
The track to Junction Creek is well-defined, with gentle hills and multiple creek crossings on the approach to the junction at Arthur Plains. Sections of the track can be very muddy; ensure you walk through the mud to protect the surrounding vegetation. The campsite can flood in heavy rain and drier sites are located near the toilet pod.
Day 2 - Junction Creek to Cracroft Crossing
The route takes you through the buttongrass of Arthur and Cracroft Plains. It gets very muddy after rain and there are several creek crossings. Nine Mile Creek is narrow and if very full, can be hard to cross. Two Mile Creek can be crossed on foot when water levels allow or via a log. The Cracroft Crossing campsite has a limited number of tent platforms.
Day 3 - Cracroft Crossing to Pass Creek
Walkers will encounter muddy, buttongrass plains, several creek crossings and a short climb over the Razorback. Crossing Pass Creek can be hazardous when water levels are high. Pass Creek campsite is located south of the crossing and has a toilet pod and tent platforms.
Day 4 - Pass Creek to Stuart Saddle
A long, steep haul up a rough track follows Luckmans Lead onto the Eastern Arthur Range. Walkers will climb 600 metres over 4 km. There is limited water available on the ascent. Walkers can expect a mix of climbing along rock walls, walking through gullies and crossing steep, scrubby slopes. An emergency campsite is located in the low scrub at the top of the spur. There is a semi-sheltered campsite with tent platforms and a water tank a couple of hundred metres past Stuart Saddle.
Day 5 - Stuart Saddle to Goon Moor
After leaving Stuart Saddle, there is a steep descent and then ascent before reaching a rough track where walkers will have to rock scramble along a ridgeline until reaching the open plateau of Goon Moor. The route is marked and care should be taken to follow it. The campsite is semi-sheltered and has tent platforms and a water tank.
Day 6 - Goon Moor to Hanging Lake Junction
Walkers will need to cross the open, grass-covered Goon Moor and are encouraged to fan out to reduce the formation of pads on the alpine moor. The route then climbs up a ridge, alternating between rocky peaks and cut tracks through scrubby vegetation. After the first peak of the Four Peaks is reached, the route becomes difficult and slow, travelling through gullies, up a steep notch, and followed by a steep descent where pack hauling is common. The route gently climbs Thwaites Plateau towards Devils Thumb, before a short scramble to the top.
Walkers can use the Hanging Lake campsite, approximately 1 kilometre and 30 minutes from the main track. There is also a campsite at Bechervaise Plateau, approximately 1 kilometre and 2 hours past the direct ascent to Federation Peak.
Day 6 Campsite - Hanging Lake
From the moor, the route heads south through a break in the rocks and descend rock and timber steps to the open morainal ridge which dams Hanging Lake. The tent platforms and toilet are located just before the lake on the edge of the scrub 10m below the morainal ridge. It is partially sheltered from the prevailing south-westerly winds.
Day 6 Campsite - Bechervaise Plateau
From Hanging Lake Junction, walkers will follow the serrated ridge and steep cliffs of the southern side of Federation Peak. Walkers will need to negotiate steep downward climbs over rocky slabs and small cliffs. The Eastern Arthur Range Traverse continues past the junction for the direct ascent to Federation Peak.
The descent to Bechervaise Plateau is steep and exposed. Walkers will need to climb down rocky outcrops to reach the tent platforms located on the upper terrace of the Plateau. Walkers unfamiliar with the route should only undertake it in clear weather.
Day 7 - Bechervaise Plateau to Cutting Camp
From the Plateau, walkers descend Moss Ridge to Cutting Camp, a steep and slippery route through thick forest. The descent is slow-going and walkers may need to pack haul some of the steeper, rockier sections. There is very little water on this part of the route. The campsite is basic, with no platforms, and is located at the base of Moss Ridge on the south side of Cherry Creek.
Day 8 - Cutting Camp to South Cracroft
The route from Cutting Camp crosses many creeks. After heavy rainfall, some creeks can be deep and dangerous to cross and alternate routes through scrubby forest and buttongrass plains can be very muddy.
There are tent platforms located on the Farmhouse Creek side of South Cracroft River, though only Crest Camp is not affected by floods.
Day 9 - South Cracroft to Farmhouse Creek
Walkers start the day with a large creek crossing and a steep
ascent onto the South Picton saddle before steadily descending through cutting
grass and scrub. This part of the track can be quite muddy. After the log
crossing over Farmhouse Creek the route goes downstream into mature rainforest.
Walkers will need to cross Farmhouse Creek once more, before reaching the car park at the end of West Picton Road.
Alternate start - Huon Track
Huon Track Trailhead to Blakes Opening
Blakes Opening to Cracroft Crossing