Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing

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    Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing

    Alpine National Park

    The Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing is a 37km three-day hike through the Alpine National Park from Falls Creek to Mt Hotham. Enjoy spectacular views of mountain ridges from 2000m above sea level, walk through beautiful Snow Gum woodland and camp near two historic huts.
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    Winding its way along alpine ridges through snow gum woodlands and snow grass plains, over rocky summits and past historic huts, this memorable hike rewards walkers with a spectacular view at every step. By night, see thousands of twinkling stars against some of the darkest skies in the world far from light pollution.

    The trail is divided over three legs as follows:

    Day 1: Falls Creek to Cope Hut, 14km

    Day 2: Cope Hut to Dibbins Hut, 14km

    Day 3: Dibbins Hut to Mt Hotham, 9km

    Day 1 highlights include lookouts at Heathy Spur, historic Wallace Hut and Cope Hut - and swathes of pink, gold and white wildflowers in spring and summer. On Day 2, there are stunning panoramas from Pole 333 and unforgettable views of Mount Feathertop, Victoria's second-highest mountain. Day 3 highlights include abandoned Quintet Mine, charming Derricks Hut - and of course a well-deserved coffee and cake at Mt Hotham!

    How to get there

    Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing

    From Falls Creek the trail starts from the Heathy Spur carpark, on the eastern side of the Rocky Valley dam wall in the Alpine National Park. Heathy Spur carpark is 3km from the Falls Creek Information Centre via road, or walk from the Falls Creek village bowl via the aqueduct track. The trail finishes at the Mt Loch carpark at Mt Hotham.

    Falls to Hotham is a point-to-point walk, so you’ll need transport to the start and a way to get home at the end. The drive between trailheads takes approximately two-and-a-half hours.

    Using two vehicles in a car shuffle is a popular option. Drive in convoy to the end of the walk, drop off one vehicle, then return to the start of the walk in the other vehicle. Vehicles can be left at the Heathy Spur or Mt Loch car parks at either end.

    Alternatively, you could use the shuttle bus. Falls Creek will provide a bus service for hikers during the peak summer period. Contact the resort for details and to make a booking. Phone (03) 5758 1202. Website fallscreek.com.au

    If you’re staying at Falls Creek, Mt Hotham or Dinner Plain before your walk, some accommodation providers can offer transport or assist with a car shuffle.
    Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing

    When you're there

    The Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing is accessible for hiking from November to April. The track can be walked in either direction but is best when starting from Falls Creek and walking towards Mt Hotham.

    There are two campsites on the Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing:

    Cope Hut Camping Area, among the Snow Gums on the Bogong High Plains, is 14km from the trailhead and usually the first night's campsite.

    Dibbins Hut, on a snow plain near the headwaters of the Cobungra River, is 9km from Mount Hotham.

    Each campsite has five sites on tent platforms. There are four 3m x 3.7m platforms and one larger platform that is 4.5m x 3m. The platforms are designed to fit a 2-3 person hiking tent.

    The tent platforms are designed for you to pitch your tent directly on the platform. Each platform has eyelets around the edge to hook tent peg loops or guy ropes over. As well as these there are movable pegs that slot into the mesh, allowing tents of all shapes to be set up.

    Bookings are required to so be sure to check availability and make a booking prior to your trip.

    When to go

    Summer is a great time to walk the Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing. Wildflowers are in bloom and the temperature at 2000m is a welcome relief from the warmer climate at lower altitudes.

    Camping

    One of Victoria's icon walks, the 37km Falls-Hotham Alpine Crossing is a 3 day / 2 night walk through the Alpine National Park, linking the resort villages of Falls Creek and Mt Hotham. 
    Winding its way along alpine ridges through snow gum woodlands and snow grass plains, over rocky summits and past historic huts, this 3 day hike offers an achievable and rewarding hiking challenge with spectacular views every step of the way.

    Book your camp sites here

    Check availability

    Need to know

    Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing

    Accessibility

    Visiting a park can be more of a challenge for people with disabilities, however in Victoria there are a wide range of facilities to help people of all abilities enjoy our wonderful parks around the state.

    How we keep it special

    The Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing immerses visitors in the alpine environment, with its gnarled snow gums and fields of alpine daisies, surrounded by high country scenery, passing by heritage huts and walking to the summits of some of Victoria’s most spectacular peaks. The Master Plan for the Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing outlines the proposed development of a five-day, four-night hiking experience that traverses the Great Dividing Range, from Falls Creek to Mount Hotham.

    Change of Conditions

    Nature being nature, sometimes conditions can change at short notice. It’s a good idea to check this page ahead of your visit for any updates.

    • Notices Affecting Multiple Parks

      Seasonal road closures 2020

      Some roads in this park are subject to seasonal road closures. Seasonal road closures generally operate after the long weekend in June through to the end of October, but may be extended due to seasonal conditions. View the list of 2020 seasonal road closures for details and check the corresponding map numbers with the seasonal road closure 2020 index map for locations of the closures or visit the seasonal road closures page for more information.

    • Tali Karng (Alpine National Park)

      Tali Karng partial closure

      Due to fires in March 2019, many tracks are currently closed in the Tali Karng area. No access is currently available to Tali Karng itself, with only a section of the Wellington River walking track from the Tamboritha Road to the intersection of Chromite Mine vehicle track open. This section of the track was not fire affected, has been assessed by local rangers and is safe for public access

    • Alpine National Park

      Aerial shooting operation

      Parts of this park including Dinner Plain/Dargo High Plains will be closed Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2020.
      This is to ensure safe implementation of an aerial shooting program targeting deer and feral animals, to protect native species impacted by bushfires.
      The Australian Alps Walking Track and the Brabralung Trail, from Mt Hotham and Dinner Plain will remain open. The Dargo High Plains Road is closed. Access to Blue Rag Range Track (from 29 October) is from Basalt North Track only.
      See attached map for details.

      Attachments: Alpine National Park aerial shooting control area Oct 2020 (589KB)

      Deer control operation underway

      Deer control (ground shooting) is being undertaken in parts of the park, to protect native species impacted by bushfires. This operation poses no risk to visitor safety.

    • Mount Tingaringy (Alpine National Park)

      Feral Pig Ground Shooting Underway

      Feral pig (ground shooting) is being undertaken in the Alpine National Park during October 2020, to protect native species and communities in the area. This operation poses no risk to visitor safety. 

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