Mermaid Mountain and Little Mermaid Lookout Circuit
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 7.51 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,217 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 1,217 ft
- Max elevation
- 1,183 ft
- TrailRank
- 34
- Min elevation
- 156 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Time
- 3 hours 6 minutes
- Coordinates
- 3828
- Uploaded
- March 30, 2023
- Recorded
- March 2023
near Kholo, Queensland (Australia)
Viewed 280 times, downloaded 6 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
I'll be putting up a video on my YouTube Channel re this hike as videos speak a million words compared to some hiking notes here: https://youtu.be/Gt4xr2-oTvQ
My GPX is a circuit as I hate in and out trails which I find boring. Give me a circuit any day.
My start point was Lake Manchester Rd, about 100m past Light Line Rd (don't park on this road as its pretty much for residents living there only). Once inside the entry gate, it's all fire trails that wind here and there a lot. Be prepared for a lot of hills, and I mean serious hills, you will be stuffed..... so be sure to pace yourself, stop, rest, breath and continue again.
Lots of Golden Orb Weaver spiders everywhere, so keep your head in the game or else your head will be in their web.
There are a myriad of ways to get up to the Lookout, my track is pretty much a direct route to get to the summit fast. The last ascent will lead you up to the top of an escarpment ridgeline. The lookout will come into view. You'll then notice a small righthand trail that leads off toward the outlook. This is finally where the western views towards Lake Manchester and Ipswich city come into view, and boy they don't disappoint.
Took me about 1hr and 5 mins to get to the lookout and the return time is similar. I went on a hot, humid autumn day, and just felt sluggish due to the amount of hills and dripping sweat.
Although I found the firetrails extremely mind numbing, the Little Mermaid Lookout made it all worth it. Probably one of the best scenic lookouts out there, you will not regret it, and you'll forget just how boring the rest of the trails are. Lots of cliff lines at the lookout so be careful up there.
From here, I continued northward for about 30 minutes thinking that there was another summit that made up Mermaid Mountain, only to find that there was none. The whole area up there is pretty much Mermaid Mountain and not really worth exploring further - you've only got firetrails to follow (then again, maybe that excites you, not me).
I then back tracked and returned via the easter side of the Lookout, one another, you guessed it... "FIRE TRAIL!" Some serious descent on sections but piece of cake to follow. You can't get lost on these trails. I exited at Lake Manchester Rd, and followed it for 800m back toward where I parked my car.
Honestly, the lookout is absolutely worth it.... but I wouldn't hike it again as I find fire trails boring (I'm sure you can tell). Once is enough. Hope these notes help.
My GPX is a circuit as I hate in and out trails which I find boring. Give me a circuit any day.
My start point was Lake Manchester Rd, about 100m past Light Line Rd (don't park on this road as its pretty much for residents living there only). Once inside the entry gate, it's all fire trails that wind here and there a lot. Be prepared for a lot of hills, and I mean serious hills, you will be stuffed..... so be sure to pace yourself, stop, rest, breath and continue again.
Lots of Golden Orb Weaver spiders everywhere, so keep your head in the game or else your head will be in their web.
There are a myriad of ways to get up to the Lookout, my track is pretty much a direct route to get to the summit fast. The last ascent will lead you up to the top of an escarpment ridgeline. The lookout will come into view. You'll then notice a small righthand trail that leads off toward the outlook. This is finally where the western views towards Lake Manchester and Ipswich city come into view, and boy they don't disappoint.
Took me about 1hr and 5 mins to get to the lookout and the return time is similar. I went on a hot, humid autumn day, and just felt sluggish due to the amount of hills and dripping sweat.
Although I found the firetrails extremely mind numbing, the Little Mermaid Lookout made it all worth it. Probably one of the best scenic lookouts out there, you will not regret it, and you'll forget just how boring the rest of the trails are. Lots of cliff lines at the lookout so be careful up there.
From here, I continued northward for about 30 minutes thinking that there was another summit that made up Mermaid Mountain, only to find that there was none. The whole area up there is pretty much Mermaid Mountain and not really worth exploring further - you've only got firetrails to follow (then again, maybe that excites you, not me).
I then back tracked and returned via the easter side of the Lookout, one another, you guessed it... "FIRE TRAIL!" Some serious descent on sections but piece of cake to follow. You can't get lost on these trails. I exited at Lake Manchester Rd, and followed it for 800m back toward where I parked my car.
Honestly, the lookout is absolutely worth it.... but I wouldn't hike it again as I find fire trails boring (I'm sure you can tell). Once is enough. Hope these notes help.
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