Mt Maroon Caves, Mt Barney NP QLD
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 2.71 mi
- Elevation gain
- 932 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Easy
- Elevation loss
- 932 ft
- Max elevation
- 1,763 ft
- TrailRank
-
59
5
- Min elevation
- 957 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Moving time
- one hour 44 minutes
- Time
- 3 hours 13 minutes
- Coordinates
- 771
- Uploaded
- January 12, 2019
- Recorded
- January 2019
near Cotswold, Queensland (Australia)
Viewed 3014 times, downloaded 193 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
Video of trail here: https://youtu.be/dKcN4KViKfE
This is a trail up to some spectacular Caves on the northern side of Mt Maroon.
Parking at end of Cotswold Rd, you start up the usual route up the Mount, but then you take a right turn towards a distinct grassy fire trail (sort of opposite a closed metal gate facing east) and start following the trail west.
Easy to follow fire trail. After about 10 minutes of walking, cross over two gullies and then you'll see a yellow tape marker to the left toward the Mountain. Then it's up, up, up towards the rock face!
This section is a very loose ground Rocky scramble upwards. Keep going (it is a mountain after all!) and veer to the right westward. You'll come to a distinct foot trail pretty much at the base of northern rocky face... Some tape markers here and there to give you confidence. Follow this loose trail west and it will ascend a bit more and then will naturally wrap around up to the Caves.
The caves were not so much a deep cavern but rather a sheltered cutout in the mountain. I found the view spectacular. Evidence of people having a little fire and probably staying the night here. Very sandy soil up in the caves and a lot of great rocks and boulders to rest on and floor area to chill. Kick back.... Enjoy the view... Have mornos... Fly a drone.
The hike up to the caves could take about 30 mins from the carpark if you trail-ran it. That's what I love about this one.... So close. Just be aware of the loose steep terrain going up from the fire trail to the mountain base.
This is a trail up to some spectacular Caves on the northern side of Mt Maroon.
Parking at end of Cotswold Rd, you start up the usual route up the Mount, but then you take a right turn towards a distinct grassy fire trail (sort of opposite a closed metal gate facing east) and start following the trail west.
Easy to follow fire trail. After about 10 minutes of walking, cross over two gullies and then you'll see a yellow tape marker to the left toward the Mountain. Then it's up, up, up towards the rock face!
This section is a very loose ground Rocky scramble upwards. Keep going (it is a mountain after all!) and veer to the right westward. You'll come to a distinct foot trail pretty much at the base of northern rocky face... Some tape markers here and there to give you confidence. Follow this loose trail west and it will ascend a bit more and then will naturally wrap around up to the Caves.
The caves were not so much a deep cavern but rather a sheltered cutout in the mountain. I found the view spectacular. Evidence of people having a little fire and probably staying the night here. Very sandy soil up in the caves and a lot of great rocks and boulders to rest on and floor area to chill. Kick back.... Enjoy the view... Have mornos... Fly a drone.
The hike up to the caves could take about 30 mins from the carpark if you trail-ran it. That's what I love about this one.... So close. Just be aware of the loose steep terrain going up from the fire trail to the mountain base.
Waypoints
Photo
335 ft
Comments (12)
You can add a comment or review this trail
Awesome, amazing views. There is really no trail. GPS needed. Steep.rock scrambling. Great fun , and the view at the caves is worth the effort
Yeah... I definitely agree! Glad you enjoyed your hike... It really is a little beauty.
Jelbuilder,i see you put easy.i would put moderate, myself,
I think of the beginner,when i rate.my fitness is ok.but a beginner might find it quite difficult.
Just saying 😊
Fair enough, however I always rate my trails according to how I found it personally as a record for myself. I try to put in some helpful notes when I can to help others in the description field. However I actually did find this one quite short and easy compared to most other trails I frequent... It only has one primary steep ascent from the fire trail to the main terrace that leads to the cave. A great beginner trail for exploring the beautiful Mt Maroon.
I have followed this trail verified View more
Information
Easy to follow
Scenery
Easy
If new at hiking.take a GPS, there's no real trail after first kilometre. The occasional cairn of stones.that,s all.
The trail is a fire break track at beginning, then you leave it and go up a steep rocky slope.some rock scrambling. Then veer off and down to the right and basically follow the cliff face ,till you see the cave .
You need a reasonable fitness level to do this hike
But it is great fun.and the cavern is amazing, amazing views also.
I would suggest to not do it if rain,it can be slippery, i know, i was caught in the rain 😁😁
I was asked to do another review, hence the second review.
😁😁 I think now it was a robot generated request.
G'day. Can you get across to the summit trail (safely) from the caves track. Would like to incorporate this with a walk to the summit if possible.
Hmm... Haven't tried from the caves to the main summit trail so can't tell for sure. In a few weeks I'll be going from the caves to the summit via the western side of the mountain... ie, just keep following the caves trail round to the other side and upwards. I've seen a few wikilocs entries of others doing that.
Ok, someone has mentioned that to me also. I will check it out. Thanks.
Found the route on Wikiloc. Looks ok.
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/mt-maroon-ass-backwards-upside-down-25639140
Yep, that's the one. Thanks for leaving the link Colin. Cheers.
Colin, yes you can,i did it last time i was there, Caves to Summit Trail