Mt Maroon with Tracknotes
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 1.54 mi
- Elevation gain
- 2,077 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 108 ft
- Max elevation
- 3,189 ft
- TrailRank
- 39
- Min elevation
- 1,210 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Moving time
- 34 minutes
- Time
- 2 hours 38 minutes
- Coordinates
- 449
- Uploaded
- July 21, 2018
- Recorded
- July 2018
near Cotswold, Queensland (Australia)
Viewed 485 times, downloaded 55 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
Trail is pretty obvious but there are a couple of turns to be aware of which are explained the tracknotes below. QPWS have installed some yellow triangles as route markers which help you confirm you are still on the right track, but a few more wouldn't hurt. You'll also notice the odd piece of fluro tape on small branches here and there which are sometimes worth taking notice of as they usually indicate the main path or a turning point etc.
Personally I would only do walks like Barney and Maroon in the colder months of the year, as the vegetation type in this region offers little shade and the rocks reflect the heat. These mountains are hard enough without adding the extra heat stress on your body and all the extra weight in water that you need to carry. Do it in winter, it's a lot easier!
Click on the Waypoints in the map to read more detailed tracknotes for that waypoint.
Waypoints
Photo
1,204 ft
Carpark / Trailhead
Cotswald Rd terminates in this largely undeveloped dirt carpark that has parking for around 8 or so cars in pairs slotted in between bushy sections. QLD Parks trail info board with all the relevant information on the track is right beside the carpark facing the dam. Access for two wheel drive vehicles is good as the road leading up to the carpark is a well graded dirt/gravel road but the red soil hilly areas in the carpark could cause traction issues for two wheel drive vehicles in wet weather.
Photo
2,487 ft
Start of Steep Gully/Chute
At this point the track has curved off the rocky ridgeline around to the right, descended down a little and effectively hit a cliff wall. When standing facing the cliff wall look left and you will see a steep boulder filled gully with the track leading up it like a chute. You'll also see the track goes to the right and downhill following the base of the cliff wall, this is used by rockclimbers to access the cliff face, don't go this way. The ridgeline leading up to this point has been pretty steep and full of big rocks, but this chute is steeper and will now require you to reach higher and choose your hand and footholds, with some grabbing of handy roots and saplings to climb you way up. Nothing open, exposed or dangerous about this section as you are in a protected gully, but rather an enjoyable rocky ramble to the top, albeit a very steep one!
Photo
2,785 ft
Lookout Rock
When you emerge from the top of the big boulder gully you're practically at the campsite clearing, but just before you get there you will see a little track the the left which takes you up to a rocky perch that's an excellent east facing lookout position. You are now in the saddle between the North and South summits.
Photo
2,779 ft
Campsite Clearing
After emerging from the top of the boulder gully the track will lead you into this shady well-protected little semi-cleared area with enough room for a few 1p or 2p tents. To the best of my knowledge this campsite is not officially sanctioned for use by the QPWS. A small dry creek bed runs down one side of the clearing which flows occasionally after rain, but 95% of the time it will be dry, so don't expect to find water here. Continue to the right through and out the back of the clearing to find the track junction of the North / South summit track.
Photo
2,822 ft
Trail Junction/Crossroads to South or North Peak
Not far after walking out of the back of the Campsite clearing you may notice a fork in the track. Go left for the official and highest South summit, or go to the right to visit the lower and closer North summit. Many people do both while they are here.
Photo
2,959 ft
Start of south summit slabs
After going left at the fork and travelling to the South summit you will follow a pleasant bush track that will hit a smaller slab area, but don't leave the track yet and instead you will see the main track just skirts along the edge of this first slab a little longer and through a little more bush until you get to the base of the real summit slab area. Follow these slabs generally up the right side to emerge on the summit ridgetop. Nothing overly steep, dangerous or exposed about these summit slabs and they feel very safe. But take care on the summit as over the other side it is a sheer drop along one side. The danger is quite obvious to an adult, but be sure to keep any small children closely supervised here!
Photo
3,150 ft
South Summit
Emerge victorious on the 966m summit ridge top with 360 degree views of the scenic rim, with mountains all around. The biggest and most obvious being Mt Barney dominating the view to the Southwest, with the unmistakable wedding cake top of Mt Lindsey to the left of Barney. As stated earlier, there's a sheer drop on one side of this summit.
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