Fire-affected parks remain closed as others reopen.

Before you leave home, check for park closures and download the VicEmergency app.

Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing

A group of hikers rest and drink water and enjoy the vast alpine landscape

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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.

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!

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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.

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.

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.

  • Alpine National Park

    TRACK CLOSURE: Little Cobbler Track, Alpine National Park

    Due to the poor condition of the Little Cobbler Track, it is closed.  The track has suffered significant impacts from multiple flood and storm events that has left deep ruts that are not trafficable, making use of the track unsafe.

    There are multiple 4WD options for alternate routes between Lake Cobbler Road and Speculation Road areas.   Options include; 
    • via Cobbler Lake Track. Turn off Lake Cobbler Rd onto Cobbler Lake Track thru to Speculation Road.
    • via Wild Horse Gap Track. Turn off Lake Cobbler Rd onto Wild Horse Gap Track, turn onto Burnt Top Track and follow thru to Pineapple Flat. From Pineapple Flat take King Basin Road thru to Speculation Road.
    • via Basin Track. Turn off Upper Rose River Rd onto Basin Track, turn onto Burnt Top Track and follow thru to Pineapple Flat. From Pineapple Flat take King Basin Road thru to Speculation Road. 
    Please contact Parks Victoria on 13 19 63 if you need further assistance with journey planning in this area to assist with navigating around this closure.

    Cobberas, Ingeegoodbee and Macfarlane Flat Track closures.

    The following tracks have been significantly damaged by storms and floods and are currently closed to motor vehicles to ensure public safety and environmental protection:
    • Cobberas Track
    • Macfarlane Flat Track
    • Ingeegoodbee Track
    The tracks are likely to remain closed to motor vehicles until detailed site assessments have been completed. It is difficult to predict when planning approvals will be obtained to allow for repairs to commence. 
    Before visiting, visitors should check the Parks Victoria website for the latest information about their destination.

    Attachments: FAQs for Cobberas ingeegoodbee and mcfarlane tks (128KB)

  • Notices Affecting Multiple Sites

    The Alpine National Park is CLOSED north of Briagolong, east of Arbuckle Junction including Mount Howitt to Wabonga and south of Abbeyard, west of the Great Alpine Road and to the west of Dargo – due to the Dargo Wonnangatta complex fires in the area

    Closed sites:
    - Howitt Road, Moroka Road, Tamboritha Road after Lost Plain, King Billy Track
    - Wonnangatta Valley including the Icon Drive from all approaches into the Valley
    - Mount Howitt carpark, Vallejo Gantner Hut, Macalister Springs and Mount Howitt Walking Track
    - Australian Alps Walking Track within the closure area
    - McMillans walking track
    - Howitt Hut
    - Bryces Gorge camping area
    - Moroka Road and Pinnacles Day visitor area, Horseyard Flat camping area, Mcfarlanes Saddle, Moroka Hut
    - Billy Goat Bluff Track
    - Blue Rag Range Track
    - All other roads and tracks in the closed areas of the Alpine National Park
    - Eaglevale and Talbotville camping areas (Grant Historic Area)
    - Mount Sarah Natural Features and Scenic Reserve
    Open areas
    Open areas include:
    -          Wellington Campsites on Tamboritha Road
    -          Wellington River Trailhead to Lake Tali Karng (the only access to Lake Tali Karng, Mcfarlanes Saddle closed)
    -          Thomastown Camping area, Kelly Hut, McMichaels Hut
    -          Alpine National Park beyond Hotham Heights to the north and to Omeo
    -          Avon Wilderness Park
    Stay informed
    • For updated information, visit the VicEmergency website, or call the hotline on 1800 226 226.
    • Download the VicEmergency app and know how to use it – create a watch zone for your home, work and loved ones to receive alerts within that watch zone.
    • Know your local emergency broadcaster and never rely on one source of emergency information.
    • Visit the CFA website for the latest information on Fire Danger Ratings.
    • Visit the BOM website to stay updated on weather forecasts and warnings.

    Attachments: 20260118_1000_MAC 25_NP_SF_Closures_A0P_135k_comp (7,759KB)

    The Alpine National Park is CLOSED east of Mt Buller, South of Mt Buffalo and West of Mt Hotham – due to the Dargo Wonnangatta complex fires in the area.

    Closed sites:
    • Beveridge Station and the Buckland Valley Camps
    • Australian Alps Walking Track and other walking tracks within the closure area, including all tracks accessing Mt Howitt, the Crosscut Saw, Mt Speculation, the Razor Viking, Barry Mountains and the Twins.
    • Wabonga Plateau and Howitt Plains
    • Park and forest access south of Lake Buffalo
    • Lake Cobbler and Lake Cobbler Road south from Bennies
    • Camp Creek
    • Riley's Hut
    • King Hut
    • Walking tracks to Mt Howitt and the Crosscut saw from the Howqua Valley
    • King Billy Track, east of King Billys
    Open areas:
    • The Bogong High Plains
    • Mt Feathertop and Mt Loch areas
    • Mt Bogong
    • Walking tracks between Falls Creek and Mt Hotham
    • Mt Buffalo
    • Visitor sites accessed from the Omeo Highway
    • Howqua Hills
    Stay informed
    • For updated information, visit the VicEmergency website, or call the hotline on 1800 226 226.
    • Download the VicEmergency app and know how to use it – create a watch zone for your home, work and loved ones to receive alerts within that watch zone.
    • Know your local emergency broadcaster and never rely on one source of emergency information.
    • Visit the CFA website for the latest information on Fire Danger Ratings.
    • Visit the BOM website to stay updated on weather forecasts and warnings.

    Attachments: 20260123_1730_MAC 25_ForestClosures_A3P (9,799KB)

  • Notices Affecting Multiple Parks

    Ground shooting operations targeting deer

    Control operations (ground shooting) targeting deer are undertaken in this area.  The Park will remain open to visitors during operations.
     
    For more information about deer control to protect biodiversity, please visit this link.

    Planned aerial shooting operations targeting deer

    Control operations (aerial shooting) targeting deer are planned for this area.  During operations parts of the Park will be closed to visitors. More information on closures will be posted a minimum of 4 weeks prior to commencement. 
     
    Visitors are advised to check the Change of conditions listing prior to arrival for up to date information and maps.
     
    For more information about deer control to protect biodiversity, please visit this link.

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