Bugiga and Barri Yalug 3-day Hike

time 3 days
distance 24.5 kilometres
type One way
Grade

Grade 4

Explore

Bugiga and Barri Yalug 3-day Hike

Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park


Grampians National Park is part of the Gariwerd Aboriginal cultural landscape. Parks Victoria respects the deep and continuing connection that Traditional Owners have to these lands and waters, and we recognise their ongoing role in caring for Country.

Barengi Gadjin Land Council   Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation   Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation


Travelling south from Halls Gap, the Bugiga and Barri Yalug 3-day hike takes in some of the most iconic natural attractions in the central Grampians such as Venus Baths, Grand Canyon, The Pinnacle, Sundial Peak and Mount Rosea. The track is an overall Grade 4 walk, suitable for most experienced hikers. Alternatively this area can be reached from the Tunnel Walk Trailhead via the Tunnel walk, Lake Bellfield track and connecting at Borough Huts Campground. All itineraries require a car shuffle from start to finish. If you only have one vehicle, please visit Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Centre for other pick-up or walk options.

Itinerary highlights

Ramble past boulders along the edge of Stony Creek then climb up through the Grand Canyon. Witness spectacular, panoramic views along the Mount William Range, Fyans Valley and dramatic cliff faces of Mount Rosea. Walk through wet sclerophyll forest, scramble over boulders and rocky outcrops. See heritage-protected, raised water fluming held up by dry stone pillars.

Water safety

For your safety, having enough water along the Grampians Peaks Trail for hydration and cooking is so important. Our water information and availability page includes the locations (with latitude and longitude references) of serviced water tanks. All water tanks along the trail are untreated. So you need a safe way to treat water for drinking.

When planning this incredible hike, read the important Grampians Peaks Trail Plan and Prepare Guide.

Book Now

 

Day one: (C1) Halls Gap to Bugiga Hike-in Campground (8.9km)

Start your journey from either your Halls Gap accommodation or Brambuk - The National Park and Cultural Centre. This section of the walk (C1 on GPT topographic map) involves stone staircases and footbridge crossings, following along Stony Creek towards the summit of The Pinnacle. There are impressive views from the Pinnacle all the way to Lake View Lookout. 

Day two: (C2) Bugiga Hike-in Campground to Barri Yalug Hike-in Campground (14.7km)

Leaving Bugiga Hike-in Campground, you will start the steady climb through tall forest towards Mount Rosea, the most northern peak in the Serra Range. The cliffs on Mount Rosea are some of the highest on the trail.  With a long descent that features a series of steep and windy steps to Borough Huts before reaching the Barri Yalug Hike-In Campground destination.

Day three: (C3) Barri Yalug Hike-in Campground to Barney Creek and Redman Road (800m)

Leave Barri Yalug Hike-in Campground and make your way down stone steps to cross Barney Creek and finish your walk at Redman Road Trailhead where you can meet a vehicle transfer back to Halls Gap. Ensure you organise this before your walk. The Grampians Peaks Trail then continues from here with the Duwul and Durd Durd 3-day hike to Seven Dials, Redman Bluff, Mount William (Duwul) and Durd Durd. If you are planning on staying longer to do more sections of the walk, you can add other itineraries to your booking. 

Bookings and itinerary information

This 3-day hike connects with other day walks and tracks to allow you to step on and off from various points throughout Gariwerd such as returning to Halls Gap, or adding an additional night at Borough Huts Campground. The trailhead for this itinerary is Halls Gap and access to the trail is signposted. Find out more about the central Grampians walks in the official map for Grampians Peaks Trail. You can find out how to get to Halls Gap via the map above.  All itineraries require a car shuffle from start to finish. If you only have one vehicle, please visit Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Centre for other pick-up or walk options.

Camping fees

The trail itself is free to hikers but camping fees apply to stay overnight. This itinerary includes two nights at two different, dedicated campgrounds: first night at Bugiga Hike-in Campground and second night at Barri Yalug Hike-in Campground. These are booked as an all-inclusive itinerary - all you need to do is choose the date of your first night to book. We recommend booking your 3-day hike well in advance of your planned departure to ensure there is tent pad availability at each campground.

The 3-day itinerary costs are:
$100.80 for up to two people on a 3.5m x 3.5m standard tent pad

These hike-in campgrounds are in very remote locations, you're not near a busy road or carpark, so you feel the reward of being deep inside the national park. They have been built with a good level of amenity that is well designed, sympathetic to the landscape and sustainable. As such, they are priced higher for the value they provide. The price for a standard tent pad for a 3-day/2-night hike is roughly $50 per night ($25 p/person if sharing) in camping fees for these unique, well-equipped hike-in campgrounds. These fees contribute towards the operation and maintenance of this unique hiking experience and helps to protect the enviornmental values of this heritage-listed national park.

Campground information

Both campgrounds have 3.5m x 3.5m timber tent platforms with steel chains that can be used to secure your tent. Additional guy rope may be needed for tent vestibules or tunnel style tents. Each campground has been individually designed the fit within the surrounding landscape. They feature an unpowered communal area for meal preparation, basic toilet facilities and water collection points. Mobile phone service is not available at Bugiga Hike-in Campground and along some sections of the walk. There is good service at Barri Yalug Hike-in Campground. The use of fuel stoves in all hiker camps is permitted but open campfires are not allowed. Please take your rubbish with you on the entire journey and dispose of it when you get home.


Book Now

How to get there

Bugiga and Barri Yalug 3-day Hike

From Melbourne (253km, 3hrs): Drive west on the Western Highway (A8) to Ararat. From Ararat take the Ararat-Halls Gap Road (C222) for 48km through Moyston, Pomonal and onto Halls Gap.

From Dunkeld (65km, 45mins): Leave Dunkeld village to the east on the Glenelg Highway (B160). Drive 200m and turn north onto Victoria Valley Road (C216). Drive 2.6km turn right on Grampians Tourist Road (C216) and follow for 62km to Halls Gap.

 

Need to know

Bugiga and Barri Yalug 3-day Hike

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.

  • Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park

    The Balconies Walk and Reeds Lookout carpark

    The walk to the Balconies from Reed Lookout carpark is closed for track repair works from Monday 12th of May to Friday 23rd May 2025.

    The Reeds Lookout carpark will be closed from Monday 12th of May to Tuesday 13th of May 2025. The closure extends to Mount Victory Rd to support heavy vehicle material carting.

    From Wednesday 14th of May 2025 to Friday 23rd May 2025, the Reeds Lookout carpark will reopen with 50 percent fewer parking spaces and limited turnaround space for vehicles towing trailers.

    Coppermine 4WD Track Partial Closure

    Partial closure of Coppermine Track 21-23 May 2025
     
    Coppermine Track will be partially closed between Coppermine Campground and Mt Zero Rd from Wednesday 21 May until Fri 23 May 2025 for roadworks.  

    Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park - Roads Update 20.05.2025

    The Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park has many roads temporarily closed due to the recent bushfires. Please be aware the movement of visitors in parts of the National Park is restricted.

    Key roads open include Grampians Tourist Rd (most side roads remain closed), Mt Victory Rd, Sundial Rd, Silverband Rd, Roses Gap Rd, Mt Zero Rd and Victoria Valley Rd.

    Please refer to the attached up-to-date road report below.

    Attachments: Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park - Road Report - 20.05.2025 (217KB)

    The Pinnacle Walk from Wonderland Carpark

    Track repair works will take place on the Pinnacle Walk (halfway along in the Bridal Veil Falls area) from Monday 12th of May to Friday 23rd May 2025. The walk will remain open however visitors may experience delays. The Forest Loop Walk turn off near the works area offers an alternative route to access the Pinnacle Lookout.  

    Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park - Bushfire Reopening Update – May 2025

    The impact of the 2024/2025 summer fires in Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park was widespread. It resulted in the closure of many popular visitor sites including campgrounds, picnic areas, a large network of roads and walking tracks (including sections of the Grampians Peaks Trail).

    Parks Victoria is now progressing with large scale fire recovery works across the park. To complement these, a staged re-opening of visitor sites is being implemented

    The sites, which have reopened from April 18, 2025 are:
     
    ·      Silverband Falls Walk and Silverband Road
    ·      Balconies walk
    ·      Sundial carpark and the walk to the Pinnacle and Lakeview lookout walk (Sundial Peak remains closed)
    ·      Boroka Track Walk
    ·      Jimmy Creek and Wannon Crossing Campgrounds
    ·      Kalymna Campground and Kalymna Walk
    ·      Griffin Trailhead to Cassidy Gap Rd (Grampians Peaks Trail) – Walkers can now access this area by either pick up or drop off at Grampians Tourist Rd.  The Griffin Fireline Track remains closed to vehicles but open to walkers accessing the Grampians Peaks Trail via the Griffin Trailhead.

    For more detailed information please see the attached Park Update on “what is open” and “what is closed’ in the park.

    Attachments: GNP Park Update May 2025 (556KB)

    Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park – Fire Recovery Update – May 2025

    The impact of the 2024/2025 summer fires in the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park was widespread. Parks Victoria is now progressing with large scale fire recovery works across the park. For more detailed information, please see the attached Fire Recovery Update May 2025. 

    Attachments: GNP Fire Recovery Newsletter May 2025 (1,327KB)

    Run The Gap 2025 - Fun Run Event – Halls Gap and surrounds

    Run the Gap 2025 is an annual fun run being held in Halls Gap and surrounding areas of the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park on Sunday May 25th, 2025.
     
    Schedule
    7:30am – 21km run
    8:10am – 12km run
    8:30am - 6km run
    8:35am - 6km walk
     
    The trail running courses will be held on several walking tracks, with marshalled road crossings and event stations in place at several visitor sites. 

    For more detail on the event including start and finish locations for each distance visit:

    If you are visiting the area on these dates and require more detailed information, contact Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Centre on (03) 8427 2258. 

  • Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Centre (Brambuk - The National Park and Cultural Centre Park, Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park)

    Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Centre – Closures during 2025

    Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Centre – Closures during 2025

    ·      Cultural tours, activities and venue hire currently unavailable.
    ·      Park information centre and gift shop remain open.

    Parks Victoria is working with a strategic partnership committee of Gariwerd Traditional Owners from Barengi Gadjin Land Council, Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation, and Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation to ‘reimagine’ the future of Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Centre.

    The reimagining project aims to renew Traditional Owner management arrangements of the Brambuk precinct and includes careful consideration of the tourism and visitor experiences, commercial opportunities, cultural education and training programs that may be available in the future. As part of this project, there are also building upgrades and refurbishments that require the Cultural Centre to be closed during 2024-25. However, the park information centre, gift shop and self-guided walks remain available.
     
    For Junior Ranger School holiday programs visit https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/things-to-do/junior-rangers

    For a list of Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park Licensed Tour Operators Visit https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/lto

    For up-to-date national park information, brochures, maps, permits and access advice contact information staff at Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Centre info@parks.vic.gov.au or phone 8427 2058

    Further details on the Brambuk Reimagining project can be found on the Parks Victoria website https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/projects/western-victoria/brambuk-cultural-centre-upgrade

Add more Grampians Peaks Trail hikes to your itinerary

 
A man passes a cup of tea to his partner at their tent set up below the communal shelter at Djardji-Djawara Hiker camp on southern section 2 of the GPT

Djardji-djawara and Mud-dadjug 3-day Hike

Scenic ridgeline and mountain walking all the way to Dunkeld, as you wander across the Southern Grampians skyline.
A man sets up his tent at Duwal hiker camp at the end of central section 3 on the GPT

Duwul and Durd Durd 3-day Hike

Climbing through the Central Peaks, this tough walk traverses an exposed montane landscape and the highest mountains in the Grampians National Park.
A group of walkers head along the trail in front of Gar on norther section 2 of the GPT

Gar and Werdug 3-day Hike

A rugged, rocky adventure with steep climbs and panoramic views in the Northern Peaks of the Grampians.
The view of the Serra Range which is traversed on Southern Section 2 of the Grampians Peaks Trail

Yarram and Wannon 3-day Hike

This secluded walk in the Southern Peaks of the Grampians explores previously untracked terrain on the southern reaches of the Mt William Range.
X
By using our site you accept that we use and share cookies and similar technologies with certain approved third parties. These tools enable us to improve your website experience and to provide content and ads tailored to your interests. By continuing to use our site you consent to this. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information.
Confirm