Adventure up Neglected Mountain (QLD)

Neglected by name, neglected by nature. You’ll need a sense of adventure to tackle Neglected Mountain with its bush bashing ascent and narrow ridgeline.

 

We acknowledge that this adventure is located on the traditional Country of the <insert name of Aboriginal group> people who have occupied and cared for these lands and waters for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Quick Overview

Neglected Mountain trail is a 10km, grade 3 hike located in Lamington in Queensland. The hike should take around 4-5 hours to complete.

Highlights

• Like a challenge? Get your bush bashing on to reach the ridgeline
• Hike along the ridgeline and enjoy spectacular Scenic Rim views
• Combine the hike with a night of camping by Christmas Creek at Stinson Park

 

PLEASE NOTE: This hike is off track and you’ll need sound navigational skills. The route passes through private property briefly and we recommend you contact Queensland National Parks for information relating to landholders and obtain permission to bypass this area. Please always be respectful of private property.

 

The Lowdown

I’d never heard of Neglected Mountain until I came across it on a bushwalker’s site and then I was intrigued. Of course, it was promptly added to my bucket list. On a sunny Saturday afternoon, myself and hiking buddy Scout headed off from the Stinson Park campground to hike up Neglected Mountain.

Read more: How To Hike Off-Track

The trailhead can be reached off Gap Creek Road. Follow the road to a locked gate with a Queensland National Parks sign. Go through the gate, and head up the hill to an abandoned ute, outhouse, picnic table, lean-to and rustic cabin and take in the views of Buchanan’s Fort.

From the rest area, locate a rough 4WD track and follow it up as far as you can go, then push up to the ridgeline. There’s not a lot of footpadding here so it’s a push through the long grass heading up to the ridgeline. This is where the neglected bit comes in.

 

 

This was a hard slog, the ground was steep and loose but we just kept putting one step ahead of the other. Once we got to the ridgeline, we found a narrow footpad on our right heading up the ridgeline along a grassy ridge.

Make sure you mark where you came up to the ridge as it’s easy to miss on the way back down. We made a makeshift marker with a tree branch and some bright yellow flowers.

Read more: Navigating With a Map & Compass

 

The footpad is pretty easy to follow, just keep heading along the ridgeline. There’s some more long grass to get through but not as tough as the first section.

There are some short bursts of rock scrambling required but mostly you’re following a narrow footpad through the grass along the narrow ridgeline, and pretty soon you’ll be greeted with spectacular views over the Scenic Rim, my favourite part of the hike. The open ridgeline offers Neglected Mountain’s best views.

Keep heading up following the footpad and you’ll eventually reach the summit, however there’s not much of a view and you enter private property once you’re on the summit. This hike would be equally good in the morning and afternoon; the afternoon sun hitting Buchanan’s Fort was on point on our visit. Most likely, you’ll be the only ones there.

This is a great spot for a microadventure, combining an adventurous and scenic hike with a night of camping by the picturesque Christmas Creek at the adjacent Stinson Park campground. Campsites are $8 per person.

 

How To Get There

From Brisbane, head towards Beaudesert down the Mt Lindesay Highway. Turn right at the traffic lights in Beaudesert towards Rathdowney, remaining on the Mt Lindesay Highway. Follow this road until Laravale where the road takes a sweeping bend. You want to continue straight here onto Christmas Creek Road. Follow this down until you reach Stinson Park Campground on your right. Neglected Mountain can be reached from the end of Gap Creek Road. Gap Creek Road starts just up the road from the campground. You can easily walk from the campground to the trailhead.

 

Essential Gear

• At least 3 litres of water (more in warmer months) and water purification tablets just in case
• Lunch and snacks
• Camera
• Long pants (or gaiters) to get through the overgrown grass

Skill Level

Intermediate. The trail is steep and narrow in parts, and there’s some bush bashing involved. Navigational skills are essential to negotiate your way up to the ridgeline. Only fit, experienced hikers should attempt this hike.

Distance / Duration

10km / 4-5 hours return from Stinson Park