Bob’s Ridge Trail Offers a Bird’s Eye View Over NSW’s Kosciuszko National Park

Kosciuszko National Park is home to a plethora of adventures for the outdoor enthusiast, and if you’re after a day hike through some beautifully diverse landscapes, Bob’s Ridge Trail is the one.

We Are Explorers acknowledges that this adventure is located on the traditional Country of the Ngarigo and Wolgalu peoples who have occupied and cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Bob’s Ridge Trail Highlights

• The Thredbo River and a walk through a Snow Gum forest
• Rocky outcrop of granite boulders on Bob’s Ridge
• Expansive views over the Snowies

Bob’s Ridge Trail Quick Facts

Distance: 9.7 km return
Duration: 4 hours
Elevation: ↑ 379m

Read more: Remember to leave no trace

How to Get to Bob’s Ridge Trail

From Jindabyne, take Kosciuszko Road towards Thredbo and veer off onto Alpine Way until you reach the car park at the start of the Cascade Trail. If you drive past Dead Horse Gap, you’ve gone too far.

Skill Level

Intermediate

During the months of May-October, you can expect ice or snow covering portions of the walk. Be sure to check in at the Snowy Region Visitor Centre to get up to date info about the conditions that day.

Essential Gear

• A good pair of hiking boots
• Camera
• Food and water

What It’s Like to Hike Bob’s Ridge Trail

After a quick stop at the Snowy Region Visitor Centre in Jindabyne to check the trail conditions, we were off to see what Bob’s Ridge Trail had to offer. As we hit the road and turned onto Alpine Way, the adventure had well and truly begun. Cruising through the incredible landscapes of Kosciuszko National Park is an absolute treat, so crank your road trip playlist and take it all in. 

Soon you’ll come to the entrance booths where you’ll either flash your All Parks Pass or pay your park entry fee. Continue zooming onwards till you find the car park where the Thredbo River intersects with Alpine Way.

The Thredbo River was our friend for the first section of the hike, as we ambled upstream along the Cascade Trail and took in the undulating hills on the horizon. We soon came across a bridge crossing the river leading us to the second section of the hike.

From there, the trail headed upwards and through a stunning Snow gum forest. Don’t forget to stop and admire the stunning striations on the twisting trunks of these Australian natives as you hike through. As the trail plateaued, we wandered by the signposted Bob’s Ridge on the right hand side of the track.

We moseyed on over to the towering granite boulders sitting out on Bob’s Ridge. We wanted a better view of the surrounding landscape, so scrambled our way onto a nice boulder to soak it all in. The boulders vary in shape and size, so be sure to choose something you’re comfortable getting both up and down from.

Atop our rock, we had the perfect vantage point to look over the Murray River Valley and into Victoria and we kept an eye out for  brumbies making their way through the terrain.

Then it was time to head back the way we came. Since we’d trudged uphill to our destination, the way down was relatively chill. We timed it well to arrive back at the car park just a little before sunset, so we propped ourselves up on a hill and witnessed a ridiculous sunset above the Snowies.

Bob’s Ridge Trail FAQs

How long is Bob’s Ridge Trail?

The return walk to Bob’s Ridge is 9.7km.

How long does it take to walk the Bob’s Ridge Trail?

The walk to the ridge and back takes around four hours, including plenty of time to climb atop boulders and take in the view.

Is the Bob’s Ridge Trail the same as the Cascade Trail?

The Bob’s Ridge Trail follows some of the 20km Cascade Trail to reach the ridgeline, however the Cascade Trail is predominately a bike trail.