Victoria is Expanding the Falls to Hotham Alpine Walk by 15km!

 

One of Victoria High Country’s most loved trails is growing! A proposed trail extension of the Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing will lengthen the route from 37km to 52km, turning the hike into a four day and three night adventure.

The trail will take in Diamantina Spur and The Razorback, with the additional option of tackling Victoria’s second-highest peak, Mount Feathertop.

Read more: Hike the Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing

What the Project Involves

The new facilities and upgrades will include the construction of new trail including boardwalk over sensitive areas, toilets at campsites where there are none currently, and tent platforms. There’ll also be a trail shelter built at High Knob and improved signage along the trail.

Just a single kilometre of new track is needed to connect the existing trails to the new campgrounds and protect sensitive areas, with the remainder of the trail extension coming from the joining of existing trails, which will be improved and upgraded.

With the addition of an extra day of walking, some of the overnight campsites will also change, with Westons Hut and High Knob proposed as additional overnight stops, while the first night at Cope Hut will remain.

The project is in the design development and refinement stage, with ongoing environmental and cultural assessments set to influence the final route of the trail and design of the overnight campgrounds.

Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing, Cope Hut | @tim_ashelford

Who is involved?

Parks Victoria alongside the Victorian Government Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry, and Regions (DJSIR) are working together to implement the project. Traditional Owners are also involved up until the final assessment and approval stages, ensuring cultural heritage is managed and protected.

The DJSIR is funding $2 million for the initial stages of detailed planning, with a further $15 million to carry out the project.

Other parties represented on the Strategic Advisory Committee include:

• Alpine Shire Council
• Falls Creek Resort and Mount Hotham Resort
• Tourism North East
• Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action
• Visit Victoria
• Bushwalking Victoria
• Victorian National Parks Association

When will it be ready?

Final detailed assessments will be undertaken in the upcoming months, which include targeted flora and fauna surveys, cultural heritage assessments, and heritage impact assessments.

According to the published project timeline, construction works on the trails and facilities are expected to be completed by mid-2026.

Feature photo by @fabiooliveira