Mt Barney: A Guide to Hiking QLD’s Most Beautiful Peak

We don’t know a single person who’s seen Mount Barney from more angles than Lisa Owen. Here’s her guide to summiting the 1,354m high giant in the Scenic Rim of Queensland for the first time.

We acknowledge that this adventure is located on Bundjalung Nation, the traditional Country of the Bundjalung people who have occupied and cared for this land for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Quick Overview

Mount Barney is a 16 km trail return, grade 5 hike located in the Mount Barney National Park region in Queensland. The hike should take around 8-10 hours to complete.

About Mt Barney

Standing at 1354m above sea level, Mt Barney is the highest peak in the aptly named Mt Barney National Parks. Its rugged ridgelines and challenging trail make it an enviable accomplishment for keen hikers. Mt Barney is home to some of the last surviving Gondwana rainforest in the country and its easy accessibility from Brisbane makes it a popular destination for bushwalkers.

Read more: 10 Highest Mountains to Climb In South East Queensland 2023

Mt Barney is an impressive sight looming over a landscape formed by volcanoes many thousands of years ago, and as one of the highest mountains in Queensland, it has a reputation to match.

Read more: Navigating With a Map & Compass

Mt Barney History

Although the traditional owners did not climb the peak, the land around Mt Barney has been their home thousands of years. Their ancestors were the original owners of the land and their ongoing existence is felt throughout the area. Mount Barney is the result of a volcanic eruption that occurred around 24 million years ago.

The first recorded ascent of the mountain occurred in 1828 when a group of colonists from the nearby Brisbane settlement attempted to ascend the peak. Out of the 3 who set out only one, Captain Patrick Logan was able to complete the difficult climb. By the 1840s the area had been opened up to cattle grazing and and later to cedar and pine logging, devastating the unique and diverse environment of the area. As a consequence of growing knowledge of the significance of the area, Mt Barney National Park was created in 1947.

Finally in 1994, the World Heritage Committee officially declared the Gondwana rainforests of the Scenic Rim area, encompassing Mt Barney, itself as a world heritage site.

How to Get to Mt Barney

The drive to Mt Barney from Brisbane takes just under 2 hours. From Brisbane, head to Beaudesert along the Mt Lindesay Highway and then follow the signs to Rathdowney. Turn right just past the Rathdowney township onto Boonah-Rathdowney Road, then take a left onto Upper Logan Road following the signs to Mt Barney/Mt Barney Lodge.

You’ll hit a dirt road, keep following along, keeping to the right. Park at Yellow Pinch Reserve and head up the fire trail.

Places to Stay Near Mt Barney

Skill Level

Advanced

It’s a strenuous, steep hike up South East Ridge with some rock scrambling sections. Navigational skills, a head for heights and rock scrambling ability are required up the South East Ridge. South (Peasants) Ridge is also very steep and slippery in places, and navigational skills are required

Read more: How To Hike in Hot Weather

Distance /  Duration / Elevation Gained

About 16km from the car park taking SouthEast Ridge up and South (Peasants) Ridge down / 8-10 hours / 1,154m

Essential Gear List For Mt Barney

• Headlamp or torch (for early morning starters)
• At least 3L of water
• Snacks
• Camera
• A good head for heights
• A hiking buddy
• Queensland Maps.me app map
• Jacket for the summit
• Hiking shoes
• Emergency beacon (some parts of the hike do not have mobile reception)
• Long pants (some parts of the track are narrow and overgrown with vegetation and you may need to slide down steep sections of rock on the descent)

Experience of Hiking Mt Barney

I grew up in the bushwalker’s wonderland of Queensland’s Scenic Rim region – but I hate to admit that I only just hiked one of the biggest mountains in the region. Boy, I wish I’d done it sooner, because the views are spectacular and this is one of the best hikes I’ve ever done.

Once being a member of the local SES in this region, I knew there’d been many a bushwalker injured or lost on the slopes of Mt Barney. The mountain is known for rapid weather changes, resulting in people becoming disoriented or losing the faint trail.

With all this in mind, it was with some trepidation that I planned to hike Mt Barney. I started to get conditioned by hiking nearby mountains – Maroon, Greville, and Cougal. All the while, I was trying to find someone of equal fitness that was prepared to take on the slopes of Mt Barney because I didn’t want to be up there alone.

By the time a perfect Saturday of clear sunny skies and mid-20s temps rolled around, I’d managed to find a friend to tag along who’d summitted Barney once before, and off we set for my very first time hiking Mt Barney.

My First Hike on Mt Barney

We drove into the Yellow Pinch car park at 5am, the skies still dark and bright with stars. Only one other vehicle was in the car park.

Make sure you get an early start because you do not want to miss some of these boulder viewpoints at sunrise.

With our headlamps on, we started along the fire trail to reach the base of Mt Barney. To get to the base, first take the trail to the right of the carpark until you come out at a gate – this will only take about 10 minutes. Go straight through the gate – not the trail to your right as this leads to Yellow Pinch lookout.

Walk another 10 minutes more until you reach a Queensland National Parks sign on your right at the base of a small hill – this is the start of the South East Ridge trail.

You can also ascend up South (Peasants) Ridge which is a few kilometres further along the fire trail.We chose South East Ridge as it’s more challenging due to the exposed ridgeline, and if you start early, you’ll get to see a cracking sunrise.

The South East Ridge first crosses a creek (you may get your feet wet depending on water levels or may be able to simply rockhop across). The trail then heads up through dry forest before you start climbing up a rocky trail. Try to reach at least the first of the boulder viewpoints for sunrise and you’ll be grateful you got up so early as the sun gradually lights up the surrounding valleys and mountains.

Summiting Mt Barney

Following the first boulder viewpoint, there are a couple more rocky outcrops that’ll give you breathtaking views over the Scenic Rim region, and close ups of Mt Ernest and the easily recognisable knob of Mt Lindesay.

About halfway up the South East ridge, the fun begins – if rock scrambling is your idea of fun (obviously it’s mine!). You’ll start picking your way up the ridge, and at times the trail will become indistinct so keep a close eye on where you’re going.

In some sections, the ridge is quite exposed so you must have a good head for heights to do this route and the ability to rock scramble and free climb. The second half of the ascent is hard on the legs as you go steeply up along the ridgeline – so take it slow and steady.

There are some false summit moments when you believe you’re nearly there but then you realise the summit of the East Peak still rises above you. This happened at least three times to me.

The views from the 1351 metre East Peak (slightly smaller than the West Peak) are on point, with views across to Mt Maroon, Mt Ernest, Mt Lindesay, and Maroon Dam. Make sure you bring a jumper for the summit – it gets cold up there!

Descending Mt Barney

Hopefully you still have energy and the leg strength to continue on – what goes up must come down.

Pick your way down the East Peak to the Rum Jungle Campground, below the West Peak. The trail is easily lost and it’s slow going, but you’re looking to get down to the creekline and then you’ll find tracks to Rum Jungle.

We found our way by following the trail down East Peak and also picking a recognisable point in the saddle of a small clearing where we saw people, and continually aiming for that.

The route from Rum Jungle back to the car park is the South (Peasants) Ridge route. There are orange trail markers to help show you the path up and down. However, this area was badly affected in the 2019 fires which has made the footpad hard to follow in places and many areas are overgrown – so pay close attention to the markers.

This trail doesn’t have the very steep exposed rock scrambles like the South East Ridge. However, it’s still a steep and rocky path and can be slippery so take care as you wind down the mountain.

South Ridge isn’t as scenic as South East Ridge. While you get views over to Mt Lindesay and Ernest, it’s not as open as South East Ridge but it’s a good choice for the descent – or you can choose to both ascend and descend by this ridge if you don’t have a good head for heights or rock scrambling ability to be able to take on South East Ridge.

Read more: Paddys Falls – The Secret Waterfall of Mt Barney

Mt Barney – The Verdict

Mt Barney can be done as a day hike or an overnight by camping at Rum Jungle Campground in between East and West Peaks. Make sure you check the weather forecast before you go – the trails can be slippery and would be extremely difficult if rain is about – and poor weather can also impact visibility, making it very difficult to follow the trail.

We did the day hike in 7 hours, however it’s best to use the Queensland National Parks estimated time of 8-10 hours as a guide.

So my verdict on Mt Barney? In perfect weather, this is a scenic, challenging, and diverse hike that experienced hikers will thoroughly enjoy.

Tips for Hiking Mt Barney

• Be hiking fit and test your fitness and navigational skills on nearby mountains such as Maroon and Greville
• Do the day hike on a sunny day and start early
• Try to go with someone who has hiked Mt Barney before
• Be prepared to hike for up to 10 hours and be warned, your knees are going to hate you by the end of this hike!
• Mt Barney’s waterways are an important habitat for frogs. Do not disturb any frogs, tadpoles, or eggs and don’t use any soaps or detergents around creeks!
• And  remember to leave no trace!

Mt Barney FAQs

Where is Mt Barney located?

Mt Barney is located in Mt Barney National Park, Queensland, just under 2 hours south-east of Brisbane near the small town of Rathdowney.

How do you get to Mt Barney?

From Brisbane follow the Mt Lindesay Highway to Rathdowney. After Rathdowney, turn right on to Boonah–Rathdowney Road then turn left on to the Barney View–Upper Logan Road turn-off. From here, follow the signs to Yellow Pinch trailhead.

Is Mt Barney good for beginners?

In short, no. This hike is a strenuous and steep walk requiring a high level of fitness and good navigational skills. A significant amount of rock scrambling is required to summit Mt Barney and it’s highly recommended walkers have previous experience.

How long is the Mt Barney hike?

The walk is about a 16km, 8-10 hours return hike from Yellow Pinch trailhead.

How high is Mt Barney?

Mt Barney is 1,154m above sea level.