How to get there

1.From Rathdowney head south-west on Mount Lindesay Hwy towards Boonah.
2.Take the 1st right on to Boonah Rathdowney Rd
3.Then the third left onto Newmans Rd
4.Left again on Waterfall creek Rd 5.Follow it until you reach Mt May campground, if you're in a 4wd continue uphill to the end, if you don't have a 4wd you can walk from here but it's atleast an hours walk to the end.

Camping

There are three campsites in the upper Portals section

Campsite 1. Cleared Ridge ...approx 8km return ...3hrs

Campsite 2. Hoop pines ...3km return... 2hrs

Campsite 3. Yamahra Creek......7km return ...2.5 - 3hrs

Track notes

Track notes

There are no marked tracks here just firetrails and a few small footpads, the firetails do split up so it's a good idea to have a suitable topographic map or gps to help with navigation.

 

The Upper Portals is a 8km return walk from the Cleared Ridge carpark (Allow about 3 hours ). Add an extra 45mins if you decide to take the alternate route back via Cleared Ridge, the views of mt Barney from Cleared Ridge are worth the effort, also the track isn't well used so it can be a little difficut to find at first.

When you scramble back up the hill from the Upper Portals you'll come accross a track to the right, it leads North up the ridge, follow it till you approach the saddle, from there you'll come to a fire trail this will take you back to where you started, just Don't turn off anywhere along the way.

This walk has some steep gradients and access to Cleared Ridge requires a 4WD vehicle.

The drive takes about 45 minutes from the Lower Portals/Yellow Pinch area.

Upper Portals trackYahmahra creek

 

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Upper Portals track

Paddy's Plain

Upper Portals trackGlossy Black Cockatoo

Upper Portals trackGlossy Black Cockatoo.

Upper Portals trackUpper section of the portlals.

Cleared Ridge trackOne of three ways to the Upper Portals,

Paddy's Plain trackPaddy's Falls

Paddy's Plain track

 

Paddy's plain trackPaddy's Drop

Paddy's Pain trackPaddy's Falls

Paddy's Plain track

How to get there

1.From Rathdowney head south-west on Mount Lindesay Hwy towards Boonah
2.Take the 1st right on to Boonah Rathdowney Rd
3.Slight left at Upper Logan Rd
4.Turn right to stay on Upper Logan Rd
5.Turn left to stay on Upper Logan Rd
6.Turn right at Seidenspinner Rd
7.Turn left at Drynans Hut Rd follow it untill you reach the a small pink hut, Don't enter the gate it's private property, instead follow the fence to the right and cross the creek, from there follow the fire trail... Approx 26 mins from Rathdowney.

How to get there

1.From Rathdowney head south-west on Mount Lindesay Hwy towards Boonah
2.Take the 1st right on to Boonah Rathdowney Rd
3.Slight left at Upper Logan Rd
4.Turn right to stay on Upper Logan Rd
5.Turn left to stay on Upper Logan Rd
6.Turn right at Seidenspinner Rd
7.Turn left at Drynans Hut Rd follow it untill you reach the a small pink hut, Don't enter the gate it's private property, instead follow the fence to the right and cross the creek, from there follow the fire trail... Approx 26 mins from Rathdowney.


Upper Portals

Paddy's Plain trackPaddy's Drop

Mt Barney National Park

Lower Portals trackThe Lower Portals

Lower Portals track

Lower Portals track "2"

Lower Portals track "2"Early morning at mt Barney creek.

Lower portals trackWaterhole near mt Barney juction.

Lower portals trackRapids near mt Barney Juction

Lower Potals trackWaterhole near the Juction campsite.

Lower Portals trackSpiny Mountain crayfish, the same as the ones in Lamington N.P just these ones are Red instead of Blue.

Lower Portals trackA small waterfall at the start of mt Barney Gorge.

Lower Portals

Lower Portals track "2"

 

Lower Portals track "2"

 

Lower Portals trackA view of mt Barney from the Lower Portals track near the junction.

South RidgeSunrise from mt Barney

South RidgeThe extra gear for the overnight stay makes the climb a little more tiring.

Cotswold trackMt Maroon Summit

Mt MaroonA near perfect morning

How to get there

1.From Rathdowney head south-west on Mount Lindesay Hwy towards Boonah.
2.Take the 1st right on to Boonah Rathdowney Rd
3.Then the third left onto Newmans Rd
4.Left again on Waterfall creek Rd 5.Follow it until you reach Mt May campground.

Cotswold trackMidmorning and the clouds roll in.

Cotswold trackThis track is no longer accessible due to a landslide.

Mt MayView of Maroon Dam from Mt May

Mt MayThe track from Mt May campground.

Mt May

Mt May

Mt May

Mt May

Track notes

The track to the summit is on left side of the campground, the track is not marked but worn enough to easily follow, allow 3hrs return for the walk.

Track notes

Cotswold track is now CLOSED due to a landslide and is unsafe to climb, but there are signs there to show alternate routes to the summit.

For more information Contact D.E.R.M

One alternate route to the summit of mt Maroon is via Paddy's plain campsite, total return distance is aproximately 12km and you should allow 7 - 8hrs walking time.

The track starts at the gate near Drynans hut, not the gate entering the property in front but the one that's down on the right towards the creek. From there cross the creek and follow the fire trail for around 40mins until the road ends and turns into a walking trail, follow it up and over the hill veering to the left, shortly you'll see Paddy's plains waterfall down on the right. Continue to follow the track pass the top of the falls and veer slightly left back onto another fire trail, follow this for around 20mins and you'll see a track on the right which leads to Paddy's plains campsite.

Campsite booking

From the campsite cross the creek and follow the small stream that runs into it uphill for the next 50mins, this leads along a shallow gorge with lots of little falls and pools until you get to a junction, follow it to the right for the next 1.5 hrs through more dense scrub to the saddle of mt Maroon, the track here is hard to see most of the time but just keep following the creek uphill, you'll find that most of the time the track will be on the left hand side watch for signs of human traffic, for example broken branches and so on.

Once you've reached the saddle it's only a further 10mins to the summit up to the right. If there are clouds about there's a good chance you won't get much of a view but on a good day the views are excellent especially to the East towards mt Barney.

It's a good idea to be prepared for all types of weather up here, it changes very quickly and even during the day the temperature can drop dramatically from very warm to absolutely freezing so the burden of carrying the extra weight is usually worth it.

Paddy's plains to Summit track Heading up to the summit from Paddy's plains campsite.

Paddy's plains to Summit trackFrom the campsite there's about 45mins of this nice open rocksape to climb up, when the creek splits into two follow it to the right towards the top.

Mt Maroon

Paddy's plains to Summit trackmt Maroon summit

Paddy's plains to Summit trackView of mt Barney from mt Maroon summit.

Paddy's plains to Summit trackThe last hour and a half of this climb is through more dense scrub, the track can be hard to see at times but stick to the left and you'll pick up the trail soon enough.

Cotswold track

Mt Maroon track

 

South RidgeA few hours into this hike the fun begins.

Mt Barney

 

South Ridge

Walks

The unmarked or barely marked trails to the peaks of Mount Barney require bushwalking experience and navigational skills.
The climb up Mount Barney via South Ridge also known as Peasants Ridge is arduous and should only be undertaken by very fit, experienced bushwalkers. Other peaks and routes up Mount Barney require a very high level of fitness, experience and navigational skills.
All walks take at least seven hours and should not be attempted late in the day.

Track notes

Cronan creek ...13km return ...5hrs class4

South Ridge..11km return ..8-10hrs..class4

 

 

 

Track notes

Distances and times are from the Lower Portals carpak

Lower Portals... 7.4km....3hr....class4

Barney Gorge Junction..(approx 11km) ..... ..5-6hrs.... class4

To get to Barney Junction follow the track from the Lower Portals uphill to the right, when you reach the top of the hill turn right again and follow the ridge, continue for approx 1km and you'll reach a grassy section on a bit of a crest, look for a small pile of rocks to the left which is the mark for the Junction turnoff, follow the track to the Junction "approx 600metres".

From here you can reach the summit via the Gorge on the other side of the creek.

If you follow the creek from the Lower Portals you won't be able to reach the Junction unless you feel like swimming through a small gorge, however the creek is definately worth exploring see images titled (Lower Portals track "2").

 

 

How to get there

1.Head south-west on Mount Lindesay Hwy towards Boonah Rathdowney Rd
2.Take the 1st right on to Boonah Rathdowney Rd
3.Slight left at Upper Logan Rd
4.Turn right to stay on Upper Logan Rd
5.Turn left to stay on Upper Logan Rd
6.Continue onto Hardgrave Rd to Yellow Pinch Reserve ... Approx 30 mins from Rathdowney.

Camping

Campsites near Yellow Pinch Section -

Campsite 6 Rum Jungle - 10 hr return (between east and the west peak)

Campsite 7 Old Hut Site - 10 hr return near the Rum Jungle campsite.

Campsite 8 East Peak - CLOSED.

Campsite 9 Cronan Creek - 1 hr from yellow Pinch Reserve.

Campsite 10 Cronan Creek2 - 1.5hrs from Yellow Pinch Reserve.

 

How to get there


1.Head south-west on Mount Lindesay Hwy towards Boonah Rathdowney Rd
2.Take the 1st right on to Boonah Rathdowney Rd
3.Slight left at Upper Logan Rd
4.Turn right to stay on Upper Logan Rd
5.Turn left to stay on Upper Logan Rd
6.Turn right at Seidenspinner Rd
7.Turn left at Lower Portals Rd follow it until you reach the carpark... Approx 26 mins from Rathdowney.

 

Camping

There are two campsites near here

Campsite 5. Lower Portals ....7.4km return..... 3hrs

Campsite 4.Barney Junction ......approx 11km..return...... ...5-6hrs

 

South Ridge