Barn Bluff ascent, Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania
Climbing the distinctively rocky and prominent peak of Barn Bluff (1559m) in Cradle Mountain National Park makes for a classic Tasmanian alpine day walk.
The rocky summit of Barn Bluff (1559m) pops up out of an alpine plateau and cuts a striking figure (… although confusingly it’s not the featured image of this post). I first saw it from the summit of Cradle Mountain on a trip to Tasmania in 2008, and although it looks quite remote, it can in fact be climbed on a longish day walk: one of Tasmania’s best. On the day we did it the weather was all over the place, with snow squalls and mist adding to the sense of adventure. Luckily the weather cleared enough to reveal most of the fabulous views the area is famous for.
We walked from Ronny’s Creek at the start of the famous multiday Overland Track, at the southern end of Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park. Although this adds distance to the walk compared to starting at Dove Lake, there’s attractive vegetation and views of Crater Lake from the shore that make it worthwhile. The final summit cliffs of Barn Bluff are impressive, and climbing through them is easier than it might at first look. Track notes at the end.
Barn Bluff ascent: The Scenery
Pandani near the start of the walk at Ronny Creek. Near the start of the walk at Ronny Creek. Attractive vegetation early on in the walk. A stand of beech trees early on in the walk. By the shore of Crater Lake. Lake Lilla, and part of Dove Lake (right). Crater Lake Crater Lake Misty forest as we past by Cradle Mountain. No views on the outward leg, but we had clearer weather on the way back, Barn Bluff viewed in the first clear weather of the walk. Barn Bluff Approaching the summit cliffs of Barn Bluff. The summit cliffs of Barn Bluff looming overhead. Looking back at Cradle Mountain through the first of three brief snow storms from the base of Barn Bluff’s summit cliffs. If you see this view you’ve gone the wrong way. Made for a nice photo though. We back tracked just a few metres to ascend up on the right. Sophia approaches the summit of Barn Bluff (1559m). Lake Will from the summit of Barn Bluff, as the weather tried its best to clear. Looking back at a dark Cradle Mountain from the summit of Barn Bluff. Looking over various tarns with the Pelion Range in the distance. Peaks in the distant Pelion Range. Looking back at a dark and ominous Cradle Mountain. Cradle Mountain from near Barn Bluff. Barn Bluff in mist. It was a bit of a cloud catcher. Walking back towards Cradle Mountain. One of the money shots of the walk: misty cliffs on Cradle Mountain. The western face of Cradle Mountain in mist. This shot proved to be popular on Instagram. We missed this view on the way out. Or should I say mist this view. Dad joke there. Looking back towards Barn Bluff. We didn’t see any of this on the way out. Cradle Mountain from Marions Lookout. Wombat Pool (or Wombat Poo as the signs often said).
Track Notes
The routes to Cradle Mountain and Barn Bluff are marked except for the final ascent to Barn Bluff through rocks, but there are cairns to mark the way. The route up past Lake Lilla and Wombat Pool is picturesque, but if you’re walking all the way to Barn Bluff you might like to save some time on the way back by descending from near Marions Lookout. Cradle Mountain is a lot closer so making a circuit of Dove Lake is worthwhile.
The track is obvious the whole way except for the final ascent to the summit of Barn Bluff, but there are a few cairns to mark the route up. You basically follow the Overland Track from Ronny Creek Car Park until a right turn takes you out to Barn Bluff. Our track notes suggested returning via the Horse Track, which passes on the other side of Crater Lake to the Overland Track. But we were running out of time to catch the last bus, and so descended to the Dove Lake car park, which can be done via Dove Lake from Marions Lookout, or else via Wombat Pools and Lake Lilla.
You can pick up a map at the visitor centre, and will need to take a shuttle bus from there out to either Ronny Creek or Dove Lake. The buses are roughly every 10 minutes, and check when the last bus leaves at night so you don’t miss it. If you do miss it then its likely there will be one more bus some time later (we were told), but I wouldn’t bank on this.
