Guthega Trig

Download & Print Map and Notes

3 hrs

6 km Return

377 m

Very experienced only

On this walk, you will visit the old Guthega Trig station and its wide views over the Guthega Dam, the township and surrounding country side. The walk initially leads along management trails and across the dam wall before following a narrow foot pad up the ridge between Guthega River and Falls Creek. The ridge leads fairly steeply through a variety of vegetation before revealing its wide vistas at about 1860m above sea level.

* This walk passes through very remote areas and sections have no visible track. At least one person in your group should have training and experience in off track walking and navigation. Even with these notes and a GPS these extra skills and equipment are required.

Cloud is a likely visitor in alpine regions

An odd looking mushroom near Guthega View

Great view of the cloud from Guthega Trig

Covered in snow part of the year

This walk leads through an extreme alpine environment and all walkers must be well prepared. During summer, be prepared for both very hot and cold weather, high winds, rain, snow, extreme UV levels and some sections of snow or ice on the ground. Before starting this walk, check advice with Snowy Region Visitor Information Centre (02) 6450 5600, the weather forecast and the snow conditions then change your plans as needed. These notes, grades and walking times have been written for use in the summer months only. Between May and the end of October, this walk is likely to be covered in snow/ice, visitors should be carrying and be prepared to use snowshoes or cross country skis. When there is a chance of significant snow on the ground, visitors will need particularly strong navigation and snowcraft skills - tracks and signage may not be visible. For most visitors, it is best to consider this walk closed during the colder months.

Guthega

Guthega is a relatively small township, north of Perisher, and comprises mostly of hotel and lodge-style buildings. The most popular service in town is the Guthega Alpine Inn, open year round. The town is remote and access is by an all-weather dirt road. There are great views over the main range and the Guthega Pondage (part of the Snowy River Scheme). Guthega offers a great place to ski in winter, and to holiday in summer. In summer, there is plenty of walking, mountain biking, fishing and relaxing to be done. Walkers please note - there is no public water supply in the township, please fill water bottle before coming (or be willing treat and use the creek water).

Guthega Alpine Inn

Guthega Alpine Inn is on Guthega Road, about 500 metres past the base of the chairlift and 'Guthega Centre'. The hotel provides a year-round service including accommodation and meals. The hosts are friendly and the hotel provides a great base for walkers and other holiday makers. Please phone and book ahead for meals and accommodation. Phone 02 6457 5383 More info.

(0km) Guthega Centre → Southern end of Guthega Dam Wall

690 m

14 mins

10m

-60m Moderate track

From the car park in front of the Guthega Centre[1][2] (before the main resort), this walk follows the road for a short distance east (out of town) then turns left and heads down along the management trail towards the dam. The walk soon passes a 'No Entry Authorised Vehicles Only' sign[3] and then heads around the locked gate [4] and down along the gravel road[5]. The management trail gently winds down the hill, enjoying the views of the dam wall[6], and soon comes to a large clearing[7], some information signs[8] and a building[9] just before the dam wall[10]).

Guthega Pondage

Guthega Dam collects the water from Blue Cow Creek, Guthega River and the Snowy River. The dam has been built to provide the water and pressure to drive the Guthega Power Station. The water is carried to the power station via the Guthega pressure tunnel (and pipeline). This dam is 33m high and 137m across at the top, and stores up to 1550 megalitres of water.

(1km) Southern end of Guthega Dam Wall → Guthega Shaft intersection

410 m

8 mins

10m

-11m Moderate track

Continue straight: From the southern end of Guthega Dam wall[12], this walk follows the concrete road across the top of the dam wall[13], keeping the main pondage to your left. On the other side, the walk follows the management trail [14] which, after about 100m, passes the 'Guthega Shaft' (a building on the left)[15]. About 150m later, the management trail leads to a three-way intersection[16] (where the main trail bends right to head up the hill).

(1km) Guthega Shaft intersection → Bottom of Guthega Ridge

190 m

5 mins

19m

0m Moderate track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads uphill, directly[17] away from the pondage along the wide management trail[18]. The trail immediately bends right then winds up to an intersection with a track (on the left) on a flat clearing, just as the trail passes over the ridge line[19].

(1km) Bottom of Guthega Ridge → Guthega View

1.6 km

50 mins

259m

-3m Very experienced only

Turn left: From the intersection, this walk heads north along the foot pad that generally follows the ridge line uphill[20]. The foot pad leads through low alpine heath[21] and heads uphill moderately steeply. The foot pad leads through a few groves of dead snow gum trees[22] then bends right, off the main ridge line, to cross a small creek-let. About 250m after passing a few live snow gums[23] (through the open heath), the foot pad flattens out and comes to a small rocky outcrop (at 1860m AMSL) with great views (weather permitting) back over Guthega pondage and resort[24].

Guthega View

Guthega view is an informal lookout point, east of Guthega Trig. The flat area marked with a couple of boulders[25] provides a great view (in clear weather) to the south, down the ridge to Guthega Village and dam. The area can be a great place to rest at the top of the ridge, giving a chance to enjoy the scattering of snow gums[26] and if you look carefully in the grasses, you may spot some unusual fungus[27].

(3km) Guthega View → Guthega Trig

110 m

2 mins

-2m Very experienced only

Turn left : From the intersection, this walk heads west, following a faint foot pad up through the saddle[28] and grove of trees. The walk tends left to the rocky outcrop and summit, where it finds the peak of Guthega Trig hill. The actual trig tower[29][30] has fallen to the south-eastern side of the peak and is not visible until you are close.

Guthega Trig

Guthega Trig is found on a granite outcrop at about 1865m (AMSL) between Guthega River and Falls Creek. In clear weather (which I did not have), there are great views down along Guthega River to Guthega Dam and the surrounding hills (Mount Twynam and Tate). The actual trig station has fallen off the top of the knoll and lies between some boulders on the eastern side of the outcrop[31].

Maps for the Guthega Trig walk

You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.
These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.

Perisher Valley	1:25 000 Map Series	85252S PERISHER VALLEY	NSW-85252S
Geehi Dam	1:25 000 Map Series	85252N GEEHI DAM	NSW-85252N
Chimneys Ridge	1:25 000 Map Series	85241N CHIMNEYS RIDGE	NSW-85241N
Kosciuszko	1:100 000 Map Series	8525 KOSCIUSZKO	8525
Jacobs River	1:100 000 Map Series	8524 JACOBS RIVER	8524

Cross sectional view of the Guthega Trig bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Guthega Trig

Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001

Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.

		Length	6 km
		Time	3 hrs
		.
Grade 6/6 Very experienced only	AS 2156.1	Gradient	Very steep and difficult scrambles (5/6)
		Quality of track	Rough unclear track (5/6)
		Signs	No directional signs (5/6)
		Experience Required	Very high level of bushwalking experience recommended (6/6)
		Weather	Forecast, unforecast storms and severe weather likely to have an impact on your navigation and safety (5/6)
		Infrastructure	No facilities provided (5/6)

Some more details of this walks Grading

Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk

Gradient

1.6km of this walk is very steep and another 1.3km has gentle hills with occasional steps. The remaining (110m) is very steep with difficult rock scrambles.

Quality of track

Around 1.7km of this walk follows a rough unclear track, whilst the remaining 1.3km follows a clear and well formed track or trail.

Signs

Around 1.7km of this walk Has no directional signs, whilst the remaining 1.3km is clearly signposted.

Experience Required

Around 1.7km of this walk requires at least one leader with a very high level of bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 1.3km requires some bushwalking experience.

weather

1.6km of this walk is affected by forecast, unforecast storms and severe weather events that may impact on navigation and safety and another 1.3km is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety. The remaining (110m) forecast, unforecast storms and severe weather likely to have an impact on your navigation and safety.

Infrastructure

Around 1.7km of this walk has no facilities provided, whilst the remaining 1.3km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Guthega Trig walk.

Guthega River Snowshoe

3.3 km Return, 1 hr 30 mins

This pleasant snowshoe walk starts from the car park at Guthega. You will wander down the gently hill following a wide trail, then cross Guthega Dam wall. There are great views over the pondage as you continue along the snow covered trail past Guthega Shaft. The flat trail soon ends and the more cha

Total climbing: 115m

Hard track

Other Nearby walks

A list of walks that start near the Guthega Trig walk.

Guthega to Blue Lake via Little Twynam

17.4 km Return, 8 hrs

This great walk starts at Guthega and explores the area east of Blue Lake. The walk heads to the Illawong Lodge, via the Blue Cow Creek flying fox, and then crosses the famous Snowy River at the suspension bridge. The walk then winds up the long ridge to the top of Little Twynam and down to Blue La

Total climbing: 1120m

Experienced only

Guthega to Thredbo camping overnight at Wilkensons Creek

25.8 km One way, 2 Days

This great overnight walk explores the Kosciusko National Park between Guthega and Thredbo, visiting some fantastic sights along the way like the Snowy River, Blue Lake and Mt Twynam, Lake Albina and Mt Kosiuszko. The Wilkinsons Creek camping area is a nice place to stop and reflect as the sun sets.

Total climbing: 1364m

Experienced only

Guthega to Charlotte Pass

15.2 km One way, 6 hrs 30 mins

This walk explores the wonderful alpine country between Guthega village and Charlotte Pass at the end of Kosciuszko Rd. Starting with views of Guthega Dam, the walk visits Illawong Lodge and crosses the Snowy River suspension bridge before climbing up to Mt Twynam. Once on the Main Range track, you

Total climbing: 908m

Experienced only

Illawong Walk

6.4 km Return, 2 hrs 45 mins

From Guthega village, this walk leads you over Blue Cow Creek and alongside the Snowy River to Illawong Lodge and the suspension bridge. You will be using a narrow, unsignposted but generally clear track. A flying fox is in place over Blue Cow Creek, however a more modern bridge offers a safer path

Total climbing: 343m

Moderate track

Guthega to Mt Twynam

14.8 km Return, 6 hrs 45 mins

This walk starts from Guthega and makes its way along the Snowy River to the Illawong Lodge, via the Blue Cow Creek flying fox. From the lodge, the walk crosses the suspension bridge and begins the climb up the ridge past Pounds Creek Flats to the top of Mt Twynam. From here, there is an optional si

Total climbing: 913m

Experienced only

Guthega to Snowy River Suspension Bridge

6.4 km Return, 2 hrs 30 mins

This enjoyable walk starts from Guthega and mostly follows the famous Snowy River, to reach the cable suspension bridge. Before reaching the bridge, the walk crosses the Blue Cow Creek at the flying fox, and winds through the snow gums and the open plains.

Total climbing: 343m

Moderate track

Main Range Circuit from Guthega

45 km Circuit, 4 Days

This four day walk explores the Kosciuszko National Park, covering many of the key features of the park between Guthega and Rawson Pass. Some of the more popular sights you will visit are the Snowy River, Blue Lake and Lake Albina, a couple of great alpine huts and the two highest peaks in Australia

Total climbing: 2317m

Experienced only

Mount Piper Trail

5.2 km One way, 2 hrs 45 mins

This winter-only snowshoe walk starts from the Smiggins Centre and follows a snow pole line and cross-country ski trail to Perisher Valley. Starting along the road, you soon follow a snow pole line up and behind Mt Piper. There are some wide vistas over Perisher Creek Valley along sections of this

Total climbing: 167m

Hard track

Munyang River Circuit

14.1 km Circuit, 5 hrs 30 mins

This walk explores the alpine country and huts around the Munyang River. You will explore parts of the Snowy Mountains Scheme, starting with the Munyang /Guthega Power station, before climbing up the steep old road to find some great views down the valley. Optional side trips can take you to the Gat

Total climbing: 649m

Hard track

Schlink Hut Walk

22.4 km Return, 9 hrs

This full day (or overnight) walk visits a series of interesting huts whilst exploring some open alpine country and parts of the Snowy Mountains Scheme. Starting at the Guthega / Munyang Power station, you climb up the steep old road to find some great views down the valley. Optional side trips visi

Total climbing: 918m

Hard track

Rock Creek Snowshoe Trail

3 km Circuit, 1 hr 30 mins

This well signposted, winter-only snowshoe walk is a great way to get into snowshoeing for the first time. Starting from Perisher Village, this walk soon leaves the main road to follow a series of snow poles up a gully and around a small hill. There are some interesting information signs to help y

Total climbing: 84m

Moderate track

Wheatley Circuit

7.3 km Circuit, 3 hrs

This snowshoe walk follows a winter-only route. From Perisher Valley, you walk up along the Kosciuszko Rd to a gap, just past the last ski lift. Here you leave the road to follow the snow pole line up along the Wheatley Link among the snow gums and crossing some open plains. This link leads up to a

Total climbing: 251m

Hard track