Mount Piper Trail

Download & Print Map and Notes

2 hrs 45 mins

5.2 km One way

167 m

Hard track

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 walk. There are some great places to stop and just wander around and enjoy the snow. A free shuttle bus service operates during the ski season between Perisher and Smiggins.

Looking over Smiggins car park to ski area

Intersection near Gate on Link Rd Smiggins

One of the views down Perisher Creek Valley

Expansive views on the Mount Piper Trail

Climbing over pass behind Perisher Valley

Bridge over Perisher Creek near the Interceptor chairlift

Snowshoeing on Perisher Blue Cow Link Rd

Winter only route

This walk follows an over-snow only route. During the warmer months, this walk crosses important and sensitive bogs that can be significantly damaged, even by light footed walkers. Please only walk this track when it is well covered with snow.

Share the Snow

Here are some tips to help you share the snow with skiers. Please avoid snowshoeing on ski trails, whether groomed or ungroomed - it is fine to walk right next to the ski trail. When crossing a ski trail, please do so in a single file and on a flat, more visible, section. These tips aim to minimise trail ruts and collisions. Visit Wilderness Sports for snowshoe hire.

Smiggins Centre

Smiggins Centre is the central eating and rest area for this resort during the ski season. Inside are toilets, food shops, and other various shops (ski, clothing, gift and photographic) . At the front of the building is the shuttle bus shelter, where a free bus operates to and from Perisher Valley and the car parks. Outside the ski season, these facilities are closed.

(0km) Smiggins Centre → Smiggins Gate on Link Rd

350 m

7 mins

15m

0m Easy track

From the shuttle bus stop[1] out the front of the Smiggins Centre[2], this walk heads up Link Road, further into the resort[3]. The walk continues up the road, past the long car park[4] (on your left) with some views over the ski fields[5]. Just past the top end of the car park[6], the road rises a little more steeply to come to an intersection near a stone electricity building[7] and a yellow gate[8] on Link Road (on your left, locked in winter).

(0km) Smiggins Gate on Link Rd → Powerline terminus

600 m

11 mins

21m

0m Moderate track

Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the blue and white arrows on the 'Perisher Range cross-country ski trail' sign[9], past the stone electricity building[10] and under the high tension power lines[11]. The walk then continues straight ahead, following the white, blue and orange arrows along the snow-pole line[12] (and snow fence). After about 260m, the walk comes to another large metal 'Perisher Range cross-country ski trail' sign[13]. Here the walk turns left and follows the 'Mount Piper Trail' arrow[14]. The walk now follows the snow-pole line with the orange arrows[15], crossing Link Rd[16] after about 40m. About 60m after this, the walk bends sharply left[17] and winds up the ridge to where the track bends right, coming to the terminus of some high-tension power lines[18].

(1km) Powerline terminus → Perisher Creek Valley View

1.8 km

40 mins

99m

-57m Hard track

Continue straight: From the power line terminus[19], this walk heads uphill to follow the snow-poles that run roughly parallel to the power lines[20] (the power lines are now down to your right). The snow-pole line bends left, leading gently up a wide ridge[21] and away from the power lines, through the scattering of snow gums. The walk heads towards Mt Piper[22] (with the large, flat, green passive repeater at the top) and about 300m after leaving the power lines, the track turns right and follows parallel to the out-of-bounds fence[23] (on your left) for a short time. About 100m further past this fence, the snow-pole line leads to a rocky highpoint[24], with a clear view over the valley to your right. The track then leads down a dip[25] and over a rise, winding through the dead snow gums and across a wide valley[26] for about 300m, before climbing up to a ridge line on the other side. Here the snow poles lead left[27] up the ridge for about 130m before bending sharply right[28] and leading down the other side of this ridge. Over the next 800m, the snow-pole line leads generally down to cross two wide and open gulleys[29] and come to a point where the track bends sharply left[30] again. There is a view from here, looking over the rocks straight ahead and extending down along Perisher Creek valley and the scar of Link Rd[31].

Perisher Creek Valley View

North-west of Mt Piper on the Mt Piper trail are several wide views looking down Perisher Creek valley. Whilst enjoying the snow-covered vista, you will be able to look down along the valley to the junction of Link Road and Guthega Road, and to the left, you can spot the road linking Blue Cow and Perisher Valley.

(3km) Perisher Creek Valley View → Interceptor bridge intersection

1.3 km

24 mins

15m

-69m Hard track

Veer left: From the valley view[32], this walk heads south, following the snow-pole line over the rise[33]. As the walk leads down the other side, there is a view over Perisher Valley[34]. The walk continues downhill for about 700m, where the track mostly flattens out in the valley. There are some buildings to your right, over on the other side of Perisher Creek - the first is the sewage treatment plant[35], and the rest are lodges[36]. After about 400m walking along the mostly flat section beside the creek[37], the snow poles lead past a timber fence[38] to find a ski-run (linking Perisher and Smiggins). Here the walk turns right to cross the bridge[39], then heads about 50m beside this trail to find an intersection with another snow-pole line[40] (on your left, with white arrow markers).

(4km) Interceptor bridge intersection → Bridge on Blue Cow Link Rd

630 m

11 mins

10m

-4m Moderate track

Turn left: From the intersection, this walk heads south following the snow-pole line[41], keeping the main ski runs up to your right. The track crosses a few small creeks[42] (covered in snow during winter) and after about 300m, this walk tends right to find an over-snow-vehicle route[43], marked by orange poles with blue tips[44]. Here the walk turns left and follows this route downhill and finds an intersection at the bottom of the 'Telemark Tbar'[45]. The walk continues straight, passing 'Murphy's Crossing'[46] (bridge on your left) to come to an intersection with Perisher Blue Cow Link Road & ski run just before another bridge[47].

(5km) Bridge on Blue Cow Link Rd → Perisher Valley Skitube

550 m

9 mins

-2m Easy track

Veer left: From the intersection, this walk heads across the bridge[48] over Perisher Creek. The road bends right[49] then after about 150m, it passes the tobogganing area[50] (on your left) and a cross-country skiing sign[51] before leading down to the edge of a car park[52]. Here the walk stays right and heads around the edge of the car park, just past the bridge to 'Perisher Centre'[53], and arrives at the Shuttle Bus shelter[54] outside the Skitube Terminal building[55][56].

Perisher Valley Village

Perisher Valley village is centred about the Skitube[57] building, Perisher Centre[58] and the National Park Visitor Centre[59]. Just outside the Skitube is the shelter for the shuttle bus service to Smiggins. Perisher Centre is accessed by the long metal bridge - inside, you will find food shops, toilets and skiing-related shops. Inside the Skitube building is the train station, kiosk, medical centre and some other services. The National Park Visitor Centre provides a warm shelter, toilets, seats and information about the park. Most of these services only operate during the ski season, but the NPWS visitor centre is open most of the year and a food outlet is generally open for lunch Monday-Friday.

Maps for the Mount Piper Trail 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
Kosciuszko	1:100 000 Map Series	8525 KOSCIUSZKO	8525

Cross sectional view of the Mount Piper Trail bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Mount Piper Trail

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	5.2 km
		Time	2 hrs 45 mins
		.
Grade 4/6 Hard track	AS 2156.1	Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
		Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
		Signs	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
		Experience Required	Moderate level of bushwalking experience recommended (4/6)
		Weather	Forecast, unforecast storms and severe weather may impact on navigation and safety (4/6)
		Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)

Some more details of this walks Grading

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

Gradient

Around 3.7km of this walk has short steep hills, whilst the remaining 1.5km has gentle hills with occasional steps.

Quality of track

Around 4.3km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles, whilst the remaining 900m follows a smooth and hardened path.

Signs

Around 4.3km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 900m is clearly signposted.

Experience Required

2.5km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience and another 1.8km requires a leader a with moderate level of bushwalking experience. The remaining (900m) requires no previous bushwalking experience.

weather

3.1km of this walk is affected by forecast, unforecast storms and severe weather events that may impact on navigation and safety and another 1.2km is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety. The remaining (900m) is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

Around 4.3km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 900m is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).

Other Nearby walks

A list of walks that start near the Mount Piper Trail walk.

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

Porcupine Walk

5.6 km Return, 2 hrs 30 mins

Starting at the Perisher Valley Reservoir, this walk heads up through Rock Creek valley to the the panoramic views from Porcupine Rocks. On this walk, you will wander through button grass plains and among groves of snow gums whilst passing some granite tors. From the top of this walk, there are grea

Total climbing: 214m

Hard track

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

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

Guthega Trig

6 km Return, 3 hrs

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 Cree

Total climbing: 377m