Summary

Mt Barney with it's two peaks (Mount Barney East at 1,351m and Mount Barney West at 1,354m) is the highest peak in Mount Barney National Park, and one of the most popular bushwalks in South-East Queensland. Other peaks in Mount Barney National Park include Mount Maroon (967m), Mt May (836m), Mt Clunie (1155m). Many of the walks in the park are rated "hard" and require some experience and route-finding skills.

The Lower and Upper Portals are also popular day-walks.

Features

What are the standout bushwalking features?

Access

No public access. Car access via Rathdowney. Multiple Mount Barney summit routes start at Yellowpinch carpark.

Maps

1:25K Mt Lindesay topographical map

Accommodation

Mount Barney Lodge Country Retreat is close to the Park. There are multiple camping spots, both car-accessible and more remote sites (booking required and fee applies)

Camping

Camp sites must be booked and a small fee applies – you can do this on-line via the Queensland National Parks Booking Service. You’ll be able to print a Camping Tag to attach to your tent.

Other

Mount Barney summit trip report - https://hikingtheworld.blog/2018/07/08/mount-barney/

Contact details

https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/mount-barney/about.html

Walks in Mt Barney National Park

Hard

Barney Gorge Junction Bush Camp to Yamahra Creek Camp

There are two ways to do this walk. The first one is to hike back up to the top of the ridge and follow it along to reach Yamahra creek camp. The second way which is the way we went was to follow the creek and rock hop your way, there are some pros and cons to this as the views are amazing and the scenery spectacular, there are some sections which are a bit challenging as they require some small rock climbing skills and are made more difficult if your carrying a large pack. Before you get to the upper portals you have to break track back up the ridge to your right as you cant get around the portals. From there you follow the track over the ridge and down the other side and descend to the Yamahra creek campsite. this campsite is close to running water in the creek, as you walk towards the creek take the left turn and water is about 200m away.

Medium

13 km

5 hrs

Cronan Creek Falls Track

From Yellow Pinch car park, a pleasant walk along the fire trail leads you past the base of South Ridge into green rainforest. (Note: the climb up South Ridge is rugged and steep and for experienced walkers only).

Very Hard

12.4 km one-way

10 hrs

Isolated Peak and Toms Tom

This walk is mostly off track and has some very exposed and challenging descents. The views are spectacular on clear days. A rope is almost obligatory (I didn't take one but I certainly would have used it to descend from Toms Tum if I had one). I would not recommend tackling this route in wet weather as there is a lot of rock scrambling and some sections of almost vertical rock climbing (descending). I had mobile phone reception on the top of Isolated Peak and Toms Tum.

Very Hard

9.6 km return

3 hrs

Logan's Gorge

A cool offtrack walk. This is an offtrack walk and good navigational skills are mandatory

Hard

7.4 km return

3 hrs

Lower Portals

This was my first overnight hike. It was challenging, but not ridiculous. A good beginners walk.
I highly recommend going for a dip in the creek even in Winter. It was like an ice bath for my tired muscles :)

Hard

10.5 km return

5 hrs

Montserrat Lookout and Upper Portals Circuit

An awesome day out taking in these two spectacular locations, enjoying the amazing views of Mt Barney from Montserrat Lookout, and exploring the Portals. There are a couple of leg-burning climbs involved, but the rewards are worth it.

Very Hard

15 km return

11 hrs

Mount Barney South East Ridge

Big day on the mountain. Up and back down the SE Ridge.
Well worth all the aches and pains.

Very Hard

11 km return

9 hrs

Mount Ernest

IMPORTANT: The route to Mount Ernest from Yellow Pinch via the northeast ridge involve traversing private property. You should contact NPRSR to obtain contact details for the landowner in order to obtain permission to enter private property.

Mount Ernest lies on the opposite (northern) side of Mount Lindesay Highway from its namesake, and provides spectacular views of Mount Barney to the north. While much lower than the main peaks of Mount Barney, routes to the summit of Mount Ernest are less trodden take just as long.

Hard

5 km return

4 hrs

Mount Maroon Caves

A walk up from Cotswold trailhead to a cave on the northern side of the mountain.

Off track bush-bashing and some climbing.

Hard

12.9 km return

6 hrs

Mount Maroon Southern Route

This alternate route up Mount Maroon begins from the end of Dynans Hut Road following the fire trail until Paddy Plain Remote Bush Camp after which the small creek named Paddys Gully is followed upstream for a short way before turning right at the fork in the creek and following this mostly dry tributary up the Southern flanks of Mount Maroon. The exposed creek bed is followed up hill for a while until you exit it on the righthand side to join the forested gully you follow for the majority of the way up until the plateau. Once the plateau has been gained its not long until you run into the main tourist path and follow it up to the summit. Trail up the Southern flanks of Mount Maroon is off trail / overgrown and navigation skills will be needed.