Lower Portals

GPS Tracks

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 :)

Swimming

Camping Permitted

332m

Maximum Elevation

294m

Total Climb

Add to
My Wishlist

Tick Walk

Getting there

You access the walking track from the end of Lower Portals Rd which comes off Upper Logan Rd, just out of Rathdowney.

Maps

Maps of Mt Barney area are recommended for this walk with 1:25 000 topographical maps being recommended for safety. (e.g. 1:25 000 Maroon)

Route/Trail notes

The walk has moderate to steep grading and at times becomes quite challenging. It mainly consists of walking up and down ridges before it comes to the small stream containing the Lower Portals. It takes approximately 3 hours return from the car park on Lower Portals Rd.

Upstream from the first crossing, say 1km you can follow a steep track up and over a ridge (500mtrs) back down to the stream where there is fabulous scenery everywhere. and from there you can slowly make your way to Mt Barney Falls about 700mtrs on the left of the creek (when heading up from the lower portals). Appears only after a bit of rain. If it has been dry I'd say it would just look like a cliff. There are signs of water that show it's there if you happen to come across it when it's dried up. Would be amazing to see tho after a good downpour as the area this waterfall takes up is massive.

Permits/Costs

There are no permits required to hike to Lower Portals. There are very limited camping spots at the end of the walk near the Lower portals, and permits are required to make use of them.

Other References

More information can be obtained from the following government website

http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks/mount-barney/index.html

GPS Tracks

Comments

What a great way to kick off the new year! But a very hot day to do this walk, and we were not prepared with our togs (next time!). This is a good walk for a hot day, but make sure to take plenty of water as the trail goes up and down through 5-6 dry creek crossings, even though only about 20m net altitude gain from the car park to the Lower Portals, I think you go up and down 200m across the various ridges on the way.
RobboShoe on 1 Jan, 2014

We stayed at Mt Barney Lodge and did the lower portals in about 2.5hrs. Beautiful walk. Lots of uphills but not too steep. The owner of Mt Barney Lodge said many people stop at a running creek and don't cross it., so if you do this walk, keep going it's worth it. One climbing point where you climb through a few big boulders two get about 3m up a level where the trail ends and you find the waterhole. Kangaroos and wallabies to keep you company.
NateJ on 30 Nov, 2013

The lower portals are certainly worth the fairly lengthy walk. You do walk up and down several small hills, and gullies following the clear path. You will get to a nice little creek, and some people apparently stop here, then turn around and go back ... DON'T do this ! The lower portals are only a few hundred metre's further along, and very much worth the hike ! You can swim here, you can drink the running water, and great photo's are a guarantee.
DrummerJeff on 26 Oct, 2013

Very dry start to the walk, but the portals were a good depth. Tried to walk out to the waterfall through the water but it was way, way too cold. Just scrambled up and around the ridges nearby instead
Allan Allport on 26 Aug, 2013

Nice moderate walk, through/up the cave and magnificent lower portals.
Was there early and not many around. Must have passed 100 people on the way back though. Guess it's popular on a long weekend, not sure about a normal one.
Homely Beast on 9 Jun, 2013

over cast day and threated to rain all day, but it held off. couldnt get all the way to the portals due to the creek level being high.
Tristan Young on 11 Jun, 2012

Didn't start the walk till about 2:00pm, had a leisurely walk out to the portals, climbed over the large rock in the creek for a few photos, then continued up and over the ridge, past the small cave and rock hopped a fair distance up the creek, where we sat and had a bite to eat, made the return journey back to car park then back to Barney lodge campground..
Walkinghawk on 12 Apr, 2012

Really nice relaxing walk. Lower portal rocks are impressive. Added a walk over the top of the ridge and onwards up the river. Nice place to rockhop and relax.
WorldWalker on Apr, 2012

Many small ascents and decents folllowing creeks and gullys around the base of Mount Barney. The trail mostly follows a main fenceline in the park. In summer ensure you have plenty of water, watch out for snakes and start out early. At the halfway point is a beautiful rock pool area where you can stop and have a picnic and swim. Perfect in the height of summer when the water temperature is around 20 degrees. This is a picturesque rock pool and well worth the reward of hiking in. Recommend not taking small children or those who are not use to bushwalking as it can be quite a hard and long walk up and down the track. Allow at least a minimum of 2.5 hours to walk in, stop, have a swim and walk out again.
Badger on 12 Jan, 2012

It was a great walk and not too challenging. Not much to see until you arrive at the portals. About 1 hour each way. Make sure you go into the cave through into the other side once you get to the portals otherwise you miss the best part of the walk. Got some great photos and the resident brush-tailed rock wallaby was very friendly.
Nagle Clan on 2 Oct, 2011

Did this walk and really enjoyed it particularly when I reached the - so refreshing.
A little disappointed that I didn't see any wildlife while on the trail - however 4 decent sized roos jumped out in front of me on Mount Lindsay Highway at Wood
Hill. 3 kept going but the 4th one stopped smack bang in the middle of the road
almost causing a pile up from the vehicles behind. Move on Skippy!!
Tom Murphy on Oct, 2011

Great walk out to the lower portals, checked out the small cave, contiued along the ridge to the campsite and returned great views of barney along the ridge, got some great photos to bad i only had my phone...beautiful day
Walkinghawk on 14 May, 2011

mt Barney is one of my favorite parks, an hour and a half from the Lower Portals is Barney Junction it's an excellent spot to camp, you can get there via the creek which gets hard in places, the best way is up on top of the ridge. at the Lower Portals head uphill and at the top turn right and head up along the ridge.
mika28au on Jan, 2011

Fun walk. Follow the track up and around the portals and rock-hop back down to the jump off into the portals.
ggoodey on 2011

Cold water! Beautiful spot. Worth exploring the creek above the portals.
Patrick Gilmore on Oct, 2010

A great walk and the water is cold!
Laurence Hallam on 24 Jul, 2010

absolutely stunning
Lynney on 20 Jun, 2010

Nice walk, great prize at the end!!
http://lowerportals.blogspot.com
Anonymous on 12 Jun, 2010

Fantasic scenery. Lower Portals were beautiful. Be warned swimmers, the water is very cold and there are a few eels about.
Geoff Eggins on 20 May, 2010