Cronan Creek Falls (SUN) from Mt Barney Lodge

This walk will be offered both Saturday and Sunday. Please ensure you register for the correct day!

Leader: Monica den Hertog

Leader’s Contact: 0402 205 897 |  monicadenhertog@gmail.com

Meeting Point:  At the front of Henry's and Forester's Huts

Meeting Time: 8:45am for carpooling and 9:00am departure

Travel Distance & Time:  5 min, 1.2 km to the Yellow Pinch trailhead car park

Walk Starting Point:  Yellow Pinch trialhead car park

Walk Distance & Time:  12km return.  Cronans Falls is upstream of Yellow Pinch but over the 6km we need to gain only around 250m elevation. The actual walking time could be as little as 4 hrs but as we will proceed at a leisurely pace, enjoying our natural surroundings, it will be longer than this. With lunch and breaks, we can expect to be back at Barney Lodge around mid-afternoon.  

General Information:

This walk features the picturesque, rock-tumbled Cronan Creek and Cronan Creek Falls.  Through the trees there are towering views of Mt Barney peak, and more open and distant views of Mt Ernest to the south.   

Until the falls turn-off, the walk is on a vehicle management track and mostly free of obstacles apart from some water crossings.  After about the first 1.5km of the walk adjacent to rather pleasant grazing land, the track crosses the Logan R on a causeway, likely under shallow water. Soon after, the track runs adjacent to Cronan Creek and passes a couple of QPWS campsites before the first of 3 creek crossings to be negotiated. The first is on a wet causeway, where the creek is particularly beautiful.  At the other short crossings we will likely need to pick our way across on stepping stones to avoid getting wet boots.  There are a few short hill climbs between crossings.

After the third creek crossing, when the track does a right turn and heads steeply uphill, we need to keep an eye out for a sign on the left indicating the short track through the rainforest to the falls and its plunge pool. The sign says 100m but it's not that far.  As the rocks can be slippery when damp, care is necessary on the short rock hop to the falls.  On the left is a nice, elevated lunch rock.  While not large, the pool is deep enough for a cold swim.             

After lunch, we will amble back the way we came.  About 500m from the car-park, there will be the option to take the short climb to the Yellow Pinch lookout, which is a natural lookout from a cliff edge, providing uninterrupted views of Mount Barney's east face.    

Walk Rating:  M43  The '4' rating component relates mostly to the rock-hopping and creek crossings.  If there has been rain overnight, the creek crossings could be deeper, requiring wading 

What to Bring: 2–3 L water, lunch, snacks, first-aid kit, insect repellent, sturdy boots, weather and sun protective clothing. Walking poles may be helpful for creek crossings and rock hopping.  

You must register to attend this event.