Cradle Mountain in lovely weather (02.11.2023)

© Helwig Hauser

© Helwig Hauser

Note that this track has been created from memory, i.e., it was not recorded automatically.

Trip Summary

We started the day at the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre at 4057 Cradle Mountain Road from where we took a shuttle bus up to the end of the road at Dove Lake. There, we first enjoyed beautiful views across the still lake, reflecting Cradle Mountain from behind and its surrounding landscape. We then started our hike on the east-side of Dove Lake, briefly checking out Glacier Rock, before then using the slightly minor trail up to Hansons Peak (Lake Rodway Track). Already this part was very nice, with views both across Dove Lake (to the west) as well as eastwards (once up on the ridge). From Hansons Peak, we then crossed over to the Face Track, which brought us, between Cradle Mountain in the south and Dove Lake in the north, to the west-side of Cradle Mountain. There, we connected to the Summit Trail of Cradle Mountain. This trail starts gently, first, before then getting steeper quite soon. Once about half way up this Summit Trail, one starts to step over rocks and boulders. The last height meters are then steep over large boulders (it's not really difficult, but one uses a hand, or two, at times, to get some help up). Also, we got the impression that a fair share of the others "around us" decided to turn around before making it all the way up. In any case, one can enjoy really nice views already from this Summit Track, not just from the top. :-) Just before reaching the actual summit of Cradle Mountain, the trail dips over a small saddle for a few dozens of height meters. With a bit of snow and ice there, this saddle appeared as a proper spot to turn around for some more, also. Once through this little dip, however, it then was only a few more height meters up to the actual summit. From the marked summit, one really gets a nice view in south-to-westward direction. With a few additional steps across the small summit plateau of Cradle Mountain, however, one can enjoy amazing panoramic views also to the north and east. After a short break to enjoy all these views, it was time to descend, again, following the same Summit Track that we had first taken up. Traversing the big boulders on the way down was even a bit easier than first anticipated. One may add that we had really good weather and that there was not much snow or ice left on the trail. In bad weather, however, it is easy to think that this Summit Track is maybe not the best choice for everyone. At the bottom-end of the Summit Track, we then continued along the popular Overland Track (in mostly northern direction to get back). We now were on the other, western side of Dove Lake and enjoyed nice views across it, now into eastern direction. Marions Lookout, then, was very crowded and we were satisfied that we had already enjoyed lots of nice views across Dove Lake before. :-) We then descended to the east-side of Crater Lake, following the Overland Track further. From the north-end of Crater Lake, we then continued our descent through the jungle (also enjoying Crater Falls there). Eventually, the Overland Track brought us to the wet meadows near Ronny Creek, where we were lucky to see a larger number of Wombats, some of them right next to the Trail! At the Ronny Creek carpark, we then waited for the next shuttle bus to come and take us down to the Visitor Centre. Having been treated with really nice weather, we concluded this hike up and down Cradle Mountain in a highly satisfied mood! :-) .

Photos

Selected photos are available as Google photo album.

Useful Resources

See also the related FB-page Hiking around Bergen, Norway.