Mount Stirling Craigs Hut Loop

The Mount Stirling Craigs Hut Loop is 19.98 km with 888 m of climbing, so it is a solid full-day hike for most walkers. Strong hikers often finish in about 6 to 8 hours, while slower groups should allow extra time for breaks, navigation, and changing alpine weather around Mount Stirling and Craig’s Hut.

The Mount Stirling Craigs Hut Loop is rated medium, but the numbers make it more demanding than a casual walk. At just under 20 km with 888 m of elevation gain, it suits hikers comfortable with sustained climbing, uneven alpine terrain, and a long day out in the Mount Buller and Mount Stirling high country.

A common access point for the Mount Stirling area is Telephone Box Junction, reached from Mirimbah via Stirling Road. Telephone Box Junction is about 8 km from the base of the mountain and has a main car park, visitor facilities, and toilets, making it a practical staging point for hikes in the Mount Stirling network.

The Mount Stirling Craigs Hut Loop can be much harder in winter because seasonal access restrictions apply on Mount Stirling. In 2026, Circuit Road closed from midday Friday, June 5 until the Thursday before Melbourne Cup Day, with no public vehicle access beyond Telephone Box Junction during that period, and some summit roads and tracks also close from May 1 to December 1 depending on conditions.

Regular pet dogs should not be assumed to be allowed on the Mount Stirling Craigs Hut Loop without checking the exact land status of each section first. In Parks Victoria dog-prohibited parks such as national parks, assistance dogs are allowed under entry requirements, so hikers crossing into protected alpine areas need to treat dog access carefully.

Telephone Box Junction is the main hub on Mount Stirling and has useful pre-hike facilities. There are public toilets behind the visitor center, a shelter, and in winter a café next to the TBJ car park; the closest fuel is at Mirimbah Store at the base of the mountain.

The most straightforward time for the Mount Stirling Craigs Hut Loop is usually the snow-free season, when roads and higher tracks are more likely to be open and route-finding is simpler. Summer and early fall are popular for walking on Mount Stirling, while winter brings snow travel, chain requirements on access roads, and closures beyond Telephone Box Junction.