The Bluff Trail is a 17 mi looped trail that starts and ends from the Eight Mile Flat Track, near the 8 Mile Flat Campground, in the Alpine National Park, Victoria. Popular for mountaineering, backpacking, mountain biking, camping and skiing; entry to the Alpine National Park is free of charge, so adventurers can escape to nature to hike and explore the state’s highest ranges and take in the far-reaching panoramic views. This rewarding hiking route is graded as Medium and is usually completed in 2 days. (For information on how we grade trails, please click here, and caution is advised on trail times as this depends on multiple variables. For more info click here.) The ascent is arduous from the start, steadily meandering up through the range, with the approach to the treeless summit of The Bluff at 1726 metres becoming steeper and scrambly in parts. But once at the peak, the hardest part is over, hikers can enjoy the epic 360-degree views of the surrounding peaks and across the range to Mt Buller and Mount Stirling. The trail then begins to descend gradually as it heads to The Bluff Hut, with the chance to bag another peak, that of Mount Eadley Stoney at 1684 metres on the way. Hikers can spend a sheltered night under the stars before the trail leads down to Ritchie’s Hut, then back to the trailhead. The terrain is mainly a singletrack mountain trail, with some rock scrambles, and fire track. Only assistance dogs are permitted in Victoria’s parks and reserves, for the protection and conservation of the parks and their wildlife. Photo Credit :Russell E
