Mt Maroon up West Ridge via Caves
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 4.14 mi
- Elevation gain
- 2,480 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Difficult
- Elevation loss
- 2,480 ft
- Max elevation
- 2,020 ft
- TrailRank
-
76
4.2
- Min elevation
- 62 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Moving time
- 3 hours 21 minutes
- Time
- 6 hours 27 minutes
- Coordinates
- 1169
- Uploaded
- July 28, 2019
- Recorded
- July 2019
near Cotswold, Queensland (Australia)
Viewed 4416 times, downloaded 253 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
This is a spectacular way to climb Mt Maroon.
The hike starts at the end of Cotswold Road. The hike begins following the tourist trail up Mt Maroon. At some point it leaves the track heading west across the major gully and then progress up the ridge until it reaches the cliffs that extend towards Maroon Caves. Watch the track as you come out of the caves. My track went wonky for a sort time. Just head down from the bottom left corner facing out. You will see a track heading down the ridge and turning left to descend to a track following the bottom of the cliff.
The track then proceeds west until it reaches the western ridge of Mt Maroon. The goal here is to go below each of the cliffs on each ridge until you hit West ridge.
The final stage of the western ridge requires some scrambling up rocky ground across sparse vegetation and some smooth rock. Once reaching the western spur it ascends up to the granite runway that forms the top of Mt Maroon. The last part of the climb up the spur requires the navigation of a narrow gully that requires climbing skills.
Once reaching the runway the track then ascend Mt Maroon's 4 peaks in turn. This traverse requires the navigation across open granite and occasional rocky vegetation patches. The views are spectacular from each of the 4 points.
Return is via the tourist route. All up this hike up Mt Maroon is easier than the tourist route if you have the necessary climbing and technical skills.
The hike starts at the end of Cotswold Road. The hike begins following the tourist trail up Mt Maroon. At some point it leaves the track heading west across the major gully and then progress up the ridge until it reaches the cliffs that extend towards Maroon Caves. Watch the track as you come out of the caves. My track went wonky for a sort time. Just head down from the bottom left corner facing out. You will see a track heading down the ridge and turning left to descend to a track following the bottom of the cliff.
The track then proceeds west until it reaches the western ridge of Mt Maroon. The goal here is to go below each of the cliffs on each ridge until you hit West ridge.
The final stage of the western ridge requires some scrambling up rocky ground across sparse vegetation and some smooth rock. Once reaching the western spur it ascends up to the granite runway that forms the top of Mt Maroon. The last part of the climb up the spur requires the navigation of a narrow gully that requires climbing skills.
Once reaching the runway the track then ascend Mt Maroon's 4 peaks in turn. This traverse requires the navigation across open granite and occasional rocky vegetation patches. The views are spectacular from each of the 4 points.
Return is via the tourist route. All up this hike up Mt Maroon is easier than the tourist route if you have the necessary climbing and technical skills.
Waypoints
Photo
109 ft
Comments (3)
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Definitely a bush bash rather than a trail. Maybe no one's walked this loop in a long time. Nice view from the top.
Gave it a bash this arvo. Tricky navigation, can admit taking a few wrong turns but got there eventually. Much easier up the tourist route, at least you know where you are, even the rock cairns will lead you astray at a certain caves area
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Thanks for the route. Big help from the caves to get up to the top 👍