Current track conditions

Walking track links

Prepare and stay safe

Challenging sections

Short popular sections

Maps

Walker resources

A walker’s perspective

As the track is over 650kms in length and sections of the Australian Alps Walking Track traverse remote wilderness locations, track conditions are constantly changing. Park staff and volunteers work hard to maintain sections of the track and whilst general current track conditions and status are listed here, it is best to check with each of the Park agencies websites for updates on the most up to date and detailed current status and conditions.

We also rely on people who have recently walked the track, or sections of it, to provide feedback on track conditions. You can do this by submitting feedback below.

It is always best to contact regional visitor centres throughout the Alps prior to your walk to obtain the very latest track status information. Areas of the track are sometimes closed for maintenance, park management operations, or bushfires or other emergencies. Please check the Park agency webpages for alerts and closures.

Track status

It’s best to check with each of the Park agencies websites for updates on current conditions. For more information, see the links below.

Some sections of the AAWT may still get closed at short notice after severe weather events such as storms, or to improve conditions after the 2019/20 Black Summer Bushfires. This is to ensure public safety while important risk assessment and hazard treatment works are undertaken such as treating hazardous trees, clearing sections of the track and repairing infrastructure. Alternate routes or detours are suggested where possible for  any closed sections.

Please don’t enter closed areas for your own and your groups safety. Walkers, campers and visitors to the Australian Alps National Parks, AAWT and any bushfire affected areas should be aware that there will be residual tree fall and slope/rock instability risks in many of these areas for years to come even after they are officially opened.

Key to minimising these risks is to:

  • avoid recently burnt forested areas if at all possible and in particular during any windy or wet weather, when tree/limb fall and slope/rock instability risks are likely to be higher.
  • do not stop for any rest breaks or camp within forested areas where tree structural integrity may have been compromised by either recent bushfire or forest die back.
  • constantly check and be looking up for any ‘widow makers’, particularly if stopping for a rest break or making camp in any forested area, which is good practice regardless.
  • be aware that periods of heavy rain or storms may cause slope/rock instability risks or flash flooding in drainage lines within bushfire affected areas.

Current AAWT Alerts and Closures

NSW

Cascade Trail

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) will be undertaking essential fire trail maintenance works on Cascade Trail, between the Alpine Way and Cascade Hut, throughout April and May 2024. The trail will remain open to visitors. Trail users should expect short delays to their walk or ride.

Please obey all directions from NPWS staff and contractors. Penalties apply for non-compliance.

For any further queries, please contact the NPWS Jindabyne office on (02) 6450 5555.

Sections of Kosciuszko National Park closed for feral animal control

(Applies from Mon 4 Mar 2024, 7.00am to Thu 28 Mar 2024, 7.00pm. Last reviewed: Tue 30 Jan 2024, 9.00am)

  • The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) will be conducting aerial shooting operations in Kosciuszko National Park (KNP). Horses, deer, pigs and other feral animals will be targeted. The operations require the closure of areas of KNP south of the Alpine Way to the KNP boundary, including Byadbo and Pilot Wilderness Areas, between Monday 4 March and Thursday 28 March 2024.
  • All tracks, trails, campgrounds, huts, picnic areas and accommodation nodes within the closure areas will be closed during this period.
  • The Australian Alps Walking Track South of the Alpine Way to Cowombat Flat and Pilot Wilderness mountain bike ride will be closed.
  • All campgrounds and day use areas along the Barry Way remain open.
  • A map of the closure area is available at:
  • Map of southern Kosciuszko National Park closure area March 2024 (nsw.gov.au)
  • Closure notices will be placed at relevant access points in KNP, penalties apply for non-compliance.
  • For inquiries on the management of wild horses please email the wild horse team at npws.wildhorses@environment.nsw.gov.au
  • We appreciate your patience while this important work is being carried out. If you would like any further information about closed areas, please contact NPWS at npws.southernrangesbranch@environment.nsw.gov.au or phone 02 6450 5600.

Sections of Kosciuszko National Park closed for feral animal control

(Applies from Thu 4 Apr 2024, 7.00am to Fri 4 Oct 2024, 7.00pm. Last reviewed: Tue 30 Jan 2024, 10.03am)

  • The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) will be conducting aerial shooting operations in Kosciuszko National Park (KNP). Horses, deer, pigs and other feral animals will be targeted. The operations require the closure of the area of KNP north of the Snowy Mountains Highway and east of the Goobarragandra Powerline Road to the KNP boundary between Thursday 4 April 2024 and Friday 4 October 2024 inclusive (this includes the usual winter closure period from 10 June to 4 October, 2024).
  • All tracks, trails, campgrounds, huts, picnic areas and accommodation nodes within the closure area will be closed during this period, including:
    • Bullocks Hill campground
    • Cooinbil Hut campground
    • Cooinbil Hut Horse Camp
    • Ghost Gully campground
    • Long Plain Hut campground
    • Magpie Flat campground
    • Old Snowy campground
    • Perkins Flat campground
    • Rocky Plain campground
    • Wares Yards campground
    • Blue Waterholes campground
    • Cooleman Mountain campground
    • Long Plain Hut Horse Camp
    • Broken Cart campground
    • Dubbo Flats campground
    • Currango Homestead precinct
    • Clarke Gorge walking track
    • Nichols Gorge walking track
    • Australian Alps Walking Track North of the Snowy Mountains Highway to the KNP boundary (will be closed)
    • National Trail North of the Snowy Mountains Highway to the KNP boundary
    • Hume Hovell Walking Track from the KNP park boundary to the park boundary at Thomas Boyd track head
  • A map of the closure area is available at: Map of northern Kosciuszko National Park closure area April to October 2024 (nsw.gov.au)
  • Closure notices will be placed at relevant access points in KNP, penalties apply for non-compliance.
  • For inquiries on the management of wild horses please email the wild horse team at npws.wildhorses@environment.nsw.gov.au
  • We appreciate your patience while this important work is being carried out. If you would like any further information about closed areas, please contact NPWS at npws.southernrangesbranch@environment.nsw.gov.au or phone 02 6947 7025

Victoria (Parks Victoria):

Parks Victoria will be conducting aerial shooting programs targeting deer and other pest species (feral pigs, goats and foxes) for the ongoing protection of biodiversity in Eastern Victoria.

  • For more information about the program and park closures, please visit this link. 

The Poverty Point bridge (otherwise known as the Old Steel Bridge) which crosses the Thomson River just out of Walhalla is closed following an engineering inspection.

  • There is a detour in place which involves Mormontown Track, crossing the river via the Walhalla Rd bridge and following the Thomson River on the West side to regain the AAWT at the west end of Poverty Point Bridge.
  • As at March 2022 all bushfire affected area closures that impacted the AAWT route and required inspections and remediation works have been completed. Regardless of any short term or longer term closures there are still many great options with sections of the track, alternate routes and many areas of the parks open to visit, walk, camp and enjoy.

ACT

Sections of National Park in the ACT are closed for aerial culling of pest animals from May to June 2024, and members of the public are not permitted in the control areas, with portions of the AAWT affected. Check here for current conditions.

Namadgi Visitor Centre (02 6237 5307).

Namadgi National Park General Information: ACT P&CS Namadgi NP Webpage

ACT Parks and Conservation Alerts and Closures: ACT Parks and Conservation – Alerts

NSW

General Information: Snowy Region Visitor Centre

NPWS Alerts: Fires, Floods and Park Closures

VIC

General Information: https://parkweb.vic.gov.au/ or phone 131963

Parks Victoria Alerts: Park Changed Conditions and Closures

Further information

The following websites contain up to date information on the AAWT and are good locations for more first hand information on the track.

Australian Alps Walking Track by John Chapman – a detailed page with great information for people wishing to attempt the whole track or sections of it. Access, track notes, suggested maps, food drop info and suggested itiniraries are covered. Additionally, John has published a guide book for the track which is kept up to date with online updates.

Bushwalk.com – A forum covering all aspects of bushwalking, locally and internationally. Relevant sections are the Victoria section and the NSW/ACT section. Searching and monitoring these forums should result in recent reports from walkers who have completed the track. Failing that, post a question and see if anyone can help.

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