Cradle Mountain Eastern Approach — Lake Mackintosh to Cradle Valley via Middlesex Plains Back Road
Cradle Mountain's quiet side — no tour buses, no crowds.
Everyone comes to Cradle Mountain on the sealed tourist road from Sheffield. Almost nobody comes in from the east via the Middlesex Plains — and that’s exactly the point. This route departs the Murchison Highway near Lake Mackintosh, cuts through the flat, eerie moorland of the Middlesex Plains, and climbs into the high dolerite country that frames the western wall of the Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park. The plains themselves are otherworldly: dead-flat button grass stretching to low ridgelines, pencil pines clustered along creek lines, and an absolute absence of human noise. The track runs on gravel and compacted dirt through Forestry Tasmania coupe country before the terrain transitions into the wetter, softer ground approaching the park boundary. Watch for the Forth River headwater crossings — shallow but slippery on basalt substrate.
Moderate difficulty overall, stepping up to demanding when the moorland sections are saturated after winter rain. A capable 4WD with good all-terrain tyres handles it comfortably in dry conditions; in wet conditions it demands genuine 4WD engagement and caution on the clay-over-rock transitions. No permits needed outside the national park boundary. Fuel in Tullah or Waratah — don’t arrive on fumes. No cell coverage across the plains. This one rewards patience: the sight of Cradle’s western ramparts emerging from the button grass horizon as you climb into the park approach is the payoff most tourists never see.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 47 mi / 75.6 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 3450 ft |
| Best season | December-April |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD with all-terrain tyres |
| Nearest town | Tullah, Tasmania |
| Land manager | Forestry Tasmania / Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | parks.tas.gov.au |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Will a stock Jimny or 80 Series with factory clearance handle this without mods?
A stock high-clearance 4WD with all-terrain tyres is the minimum — a factory Jimny or 80 Series on ATs will manage fine in good conditions. Lifted rigs with decent rubber will have more margin at the water crossings and on the softer moorland sections. A standard Prado or HiLux on highway tyres is asking for trouble.
When does the Middlesex Plains Back Road become impassable — is it a winter write-off?
December through April is the reliable window. Winter brings snow above 1000m, boggy button grass sections that will swallow you, and crossings that run much higher. Some years the track stays passable into May, but don't bank on it — check with Forestry Tasmania before any off-season attempt.
Do I need a permit to drive this route or enter Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park from this side?
The Forestry Tasmania sections don't require a permit, but once you hit the national park boundary approaching Cradle Valley, standard Parks Tasmania entry fees apply. Pay at the Cradle Mountain visitor centre or via the Tasmania Parks Pass — rangers do check. No permit is needed for dispersed camping on the Forestry sections, but park camping zones have their own rules.
What's the hardest section on this route and what does it actually look like?
The Middlesex Plains crossing is where this trail earns its rating — soft, wet button grass edges can catch you off-guard after rain, and the track surface deteriorates in sections with no warning. Water crossings are unbridged and depth varies; after rain some runs deep enough to require a wade-check before committing. Nothing technically brutal, but complacency on the boggy flat stretches is what strands rigs here.
There's zero cell service on this trail — what's the nearest fuel and how far is the resupply gap?
Tullah is your last fuel stop before heading in — it's a small town, so fill completely. There's no fuel at Cradle Valley itself (Cradle Mountain Lodge doesn't sell it to passers-through), so your next reliable bowser is Devonport or Sheffield, roughly 60–80km out from the Cradle Valley end. Plan your fuel load around the full 75km route plus your exit leg.
Trail track
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