Murchison Highway to Mount Murchison — Tullah to Mount Murchison Ridgeline via Pieman Headwaters
Northwest mining country meets alpine wilderness.
Tullah sits on the Murchison Highway in Tasmania’s northwest mining heartland — a quiet hydro town with a big history and an even bigger hinterland. The track to Mount Murchison’s ridgeline departs on mining-era forestry roads that climb fast through wet sclerophyll and out into the sub-alpine belt, where dolerite boulders start pushing through the peat and the wind cuts in hard from the Southern Ocean. The route uses a combination of old mining access spurs and hydro maintenance tracks threading through the Pieman River headwaters country — one of the least-visited highland zones in the state. You’re navigating on a mix of institutional memory and paper maps out here; the track markings are minimal.
Difficult rating — this demands a capable 4WD, a set of working lockers in wet conditions, and solid map-and-compass navigation skills. It’s not extreme terrain, but the isolation is real: you’re hours from assistance in any direction. The Pieman headwaters crossings run fast and rocky in spring; September through November can be passable but expect saturated ground. Late summer to autumn (February–April) is the pick. Fuel from Tullah or Rosebery only — carry reserves. No permits, no facilities, and no cell service across the entire route. What you get is Tasmania’s northwest at its most raw: buttongrass, dolerite, silence, and a summit view that stretches from the Cradle Mountain massif to the coast.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 24 mi / 38.6 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 3740 ft |
| Best season | February-April |
| Minimum vehicle | Locker-equipped 4WD |
| Nearest town | Tullah, Tasmania |
| Land manager | Sustainable Timber Tasmania / Hydro Tasmania |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | hydro.com.au |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
No recent condition reports. Be the first to post one.
Log in to post a condition report.
Frequently asked questions
What's the minimum rig you'd actually trust on this trail?
A locker-equipped 4WD — front and rear lockers strongly preferred. Lifted with good all-terrain or mud tyres is the baseline; the wet clay sections near the Pieman headwaters will swallow anything less without mercy.
When is this trail passable and what does the wrong season look like?
February through April is the window — summer warmth has dried the worst clay sections and snow hasn't hit the ridgeline yet. Outside that range, winter snow closes the upper trail and spring melt turns the approach into a mudpit that'll bog a well-built rig.
Do you need permits or fees to run this trail?
The route passes through Sustainable Timber Tasmania and Hydro Tasmania managed land — no formal day-use permit is currently required, but access conditions and closures can change with active timber operations. Check with Sustainable Timber Tasmania before you go; forestry gate closures happen without much public notice.
What's the hardest section and what does it actually demand of the driver?
The ridgeline push above the Pieman headwaters is the crux — exposed, loose rock shelf track with significant off-camber exposure and no room to turn around easily. It demands confident wheel placement, lockers engaged, and a co-driver spotting; a mistake here means a very bad day in a very remote place with zero cell service.
How far is the nearest fuel from the trailhead and is there reliable water on trail?
Tullah is your last fuel stop before the trailhead and it's a small town — don't count on the servo being open late or always stocked. Water crossings exist on route but treat everything before drinking; the Pieman headwater area is remote enough that a mechanical breakdown or injury means a long wait for help, so carry your own supply regardless.
Trail track
No GPX track for this trail yet. If you've driven it and have a track, contribute below.
Log in to contribute a GPX track.