Power’s Lookout Track
Fire tower views earned the hard way.
The Power’s Lookout Track starts innocently enough—a gravel road through Victorian mountain ash that wouldn’t challenge a Camry. Then the road tilts skyward like a ski jump, and you realize why Parks Victoria recommends high-clearance 4WDs for this 18-kilometer climb to 6,368 feet. Built as a fire tower access road in the 1940s, this track punches straight up the spine of Victoria’s Alpine National Park, gaining 3,280 feet of elevation through switchbacks carved into granite and schist that’ll have your transmission hunting for gears.
The middle section separates pretenders from contenders. Rock steps the size of washing machines demand momentum and line choice, while off-camber sections drop away into tree ferns that’ve been growing since before Europeans arrived. Your spotter will earn their keep here—one wrong wheel placement sends you sliding sideways toward gullies that swallow 4WDs whole. Water crossings appear without warning, fed by alpine springs that run year-round but swell to axle-deep torrents during spring snowmelt. December through May offers the best window, when snow clears the upper elevations but before winter storms turn the track into a muddy nightmare that closes access entirely.
The historic fire tower at Power’s Lookout crowns this technical climb, a steel sentinel that’s watched over Victoria’s High Country since bushfire crews needed eyes in the sky. On clear days, the view stretches across the Kiewa Valley to Mount Buffalo, with the Australian Alps rolling away like crumpled paper. Cell service dies completely above 4,000 feet, so download your maps in Mount Beauty—the nearest town for fuel and supplies, 45 minutes from the trailhead. A stock 4WD with decent ground clearance will make it, but low-range and recovery points aren’t suggestions up here.
This isn’t a scenic drive—it’s a full-day commitment that’ll test your rig and your nerve. You’ll drop back into Mount Beauty with scratched paint, mud in places you didn’t know existed, and the satisfaction of earning one of Victoria’s best alpine views the hard way. The Power’s Lookout Track rewards drivers who understand that the best overlanding destinations aren’t reached by accident.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Rock |
| Features | High Altitude, Historic, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 11 mi / 18 km |
| Duration | Full day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 6368 ft |
| Best season | December-May |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock 4WD high-clearance |
| Nearest town | Mount Beauty, VIC |
| Land manager | Parks Victoria |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| 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
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock LandCruiser 200 or Patrol handle Power's Lookout Track without modifications?
A stock high-clearance 4WD will get through, but the rocky surface will punish low-slung vehicles and soft all-terrain tyres. A lift and proper mud-terrain or aggressive all-terrain rubber makes a real difference on the loose rock sections — factory skid plates are your friend here.
When is Power's Lookout Track closed or impassable?
The trail sits in Victoria's High Country and is best tackled December through May. Winter months bring snow and ice above 1,500m that can make the upper rocky climbs genuinely dangerous, and Parks Victoria may close the track during extreme fire danger periods in summer — check their site before heading out.
Do you need a permit to drive Power's Lookout Track?
No permit required to drive the track itself — it sits within Parks Victoria managed land and is free to access. If you're camping nearby, check current fire restrictions and any seasonal closures via Parks Victoria, as rules around campfires in the High Country change with the season.
What's the hardest section and what should I expect?
The upper rocky climbs toward the fire tower summit are the crux — loose, broken rock on steep grades where momentum management matters and one bad line can put you on your rocker panels. It's rated moderate, but that assumes a competent driver and a capable vehicle; first-timers on technical rock should have a spotter.
Are there water crossings on the track, and how deep do they get?
Yes, there are water crossings on the route — depth varies significantly with seasonal snowmelt and rainfall, and spring crossings post-snowmelt can be substantially deeper than late summer. Check conditions locally in Mount Beauty before you leave, as there's no reliable real-time data and cell service on the track is spotty at best.
Trail track
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