Summit Trail – Charlotte Pass to Snowy River
Download & Print Map and Notes3 hrs
9 km Return
237 m
Hard track
Covered in snow part of the year
This walk leads through an extreme alpine environment and all walkers must be well prepared. During summer, be prepared for both very hot and cold weather, high winds, rain, snow, extreme UV levels and some sections of snow or ice on the ground. Before starting this walk, check advice with Snowy Region Visitor Information Centre (02) 6450 5600, the weather forecast and the snow conditions then change your plans as needed. These notes, grades and walking times have been written for use in the summer months only. Between May and the end of October, this walk is likely to be covered in snow/ice, visitors should carry and be prepared to use snowshoes or cross country skis. When there is a chance of significant snow on the ground, visitors will need particularly strong navigation and snowcraft skills – tracks and signage may not be visible. For most visitors, it is best to consider this walk closed during the colder months.
Between the long weekend in June and October, the road between Perisher Village and Charlotte Pass is closed by the RTA. It is possible to organise oversnow transport.
(0km) End of Kosciuszko Road → Merritts Creek bridge
4.2 km
1 hr 23 mins
164m
-70m
Hard track
From the end of Kosciuszko Rd at Charlotte Pass[1] (just near the toilet block[2]), this walk heads along a wide management trail[3], following the large ‘Summit walk’ sign[4]. The walk initially dips down a bit[5] and heads through a grove of snow gums[6]. This walk soon leaves the snow gums and the landscape opens to a fantastic view of the Snowy River and the valley (on your right)[7]. After about 1km, the walk passes a yellow ‘MT K 8’ sign[8] on a snow pole. This walk continues along the management trail and gently undulates up along the side of the long ridge, passing several more ‘Mt K’ milestone signs counting down. After a while, the old road heads up and over a ridge[9], passing the ‘MT K 5’[10] and the original ‘K 3’ milestone (on your left) to find the un-signposted concrete bridge over Merritts Creek[11].
Maps for the Summit Trail – Charlotte Pass to Snowy River walk
You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.
Perisher Valley | 1:25 000 Map Series | 85252S PERISHER VALLEY | NSW-85252S |
Kosciuszko | 1:100 000 Map Series | 8525 KOSCIUSZKO | 8525 |
Cross sectional view of the Summit Trail – Charlotte Pass to Snowy River bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Summit Trail – Charlotte Pass to Snowy River
Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001
Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.
Length | 9 km | ||
Time | 3 hrs | ||
. | |||
Grade 4/6 Hard track |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Flat, no steps (1/6) |
Quality of track | Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6) | ||
Signs | Clearly signposted (1/6) | ||
Experience Required | No experience required (1/6) | ||
Weather | Forecast, unforecast storms and severe weather may impact on navigation and safety (4/6) | ||
Infrastructure | Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6) |
Some more details of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk
Gradient
This whole walk, 4.5km is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
This whole walk, 4.5km follows a clear and well formed track or trail.
Signs
This whole walk, 4.5km is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 4.5km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 4.5km is affected by forecast, unforecast storms and severe weather events that may impact on navigation and safety.
Infrastructure
This whole walk, 4.5km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
Similar walks
Other Nearby walks
Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Summit Trail – Charlotte Pass to Snowy River walk starts and ends at the End of Kosciuszko Road (gps: -36.431855, 148.32828)Your main transport option to End of Kosciuszko Road is by;
Car. A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.
(get details)
Fire Danger
Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.Weather Forest
This walk starts in the Snowy Mountains weather district always check the formal BOM forecast or pdf before starting your walk.Forecast snapshot
Park Information & Alerts
Short URL = http://wild.tl/swcptsr
Gallery images
There are other downloads I am still working on.
You will probably need to login to access these — still all free.
* KML (google earth file)
* GPX (GPS file)
Special Maps/ brochures
* A3 topo maps
* PDF with Lands Topo map base
* PDF with arial image (and map overlay)
I wanted to get the main site live first, this extra stuff will come in time.
Happy walking
Matt 🙂
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