Mt Difficult Access Following a few queries via both email and on climbing forums, it makes sense to clarify the access situation into the Mt Difficult climbing area via the now closed Troopers Creek campground. You can check out in full, an early announcement I made on this in 2016, via the link at the end, but to summarise –
Access to the cliff climbing area at Mt Difficult from Troopers Creek campground (now closed) is as previous, although the trail is now noted on Parks Victoria website as closed. It is closed as an official walking track due to extensive damage in the North Grampians fire, and a variety of other reasons which include a nearby section of the GPT being planned. The Troopers Creek campground is also now permanently closed.
The impetus for this was the GPT with a new campground slated for Dead Bullock Creek that will line up with a Trailhead and the newer section of the GPT. There were also some cultural heritage concerns near the old campground. The trail won’t be repaired so therefore it is no longer an ‘official’ trail that they promote as such to park visitors. After discussions, it was agreed that climbers could access the cliff via the old track but it must be noted that the track is quite damaged in some sections and access may not seem as clear as before. From these discussions, it appears there may also be access near the new campground once finished, but this will be a longer walk in than the present one.
The area is open for climbing now.
The old trail will not be part of the GPT.
I would be really keen to hear from any climbers who have been accessing Mt Difficult via this access point.
A little from a report in 2016 which gives a little more background https://cliffcare.org.au/2016/08/31/access-report-september
This conversation has brought up further ones about climbers tracks, creating them and also maintaining current tracks. I hope to have the CliffCare website updated on some points to take on board soon. https://cliffcare.org.au/about/education/tracks/
Tracey Skinner VCC Access & Environment Officer
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