Mt Loch (1887m) Day Hike

If you’re looking for a Mt Hotham hike that deliver massive views without a full day’s commitment, the Mt Loch hike is a standout. Standing as Victoria’s fourth-highest peak at 1,887m, Mt Loch offers a “Scottish Highland” aesthetic within the Australian Alps.

Overview

This day hike to Mt Loch (1,887m) is a down-and-up return trek with 276m of elevation gain located near Mt Hotham. Since the trail starts at almost the same elevation as the peak, it involves dropping down and climbing back up as you cross some of Hotham’s ski runs and overlook the resort itself. It’s an ideal hike for families or anyone passing through the resort, especially with the fantastic new shelter at the trailhead.

Access

Trailhead: Hotham Alpine Gateway
Suggested Meeting Point: Bright IGA
Travel time: By car: 1 hours from Bright, 4.5 hours from Melbourne

Mt Loch Information

Hike time: 3 hours return (we took 4 hours due to breaks with children).
Season: Autumn (March)
Difficulty: Fitness (Grade 1: Easy) Technical (Grade 2: Moderate)
Safety Notes: Final 50m involves near-vertical ladder and exposed stairs. The summit is exposed to wind. In autumn and winter, wind chill can drop temperatures to below freezing.

Download and the Mt Dunn GPX file

App or map? While many rely on navigation apps I always recommend printing a copy of your hike maps using OpenTopo or similar and keeping it in a waterproof case. You should also consider an PLB or other emergency device in Australia.

Post Hike Report

After the long, windy drive from Harrietville, we arrived at the Hotham Alpine Centre around midday. This facility is fairly new and offers great views over Mt Feathertop, Mt Loch, and Mt Jaithmathang. With vending machines (including hot drinks), toilets, and plenty of parking, it was the perfect spot to get out of the wind while we rugged up ourselves and our toddler.

To start the hike, you walk around the storage pond from the Gateway. From the top of the Heavenly Valley chairlift, you follow the 4WD access trail down the hill before jumping on a single-track section that leads up past the Keoghs and Gotcha chairlifts.

One of the few sections of single track on this walk

The trail drops down again onto the Machinery Spur 4WD track. We used our Unirider buggy for these sections, which helps minimize the amount of carrying I have to do. Our toddler gets pushed on the downhills and flats, but I make her walk the uphill bits!

The trail as it meanders towards Mt Loch

That next climb is probably the steepest of the hike. The loose rocks on the road present a bit of a slip hazard, so take it easy, but there isn’t anything overly challenging here. The wind was blowing strongly the whole walk. We found a few sheltered spots to stop for snacks and water. While temperatures peaked at 12 degrees, the wind chill made it feel closer to 2 – 6 degrees.

The last section is a pretty walk as you approach a Scotland-esque rockpile peak. The trail to the summit dips off to the right on a bit of single track. The terrain is a little loose, so I took it easy with a child on my back. We reached the summit at 1:30pm and could already feel the day chilling down.

This reminds me of a place in Scotland – not sure which one

The summit itself has amazing views: Mt Buller, Mt Feathertop, Mt Jaithmathang, Mt McKay, and Mt Bogong are all visible. It felt a few degrees colder at the top, likely due to the exposure.

The return is straightforward with the Alpine Centre in view most of the way. One advantage of this walk is that it’s easy to turn back if the weather shifts. The walk back actually feels a bit nicer; the downhills feel a little more “down” and the uphills feel smoother. We stopped at some of the ski lift huts to admire the view before finishing. Hot chocolate was definitely used to motivate our child on those last few climbs!

I really think the facilities and views make this a great one for families. It would also be an alright snowshow trail, if permitted by the resort.

The only disappointment to me – is that it is a shame to see Alpine Resorts Victoria building such great facilities here, but neglecting other Resorts Like Mt Baw Baw that are screaming out for modern day-facilities like this. A facility like this, with a bistro space, where the old Alpine Hotel sits would be fantastic for Mt Baw Baw short and long term.