Short Bushwalks Ben Lomond National Park (And Where to Camp Nearby)

Ben Lomond National Park is Tasmania’s alpine outlier — a dolerite plateau over 1,500m high, visible across much of the northern midlands but strangely under-visited outside ski season. Most people know it for the switchbacks of Jacobs Ladder and the state’s only downhill ski field, but come summer the snow melts to reveal a rugged, boulder-strewn landscape of scree fields, wildflowers and huge dolerite columns that feels closer to the Scottish Highlands than the rest of Tasmania. It’s about an hour south-east of Launceston, making it an easy day trip from the north, and the walking here is genuinely different from the coastal and forest tracks that dominate the rest of the island.

Weather on the plateau turns fast and cold at any time of year, so pack proper layers even for the short walks — more on that below.

1. Ben Lomond Summit Link Track — Alpine Village

A new, easy stroll from the alpine village that’s the best introduction to the plateau’s vegetation and views without committing to a longer walk. Flat and well formed, it links up to the Summit Pass Track if you want to extend the walk further.

Distance: 1km return • Time: 30 minutes • Difficulty: Grade 2, easy • Dogs: Not permitted (national park)

Nearest campground: Ben Lomond National Park Camping, 1km inside the park boundary below the summit.

2. Alpine Village to Little Hell Walk

A rock-hopping route across part of the old cross-country ski trail network, giving good views over the plateau’s glacial boulder fields. It’s short but the terrain is uneven underfoot, so allow more time than the distance suggests and wear proper boots.

Distance: 5.5km return • Time: 1.5 hours • Difficulty: Grade 5, rough and rocky • Dogs: Not permitted (national park)

Nearest campground: Ben Lomond National Park Campng.

3. Legges Tor Summit Walk

The big one for most day visitors — a walk from the ski village car park up onto the plateau to Legges Tor, Tasmania’s second-highest point at 1,572m. The track crosses open boulder field and scree with no real shelter, but the 360-degree views over the state’s northern half are worth the effort on a clear day. Not a track to attempt in poor visibility or high wind.

Distance: Around 6km return • Time: 2–3 hours • Difficulty: Moderate–hard, exposed alpine terrain • Dogs: Not permitted (national park)

Nearest campground: Ben Lomond National Park Camping.

4. Carr Villa to Alpine Village Track

A quieter, more sheltered walk climbing through forest and subalpine scrub from the Carr Villa hut on the mountain’s northern foothills up to the alpine village. Good for wildflowers in summer and a snowy landscape in winter — a nice contrast to the exposed plateau walks above.

Distance: 5km one way (10km return) • Time: 2–3 hours one way • Difficulty: Grade 3, moderate • Dogs: Not permitted (national park)

Nearest campground: Ben Lomond National Park Camping, near the Carr Villa end of the track.

5. Stacks Bluff via Storys Creek Walk

The southern summit of the Ben Lomond massif, reached from a completely different access point via Rossarden and Storys Creek rather than Jacobs Ladder. It’s a proper hard day out — steep climbing followed by boulder-field scrambling to a dramatic wall of dolerite columns — but it sees far fewer walkers than the alpine village side and the views are just as good. The last few kilometres of access road are rough; a high-clearance vehicle helps.

Distance: 10.5km return • Time: 5–6 hours • Difficulty: Hard, steep with rock scrambling • Dogs: Not permitted (national park)

Nearest campground: Fingal Camping, a free RV-friendly campground about 30 minutes from the Storys Creek trailhead.

Planning Your Trip

A valid Tasmanian parks pass is required for entry to Ben Lomond National Park, available as a day pass or holiday pass and bought online or at visitor centres. Dogs are not permitted on any walking tracks or in the national park itself — if you’re travelling with a dog, Fingal Camping near Stacks Bluff is dog-friendly, but plan to leave them behind for the walks themselves. The plateau is genuine alpine terrain and the weather can turn in minutes, even in summer — carry a waterproof jacket, warm layers and sturdy boots regardless of the forecast. Between June and September, all vehicles driving up Jacobs Ladder must carry snow chains, and the road can close without notice in icy conditions. Stay on formed tracks at all times; the alpine vegetation is slow-growing and easily damaged.