Mount Roland is the mountain everyone photographs from the Sheffield — Gowrie Park road and few people actually climb, which is a shame, because it’s one of the most rewarding day walks in the state’s north west. The wider Kentish region around Sheffield and Lake Barrington adds a run of gentler waterfall and lookout walks, so there’s something here whether you want a full leg-burner or a lazy hour among ferns. It’s also a handy base on the way to or from Cradle Mountain, with a couple of well-placed campgrounds to break the trip.
The easier of the two summit routes, starting at O’Neills Creek Picnic Reserve in Gowrie Park and climbing steadily through forest before opening onto the exposed saddle and final scramble to the trig point at 1,234m. On a clear day the views stretch to Cradle Mountain, Barn Bluff and out to Bass Strait. It’s still a serious full-day outing — allow plenty of daylight and be ready to turn back if the weather closes in.
Distance: ~9km return • Time: 5–6 hours • Difficulty: Hard • Dogs: Not permitted
Nearest campground: O’Neills Creek Picnic Reserve, Gowrie Park
The steeper, more direct route up Mount Roland, starting near Claude Road village and climbing straight up the mountain’s face with sections of boulder-scrambling near the top. It’s the more technical of the two summit options and best suited to fit, experienced walkers with a head for exposure. Many walkers combine it with the O’Neills Track for a one-way traverse if they’ve arranged a car shuffle.
Distance: ~7km return • Time: 3–5 hours • Difficulty: Hard • Dogs: Not permitted
Nearest campground: O’Neills Creek Picnic Reserve, Gowrie Park
A varied walk on the edge of Sheffield Forest that climbs past the falls to a lookout with views back over the Kentish farmland toward Mount Roland. It’s a good middle-ground option — more of a workout than the falls walk alone, without the commitment of a summit day. The track can be muddy after rain, so decent footwear pays off.
Distance: ~7.7km return • Time: 2.5–3 hours • Difficulty: Moderate • Dogs: Check signage at trailhead (leashed dogs permitted on the lower Redwater Creek section)
Nearest campground: Lake Barrington free camping area, Kentish Park
A short, easy stroll along a section of the Tasmanian Trail linking Sheffield and Railton, following Redwater Creek past old stone walls left over from the district’s railway history to a pretty cascade. It’s an easy option for families or anyone short on time, and a nice leg-stretch on the way through to Cradle Mountain.
Distance: ~5km return • Time: 1–1.5 hours • Difficulty: Easy • Dogs: Permitted on lead
Nearest campground: Lake Barrington free camping area, Kentish Park
A short drive west of Sheffield, this walk drops through lush fern gully forest to a series of cascades on Forth Falls Creek, with occasional glimpses of Lake Barrington through the trees. It’s a shadier, cooler option for a warm day and a good one to pair with a paddle or picnic at the lake afterwards.
Distance: ~4km return • Time: 2–2.5 hours • Difficulty: Moderate • Dogs: Check signage at trailhead (Forth Falls State Reserve)
Nearest campground: Lake Barrington free camping area, Kentish Park
A gentle loop through an old forestry arboretum near Barrington, with a mix of native and introduced tree plantings dating back decades. It’s an easy, shaded walk that works well as a cool-down after tackling Mount Roland, or as a low-key option with young kids in tow.
Distance: ~2km loop • Time: 1 hour • Difficulty: Easy • Dogs: Permitted on lead
Nearest campground: Lake Barrington free camping area, Kentish Park
Most of the walks around Sheffield and Mount Roland sit outside the national park network, so there’s no Parks Pass required — though the Mount Roland Regional Reserve and Forth Falls State Reserve are both managed under separate rules, and dogs are not permitted anywhere within the Mount Roland Regional Reserve itself, including both summit tracks. Elsewhere in the district, on-lead dogs are generally welcome, but check trailhead signage since local rules can change.
Weather on Mount Roland turns quickly — the exposed upper sections catch wind and cloud even when Sheffield below is clear and sunny, and the boulder scrambling near the summit gets genuinely hazardous when wet. Check the forecast before committing to either summit track, carry warm layers regardless of the season, and start early enough to be off the mountain well before dark.