This winter-only snowshoe walk starts from the Smiggins Centre and follows a snow pole line and cross-country ski trail to Perisher Valley. Starting along the road, you soon follow a snow pole line up and behind Mt Piper. There are some wide vistas over Perisher Creek Valley along sections of this walk. There are some great places to stop and just wander around and enjoy the snow. A free shuttle bus service operates during the ski season between Perisher and Smiggins.
Cross sectional view of the Mount Piper Trail bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Mount Piper Trail bushwalking track
Overview of this walks Grading - Based on the AS 2156.1 - 2001
These details are new. This new feature still requires more testing and refining. Please use the 'Walker Feedback' for report specific issues. Please e-mail Matt if you have any general comments. Hope you find it helpful.
Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.
Length
5km
Time
2 hrs 45 mins
.
Grade 4/6
Track: Hard
AS 2156.1
Gradient
Short steep hills (3/6)
Quality of track
Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Signs
Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Experience Required
Moderate level of bushwalking experience recommended (4/6)
Weather
Forecast, unforecast storms and severe weather may impact on navigation and safety (4/6)
Infrastructure
Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
*This summary of grading information is new and still in testing
Some more detail of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining the grading looking at sections of the walk. Gradient
Around 3.7km of this walk has short steep hills, whilst the remaining 1.5km has gentle hills with occasional steps.
Quality of track
Around 4.3km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles, whilst the remaining 900m follows a smooth and hardened path.
Signs
Around 4.3km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 900m is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
2.5km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience and another 1.8km requires a leader a with moderate level of bushwalking experience. The remaining (900m) requires no previous bushwalking experience.
Weather
3.1km of this walk is affected by forecast, unforecast storms and severe weather events that may impact on navigation and safety and another 1.2km is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety. The remaining (900m) is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 4.3km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 900m is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
Walk with a club - Enjoy bushwalking and make new friends (community announcement) The NPA is more than just a bushwalking club. We are a conservation group that helps protect natural places As a member you can join any of our 1000 guided walks each year and enjoy our quaterly Magazine 'Nature NSW'. Membership fee is just $65 per year, concession fee also available. Learn More...
This walk follows an over-snow only route. During the warmer months, this walk crosses important and sensitive bogs that can be significantly damaged, even by light footed walkers. Please only walk this track when it is well covered with snow.
Share the Snow
Alt = 1724 m
Here are some tips to help you share the snow with skiers. Please avoid snowshoeing on ski trails, whether groomed or ungroomed - it is fine to walk right next to the ski trail. When crossing a ski trail, please do so in a single file and on a flat, more visible, section. These tips aim to minimise trail ruts and collisions. Visit Wilderness Sports for snowshoe hire.
Smiggins Centre
Alt = 1686 m
Smiggins Centre is the central eating and rest area for this resort during the ski season. Inside are toilets, food shops, and other various shops (ski, clothing, gift and photographic) . At the front of the building is the shuttle bus shelter, where a free bus operates to and from Perisher Valley and the car parks. Outside the ski season, these facilities are closed.
(0 km)
Smiggins Centre
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Smiggins Gate on Link Rd Walk: Easy - road
Length = 347 m
Time = 7 mins
Climb = 15 m
Descent = 0 m
From the shuttle bus stop[1] out the front of the Smiggins Centre[2], this walk heads up Link Road, further into the resort[3]. The walk continues up the road, past the long car park[4] (on your left) with some views over the ski fields[5]. Just past the top end of the car park[6], the road rises a little more steeply to come to an intersection near a stone electricity building[7] and a yellow gate[8] on Link Road (on your left, locked in winter).
(0.35 km)
Smiggins Gate on Link Rd
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Powerline terminus Track: Moderate - undefined
Length = 595 m
Time = 11 mins
Climb = 21 m
Descent = 0 m
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the blue and white arrows on the 'Perisher Range cross-country ski trail' sign[9], past the stone electricity building[10] and under the high tension power lines[11]. The walk then continues straight ahead, following the white, blue and orange arrows along the snow-pole line[12] (and snow fence). After about 260m, the walk comes to another large metal 'Perisher Range cross-country ski trail' sign[13]. Here the walk turns left and follows the 'Mount Piper Trail' arrow[14]. The walk now follows the snow-pole line with the orange arrows[15], crossing Link Rd[16] after about 40m. About 60m after this, the walk bends sharply left[17] and winds up the ridge to where the track bends right, coming to the terminus of some high-tension power lines[18].
(0.94 km)
Powerline terminus
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Perisher Creek Valley View Track: Hard - undefined
Length = 1.8 km
Time = 40 mins
Climb = 99 m
Descent = -57 m
Continue straight: From the power line terminus[19], this walk heads uphill to follow the snow-poles that run roughly parallel to the power lines[20] (the power lines are now down to your right). The snow-pole line bends left, leading gently up a wide ridge[21] and away from the power lines, through the scattering of snow gums. The walk heads towards Mt Piper[22] (with the large, flat, green passive repeater at the top) and about 300m after leaving the power lines, the track turns right and follows parallel to the out-of-bounds fence[23] (on your left) for a short time. About 100m further past this fence, the snow-pole line leads to a rocky highpoint[24], with a clear view over the valley to your right. The track then leads down a dip[25] and over a rise, winding through the dead snow gums and across a wide valley[26] for about 300m, before climbing up to a ridge line on the other side. Here the snow poles lead left[27] up the ridge for about 130m before bending sharply right[28] and leading down the other side of this ridge. Over the next 800m, the snow-pole line leads generally down to cross two wide and open gulleys[29] and come to a point where the track bends sharply left[30] again. There is a view from here, looking over the rocks straight ahead and extending down along Perisher Creek valley and the scar of Link Rd[31].
Perisher Creek Valley View
Alt = 1764 m
North-west of Mt Piper on the Mt Piper trail are several wide views looking down Perisher Creek valley. Whilst enjoying the snow-covered vista, you will be able to look down along the valley to the junction of Link Road and Guthega Road, and to the left, you can spot the road linking Blue Cow and Perisher Valley.
(2.74 km)
Perisher Creek Valley View
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Interceptor bridge intersection Track: Hard - undefined
Length = 1.28 km
Time = 24 mins
Climb = 15 m
Descent = -69 m
Veer left: From the valley view[32], this walk heads south, following the snow-pole line over the rise[33]. As the walk leads down the other side, there is a view over Perisher Valley[34]. The walk continues downhill for about 700m, where the track mostly flattens out in the valley. There are some buildings to your right, over on the other side of Perisher Creek - the first is the sewage treatment plant[35], and the rest are lodges[36]. After about 400m walking along the mostly flat section beside the creek[37], the snow poles lead past a timber fence[38] to find a ski-run (linking Perisher and Smiggins). Here the walk turns right to cross the bridge[39], then heads about 50m beside this trail to find an intersection with another snow-pole line[40] (on your left, with white arrow markers).
(4.02 km)
Interceptor bridge intersection
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Bridge on Blue Cow Link Rd Track: Moderate - undefined
Length = 627 m
Time = 11 mins
Climb = 10 m
Descent = -4 m
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk heads south following the snow-pole line[41], keeping the main ski runs up to your right. The track crosses a few small creeks[42] (covered in snow during winter) and after about 300m, this walk tends right to find an over-snow-vehicle route[43], marked by orange poles with blue tips[44]. Here the walk turns left and follows this route downhill and finds an intersection at the bottom of the 'Telemark Tbar'[45]. The walk continues straight, passing 'Murphy's Crossing'[46] (bridge on your left) to come to an intersection with Perisher Blue Cow Link Road & ski run just before another bridge[47].
(4.65 km)
Bridge on Blue Cow Link Rd
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Perisher Valley Skitube Walk: Easy - road
Length = 553 m
Time = 9 mins
Climb = 7 m
Descent = -2 m
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk heads across the bridge[48] over Perisher Creek. The road bends right[49] then after about 150m, it passes the tobogganing area[50] (on your left) and a cross-country skiing sign[51] before leading down to the edge of a car park[52]. Here the walk stays right and heads around the edge of the car park, just past the bridge to 'Perisher Centre'[53], and arrives at the Shuttle Bus shelter[54] outside the Skitube Terminal building[55][56].
Perisher Valley Village
Alt = 1720 m
Perisher Valley village is centred about the Skitube[57] building, Perisher Centre[58] and the National Park Visitor Centre[59]. Just outside the Skitube is the shelter for the shuttle bus service to Smiggins. Perisher Centre is accessed by the long metal bridge - inside, you will find food shops, toilets and skiing-related shops. Inside the Skitube building is the train station, kiosk, medical centre and some other services. The National Park Visitor Centre provides a warm shelter, toilets, seats and information about the park. Most of these services only operate during the ski season, but the NPWS visitor centre is open most of the year and a food outlet is generally open for lunch Monday-Friday.
Fire Danger This walk passes Monaro Alpine fire area which currently has a NONE rating and No Ban in place. (Downloaded 24 minutes ago) Please Note: Each park may have its own fire ban status, this rating is based on information from the RFS and BOM.
Region: South Coast & Highlands Park feesCampingFacilities Current Park Closure information for Kosciuszko National Park Closure information last downloaded Thursday 23rd of May 2013 05:00 AM CLOSED AREAS Bridge washed away on Buddong Falls Track - Buddong Falls track
Storms have washed away the bridge on the Buddong Falls Walking Track and a diversion is now in place.
Land slips have closed the track below the upper falls meaning there is no access to the lower falls until further notice.
The upper falls can still be viewed.
Caution is required on the Power line access road due to land slips.
Access to Buddong Falls via the State Forest road coming from Batlow is not recommended.
Olsen's Road/Geehi Dam Road Closed
Olsens Road/Geehi Dam Road is closed due to ongoing road works until Tuesday 8th October 2013. The Tin Mines Barn in the Pilot Wilderness Area closed due to construction
The Tin Mines and its immediate surrounds will be closed to the general public from Monday 3 December until 5pm Friday 12 April.
The NSW NPWS along with Illawara Alpine Club and Kosciuszko Huts Association will be undertaking reconstruction work of the fireplace and chimney of the Tin Mines Barn during this time. Note: construction vehicles will be using the management trail between the Alpine Way and Tin Mines.
The adjoining Managers Hut (Carters Hut) and its fireplace is still available for use.
Hiking near Sydney 
NEW
Track: Hard
1 km
not too much longer now :)