Mt Sturgeon (Wurgarri) Walk

This is an out-and-back walk, 7 km return, climbing from the Mount Sturgeon Walk Carpark to the true summit of Mount Sturgeon (Wurgarri) and coming back down the same track. Allow about 3 hours. It is graded strenuous, and a fair independent read is hard, around 8 out of 10. Distance figures vary slightly between measurements, with an exact track measure closer to 6.5 km return, so treat 7 km as the working number.

The lower slopes run through open woodland with scattered eucalypts and native shrubs, on a dirt path that starts climbing early and keeps at it. Ground gets rougher and rockier as you gain height, and the vegetation drops away into lower, wind-shaped cover. Around two thirds of the way up a false summit appears, which fools plenty of people, then a final rise takes you to the real high point. From up there the views open out over the surrounding ranges, the low-lying volcanic plains and Dunkeld, with the jagged profile of Mount Abrupt close by.

The climb is sustained rather than technical, but it asks for good fitness and confidence on uneven ground. Sources differ on the total ascent, with roughly 375 m quoted for the full climb, and it feels like it. Walkers regularly report the rock and path being slippery, and more than a few say hiking poles earned their keep. The track itself is generally well maintained. The upper section is open and exposed, so wind and sun both hit harder up there than they do in the woodland below. Park warnings for this area cover unstable cliffs, slippery rocks, and trees and limbs that may fall, so stay on the track and keep back from cliff edges near the top.

Weathered rocky outcrops and exposed sandstone-like ledges show up along the ascent and make good rest stops. Look for the Grampians Gum, a tree with a restricted natural range that grows on this walk. Nearer the summit the plants are stunted and low, shaped by the exposure.

The trailhead is the Mount Sturgeon Walk Carpark at Grampians Road and Victoria Valley Road, just outside Dunkeld. The approach is bitumen and fine for 2WD, and the car park is small, so an early arrival helps. The track start is a short step from the parking area. Ordinary dogs are not allowed on this walk; assistance dogs are handled under separate requirements. Camping, fires, vehicles, horses, generators and bicycles are all off limits here.

It is a straight up and straight back walk, so the scenery repeats on the way down and the reward is concentrated at the top. The false summit is a genuine morale dent. If you dislike steep, loose or slippery footing, or want a gentler grade with the same kind of view, this is not the walk to pick.