Cathedral Range access

[Earwig]

FROM CHOCKSTONE (CLIMBING FORUM) REGARDING ACCESS TO CATHEDRAL RANGES THIS SUMMER

Logging of the pines at Cooks Mill will be recommencing this summer. At some stage in the near future machinery will be forming an access track through the central Cooks Mill campground and down the Little River Tr. Then the cutting of pines will begin. Over the Christmas holiday period the only logging activity taking place will be pine cutting from the 10th Jan, and log carting from the 17th Jan - all logging works will cease over the Australia Day weekend Friday, Saturday Sunday and Monday.

The impacts logging will have on visitors are:
*restricted camping around the central Cooks Mill area (Tweed Spur will remain open)
*Closures to both Little River walking tr and St Bernards tr
*Sharing the road with logging trucks (after the 17th Jan, and possibly before Christmas)
* Machinery noise after the 10th of Jan and before Christmas.

As soon as PV have firm dates for when this work will actually begin they will inform us and I shall pass the info on to everyone. St Bernards Track will most likely remain open for sometime yet. However Little River track will close as soon as any works begin.

[byrnesy8]

Earwig,

Do you know how long the logging activity will take to finish?

cheers

Paul

[Earwig]

In a word, No. If I hear anything I'll post it here. Otherwise check PVs website.

[Earwig]

An update. Work on the road into the pine plantation started today (Jan 4th) and some camping at Cooks Mill is now closed.

[Earwig]

I heard that logging the pines started yesterday! Watch for the big trucks if you're heading to the Cathedrals.

[Diliff]

Last week, I did the loop from Ned's Gully onto the Ridge, camped at the Farmyard and headed back down and around via Cook's Mill. It was extremely quiet there - only saw two people in two days. Can confirm the Little River and St Bernards tracks were closed. I took the road down instead of St Bernard's track, but there was no logging whatsoever going on that day when I arrived at Cook's Mill, so I took my chances and walked past the barriers along the river track. The logging had definitely begun and left a really ugly scar on the side of the hill but most of the pine plantation is still there. If there is no logging going on, it seems perfectly safe to continue along the track, which was a bit muddy where the machinery had been, but otherwise clear.

[craigprice]

another time to try to avoid this area is any long weekend with good weather forecast, as with all popular places at a peak time. was a bit of a circus up there last labour day weekend with the crowds, but so were many other places with easy access.

[Earwig]

All tracks are open - the logging has finished for the winter. Plus a new track between Sugarloaf and Cooks Mill.

[whatevermortal]

Thanks Earwig, I was planning to take my first trip there for a tramp in the coming weeks. Any suggestions for a decent 3-5hr adventure?

[Earwig]

Cathedral Range has a couple of 3 to 5 hour loops. Starting from Cooks Mill camping area, the northern one heads along the river towards Neds Gully, then up to the Cathedral, along the range to the Farmyard and back down to the valley at Cooks Mill. You can also start and end at Neds if you like. The southern loop takes the track at the back of Cooks Mill camping area (next to where the road heads off up the hill) to Jawbones Carpark and the Farmyard and then heads south along the range to Sugarloaf (great section, can be slow going though) and back to Cooks Mill via the new track. Descent from Sugarloaf via The Canyon is steep but easier then The Cave Route, which is very steep.
The best option I reckon would be to start the northern loop from Cooks Mill but walk along the whole range to the Sugarloaf to make a 16km circuit taking 5-6 hours or more. You can always bail at the Farmyard and head back to Cooks Mill if time or energy are against you. As a compromise you can wander up the Jawbones from The Farmyard before you bail.

You can also wander from Neds Gully over Little Cathedral in 3 to 4 hours. Check my blog below for some info about that hike.

[whatevermortal]

Cheers Earwig, they all sound like great outings. Hopefully I'll score the upcoming public holiday off work and make a trek out there. Thanks for all the information, will browse your blog entries later tonight :]

[trickos]

The best option I reckon would be to start the northern loop from Cooks Mill but walk along the whole range to the Sugarloaf to make a 16km circuit taking 5-6 hours or more. You can always bail at the Farmyard and head back to Cooks Mill if time or energy are against you. As a compromise you can wander up the Jawbones from The Farmyard before you bail.

I recently completed this full circuit in approximately 7 hours. I started at Cooks Mill, walked through the pine forest logging area (pictured) to Neds Gully, then up and up to the Cathedrals (many lyrebirds in this section - great walking soundtrack) Great walking along the ridge line (pictured) with the beckoning Sentinal of Sugarloaf in the distance. Lunch at Farmyard when it started to rain and made the next section along the razorback very hard going but great scarmbling, however the cloud drifting over the ridge line made for some impressive viewing. The descent from Sugarloaf via the Canyon was steep and slippery but manageable to reach the new picnic area at Sugarloaf Saddle. The new Messmate track is a long drawn out affair and acts as nothing much more than an access track. Returned to Cooks Mill without seeing one other soul in the whole park. A big day out indeed.

[Earwig]

From Parks Victoria's website:

Logging of the pine block at Cooks Mill campground will recommence on 12 March 2013 after the labour day weekend. Whilst logging is taking place, Little River walking track and St Bernards walking track will be closed. Sections of Cooks Mill campground will also be closed. This will not apply for Easter or the first week of the Easter school holidays