Mt Warning Summit Trail

Wollumbin National Park

MOUNT WARNING SUMMIT TRAIL IS NOW PERMANENTLY CLOSED.

A trail to the summit of Mt Warning offers beautiful 360 degree views of the Great Dividing Range from the peak. Lots of steps, can be slippery. A steep climb to the summit using chains, but the views from the top are worth it!

Lookouts
Toilets
Scrambling or Climbing
No Dogs Permitted
No Camping Permitted
Rainforest
1156m
Maximum Elevation
730m
Total Climb

The Mt Warning Summit Trail is currently closed

See details on the closure from NSW National Parks here: https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/-/media/visitor/files/pdf/wollumbin-summit-track-closure-extended-nov-2020.pdf

Getting there:

You can drive to the base of Mt Warning in a normal vehicle by following roads out of Murwillumbah.

Wollumbin National Park is located 12km south-west of Murwillumbah, off Kyogle Road.

From Murwillumbah: take the Kyogle Rd towards Uki. Around 10km from Murwillumbah, before you reach Uki, turn right into Mt Warning Road. Continue 3.5km to the end of Mt Warning Rd, where you’ll reach Breakfast Creek car park in the National Park.

Maps:

Mount Warning

Route/Trail notes:

The walk up is through subtropical and temperate rainforest, wet sclerophyll forest and heath shrubland. The final 10% of the journey involves scrambling up a rock face using chains as a guide and help. The top of the mountain has well established seating and lookout areas that have 360 degree views

Permits/Costs:

None.

Other References/Comments:

Mount Warning Hike - track notes

Comments

It was rewarded when got to the summit.

Penny on 11 Jul, 2019

Such a good day for My Warning. We took 1:34 to get up through the clouds then 1:50 on the way down. Though we waited for some people we were helping out down the rock wall then stopped to check on a couple we'd been talking to. She twisted her ankle and was waiting for paramedics.

Overall great day, nice weather and no falls 😊

Garth on 3 Jul, 2019

Hiked in Winter (started 4:15am, reached top ~30mins before sunrise). It was pretty cold - I wore 2-3 layers most of the way up and definitely was chilly sitting on the summit for ~45mins. Had been raining the last few days so a lot of the trail was waterlogged and slippery. Having done this hike before with handheld torches, I recommend getting a head torch if you are planning to hike for sunrise to keep your hands free, especially for the final rock scramble to the top. If you're stopping for a rest, turn your torch off and see if you can spot some glow worms! I have seen them both times I have climbed, and they glow like bright blue stars in the rocks.

Jane Mousley on 30 Jun, 2019

Fantastic hike; challenging, but definitely worth it.
Once you get past the never-ending flight of steps at the start of the Summit Track, it levels out to a more gentle upward gradient and zigzags further up toward the summit, making the hike more enjoyable (especially if you find the steps challenging). There are a number of well positioned wooden benches at parts, which make for great rest stops!
The views are amazing as you get higher, and of course if you're climbing the mountain during winter months it also gets very cold the further up you get, so make sure you take warm clothing! It was 15 degrees when we left the car park and I was unsure whether or not I would need my jacket, but I'm so glad I took it because when I checked the temp nearer the top it was only 6 degrees and we could see our breath!
The rock scrambling at the top of the mountain is both exciting and scary - if you're not a fan of heights, like me! I certainly wouldn't say it was easy, but definitely achievable once you get your mind focused. There is a particularly steep section which really challenged me, but if you push on it does get easier and reaching the summit makes it all worth while. I found going back down the rocks easier than going up, although going back down the track - and particularly all those steps - was more of a challenge with jelly legs and a full bladder.
***NOTE: Make sure you visit the toilets before starting the hike, as there are very few safe pee spots along the way (and for gods sake, if you DO pee along the way, don't leave your dirty toilet paper lying right next to the track! Gross people!)

Sarah on 23 Jun, 2019

Challenging yet rewarding.

Georgia Keogh on 23 Jun, 2019

January 2019

Kmacd on 24 May, 2019

Picked today, for my fifth hike up Warning in 45years. Saw the top from Wooyung, clear, so off sped.
Quite a few cars, in the car park, for what is now, turning out to be a drizzly day.
Started off, getting a good pace, passed a young couple, with a special package in his backpack...his 2yr old son. I got up there, amazed at the condition of the track....great, in about an hour and a half, with the young couple with the fella saying he had about 20kgs in the backpack, arriving about 20minutes later....slight fit I would think, for both of them.
Quite abit cloudy, a few breaks for some of us to take some photeys. Nice chats with everyone. On the way back, showers started to set in, for myself, and the young couple arriving back around 1330, with people still setting off....mad, with the darkness only a few hours away.
Always enjoy going up this mountain.

Legs eleven - Dave on 14 May, 2019

Thoroughly enjoyed this walk on Mothers Day with all five of my children and the older childrens partners and we even carried my one year old grand daughter up to the summit. The rock scramble with chains was my favourite part.

Sherry77 on 12 May, 2019

I've been up a few times before, solo and with others. This is a great hike to work on your fitness. This time, we went up for sunrise. The higher we got, the thicker the cloud got, making the chain climb a bit wet, slippery but still fun. Up on the main lookout it was windy and freezing, however the next lookout was more sheltered and the sunrise was still visable. Sadly there was a huge bag of rubbish left up top... come on people, look after Our Planet!

rainbowshlee on 15 Apr, 2019

A really good climb, not too hard but the top 100m is very steep so be careful with kids - or just be careful full stop! Views from the top are amazing. Do not climb late in the day as it gets dark quickly under the tree cover. And take plenty of water in the summer- you will need it!

Ross on 25 Mar, 2019

Love this trek!

Tony Capitano on 5 Mar, 2019

The NSW government is closing Mt Warning Summit Trail (Wollumbin) perminately to us unless we protest!

Read their article here:

https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/-/media/visitor/files/pdf/wollumbin-summit-track-closure-extended-nov-2020.pdf?la=en&hash=32BFEEAAA37A154972C88DC9F05EC017AD71A9BE

I strongly encourage eveyone to send an email, call or write a letter and protest to:

Environment, Energy and Science Group,
Department of Planning, Industry and Environment,
Locked Bag 5022, Parramatta NSW 2124.
Phone: 1300 361 967 (environment and national parks enquiries);
email: info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Please share to make people aware.

Michelle Silipo on Mar, 2019

Tiring but an enjoyable hike!

Fat Mol on 27 Jan, 2019

There is really small writing on one of the entry boards that says climbing the summit is against the wishes of the Bundjalung Elders. I wish I had known that before I did it!

Took me about 5 hours total, I had heaps of resting stops on the way up because I'm not very fit and steps are my sworn enemy. Eventually I made the (seemingly infinite) scramble to the top and the views were pretty outstanding. On the way a whipbird called right in front of me, that was nice. My legs were jelly by the time I got back to the carpark.

Please don't leave your toilet paper on the trail, take it with you or get a pee rag!

Le on 23 Jan, 2019

A wonderful hike with views that are well and truly worth it!
Loved the chain section but my knees certainly felt it on the way down.
Avoid the toilets at all cost (foul smelling- worse than any drop toilet I've ever used).

Elizabeth Bate on 2 Jan, 2019

Made it up for sunrise. Amazing hike with a fairly clear night and an amazing view of the stars. Definitely pause at the helicopter rescue spots to take in the view, well worth it. Fast moving clouds on top made it a very special sunrise, quite a unique experience with the sunrise slipping in and out of view of the clouds. Can see why it’s called the cloud catcher.
Temp dropped rapidly on summit (in peak summer) to about 16-17C, with the clouds providing some light rain. I was glad I packed the gortex jacket as it definitely came in handy, even though I was sweating in shorts and t-shirt up to that point.
As has been mentioned below, it’s quite a gradual ascent, with the most difficult bit being the rock scramble just below the summit. Plenty of foot and hand holds, and the chain, make this fairly straight forward.
There is a half way point to gauge your time V distance left to summit, and a number of rest points with chairs along the way. Just take your time and go at your own pace.
I wore North Face Edurus TR’s that gave me plenty of grip and support. Ankle boots aren’t necessarily needed but will provide greater support, although consider you will need good grip for the rock scramble as well, especially if there is rain. Plenty of trail runners were bounding through on their descent.
I drank about half a L of water, but packed 2L. Will depend on time of day, but the rainforest canopy provides a lot of relief from the sun. Would only pack 1L if returning again.
If you’re new to hiking, go and do something like Purling Brook falls first to get an idea of how your fitness holds up to the hike. I’d suggest doing Purling Brook anti-clockwise so that you have to ascend the stair section back to the carpark. Keep in mind that Mt Warning is more difficult than Purling Brook but the stair section provides a similar grade to what you’ll find when you summit Mt Warning (sans the rock scramble of course).
I stayed at the Mt Warning Rainforest Park so that I could get a good nights rest before waking at 3am to leave for the sunrise summit push. Unpowered camp site was $40 for the night. Park was well kept, situated amongst the rainforest about a 5 min drive to the carpark.
Started at 3:39am AEDT and summited in 1:37.
Descended at 6:15am AEDT and made it to the carpark in 1:34.
Relatively good fitness being a regular runner (around 15kms a week).

Paul B on 2 Jan, 2019

Pretty tough hike up mostly because every single step is a step up all the way up and a step down all the way down. So if you're not young or super fit it will be a challenge for the calves! It's a fairly cool walk up though so that helps. I would recommend taking an electrolyte drink if you are prone to build up in the legs like I am, as my legs were like jelly the whole way down slowing me down. My favorite part was the rock chain climb at the top. A disappointingly amount of rubbish up the top underneath the platforms with fruit scraps scattered around. So many banana peels, apple cores and watermelon husks everywhere. It's really disgraceful. The drawback to this hike is the amount of people doing it. We saw at least 100 people. We did Mt Cordeux 7 days later and we saw 8 people - much better!

BeckNWood on 31 Dec, 2018

Amazing, enjoyable hike! The last 400m rock scramble was very easy as there's a chain and plenty of foot holds.

isa09 on 4 Dec, 2018

Great hike (about 5 hrs return, and exhausting at the beginning), with an easy scramble at the end. Beautiful 360 views.

Rob on 10 Nov, 2018

Such an amazing hike! I would do it again in an instant. Sunrise was perfection 😍👌🏼

Kirst on 24 Oct, 2018

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