Saturday 28/05/2022 Spring Creek Sawmill Campground – Lightning Track – Mount Samaria Track – Mount Samaria – Mount Samaria Road
Mount Samaria State Park, VICTORIA
Taungurung Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
After completing our Saturday morning parkrun in Euroa, we cleaned up, had breakfast and entrusted Siri to get us to Mount Samaria State Park. We came in from the northern end and found the gravel road to be of good quality, except for a couple of potholes sections which were marked. The road is narrow in sections and could make passing another car rather interesting in a few places.
Max elevation: 976 m
Total climbing: 708 m
Total descent: -703 m
Average speed: 4.13 km/h
Total time: 03:48:27
We arrived at Spring Creek Sawmill Campground around Midday and had lunch before heading off. The Lightning Track is signposted and heads out the back of the campsite.
The track is marked with red triangular track markers placed in trees along the way. These are needed in a few sections as the track is much more like a footpad most of the way, much of it is quite grassy, at times overgrown with fallen trees to negotiate at times. There is evidence of track work in places where fallen trees have been cleared but there were half a dozen or so freshly fallen trees along the way that are yet to be dealt with. There are also sections where shoulder-high ferns overhang the track.
The forest offers a lot of variety in tree, shrub and fungi species. Tall eucalyptuses dominated some areas. There were sections of almost glowing lime-green moss covering rocks. Some parts of the track were quite rocky making progress fairly slow.
As we crossed the saddle before Mount Samaria mist started rolling through the trees obscuring any views to the north. On reaching the summit trig, the views were obscured except for a small section of farmland visible out to the east. As the walking had been slow to this point we decided to head straight down to Mount Samaria Road and follow it back to camp. This was a good decision in the end as I was feeling unusually fatigued and by the time we got back it was almost dark.
Sunday 29/05/2022
Mount Samaria summit – short route
Max elevation: 789 m
Total climbing: 216 m
Total descent: -216 m
Average speed: 3.75 km/h
Total time: 01:49:39
We decided to return to the summit after yesterday’s attempt when it was shrouded in cloud. We awoke to a clear cold morning (about 2C degrees) and decided to get there the quickest route possible.
After a short drive from our campground, we parked on the side of Samaria Road. The sign indicated a 2.5km return trip so we headed off on the leaf-littered path. This track gradually climbs up through a stunning giant eucalyptus forest. The trail is strewn with bark, leaves and a lot of wombat droppings. There must be lots of these marsupials in this forest!
In no time at all we were close to the summit. We had views today and with fog still settled in the valley it was very picturesque. We returned to the car via the same route.
The local flora, fauna, geology and history (ChatGPT)
Mount Samaria State Park, located in Victoria, Australia, is known for its diverse and unique flora, fauna, geology and history.
Flora: The park is home to a variety of flora species, including eucalyptus trees, acacias, ferns, and flowering shrubs. These species are adapted to the park’s varying altitudes, soils and microclimates.
Fauna: The park is also a habitat for a variety of fauna, including marsupials like the sugar glider and the common brushtail possum, as well as bird species like the yellow-tailed black cockatoo and the superb lyrebird.
Geology: The park is known for its unique geology, with features like granite cliffs, boulder formations and exposed rock formations. This geology is a result of volcanic activity and erosion over millions of years.
History: Mount Samaria State Park has a rich cultural history, with evidence of Indigenous occupation in the area for thousands of years. European settlers arrived in the area in the mid-19th century, and the park was established as a state park in the early 20th century. Today, the park is a popular destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts and is known for its scenic beauty and opportunities for hiking, camping, and birdwatching.
Clickable icons on a world map which open the related trip report
A detailed, searchable trip list with links to reports, photo galleries and other content
