Thursday 23/02/2023 McKillops Road – McKillops Bridge – Silver Mine Track
Snowy River National Park, VICTORIA
Bidawal, Gunaikurnai, Monaro Ngarigo, and Nindi-Ngudjam Ngarigu Monero Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
Faced with a hot day a long walk wasn’t very tempting. Instead, we headed off along the nature trail which starts next to McKillops Bridge with a view of walking along the Silver Mine Track until we good some views of the Snowy River from above.
Max elevation: 289 m
Total climbing: 169 m
Total descent: -158 m
Average speed: 4.67 km/h
Total time: 01:19:32
The signposted start to the nature trail had us walking through a run-down track that disappeared before we had ventured very far. We sighted no information signs or anything else to suggest this trail has had any maintenance work done on it in years.
After giving up on the nature trail we headed uphill through the bush towards the Silver Mine Track. The Silver Mine Track, at least in its initial stages, is a black-rated 4WD track open for those with suitable vehicles. We were happy to walk. Walking along the track provided several good views back to McKillops Bridge through the trees.
View west along the Snowy River from Deddick Track
We went as far as the first major spur. From here there are some tree-interrupted views down along the Snowy River.
On another cooler day this would be worth completing are there looks to be far better views from further along and the opportunity for a few swims in the Snowy River as well.
Information on National Parks signage along the way
The many twists and turns of the Snowy River reflect the nature of the underlying rock the river gradually cuts through on its route from the mountains to the sea.
Mackillop Bridge is located on a major feature of the Snowy River known as the Lower Turnback. Here the river twists almost back on itself as it is stopped from pursuing the direct line to the coast by the resistant rock strata of Mount Foster.
In this area, quartz reefs have been injected into the landscape by volcanic activity bringing with them deposits of minerals including copper, lead, silver and gold.
The discovery of these deposits brought mining activity to the area around 1900. Early hopes that in Mount Foster / Mount Deddick field would equal the richness of Broken Hill’s ore deposits however proved unfounded and the region was spared the impacts of major mining development.
Today the Silver Mine Walking Track leading off from Mackillop Bridge explores some of the relics of this mining activity.
Prior to the construction of McKillops Bridge in the 1930s, this area was known as McKellars Crossing after the ferryman who worked there. His ferry provided the only all-weather crossing of the Snowy River between Dalgety and Orbost and was extensively used by stockmen moving their animals between the Monaro and the Gelantipy Highlands
Information on National Parks signage along the way
Silver Mine Track
Explore relics from early 1900s silver mining operations adjacent to the Snowy River in this 15.5km loop walk from here at MacKillop Bridge. The walk is recommended as an overnight trip. The path is broad, though not a highway, well graded and carefully perched where it sidles steep hillsides.
The track passes through quite extensive stands of native White Cypress-pine (Callitris columellaris). This is one of the distinctive botanical features of this section of the Snowy River. The understorey is sparse throughout, with crags and bluffs giving a distinctly rugged appearance to the landscape.
The broad ridge separating the Deddick and Snowy River valleys provides truly spectacular views of the rivers and surrounding mountains.
The Pilot and Mt Cobberas can be seen to the northwest and Mt Tingaringy on the state border is the big plateau to the east. Nearby peaks include the massive Mt Bulla Bulla and the triple-topped Mt Deddick.
The first section of the Silver Mine Walk follows the Deddic Trail (a fire access road). This may be joined below the northern end of MacKillop Bridge or about 500m along the main road to Deddick on its southern side.
The trick climbs fairly steadily and soon affords views of the river. The bridge and surrounding peaks… About 2km from the bridge you climb to a junction with the Snowy River Nature Walk. (For a moderately easy day walk, you could turn off the Deddick Trail here and follow the walking track down to the river and return along the bank to the bridge.)
To continue on the Silver Mine Walk, keep to the Deddick Trail as it drops a little into the valley of the Deddick Rifer and passes close by adjacent farmland. Soon the climbing resumes onto a long spur with good views of the Deddick Valley.
The track swings southwestwards and after a further 2km to reaches the northern edge of Sugarloaf (Grid reference 251910 Murinal sheet) which affords the most expansive view from any of the lookouts, as far as the Pilot and Mt Cobberas. Here turn sharply to the right to follow a lesser vehicle track along a narrow spur.
The loss in height is sudden and almost continuously steep, past the various silver mine sites down to the river. Walking over the sand and boulders along the river bank is not difficult. Continue for just over 1km to a small creek junction distinguished by a rocky knob above the eastern side of the confluence (GR242942).
Climb up the river bank, with the stream on your left, to reach a campsite close to the walking track. Continue along the track arid soon pass the ruins of a log cabin on the right. The track closely follows the stream bed for 1km to the start of a steep climb up to the crest of a lightly wooded spur.
Before continuing towards MacKillop Bridge, you should be sure to walk northwards from this point along the slender spur for about 2:10m. The going is rocky, but generally open to a breathtaking vantage point, with the river almost directly beneath you and Mts Bulla Bulla and Tingaringy providing dramatic contras beyond. Rejoin the Silver Mine Track which winds down the flan of the spur, crosses a gully and climbs in easy stages to meet the Deddick Trail about 2km from MacKillop Bridge.
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