Geehi huts walking track

Khancoban area in Kosciuszko National Park

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Overview

Explore Geehi huts walking track by foot, bike, horse or 4WD. This short track, near Khancoban, boasts historic huts, river crossings and magnificent views of the Snowy Mountains in Kosciuszko National Park.

Accessibility
Hard
Distance
6km return
Time suggested
2 - 3hrs
Grade
Grade 3
Entry fees
Park entry fees apply
What to
bring
Hat, sunscreen, raincoat, snacks, drinking water, sturdy shoes, clothes for all weather conditions, binoculars, bike repair kit
Please note
  • Be prepared for several river crossings. Don’t attempt to cross when river water is deep or fast flowing.
  • Drivers please watch out for walkers, bikes and horses. Riders please give way to walkers.
  • For a 10km loop bike or 4WD adventure, continue around 1.5km past Old Geehi Hut to the Geehi Walls trail junction. Turn right and follow to Alpine Way which will take you back to Geehi Flats campground.
  • An optional detour between Keebles Hut and Old Geehi Hut will take you to Doctors Hut. Follow the sign on the south side of the river, and cross to the northern riverbank to reach the hut. It’s around 350m each way.

This easy walk, 4WD route, mountain bike or horse ride starts from Geehi Hut at Geehi Flats campground, just off Alpine Way. It’s the first of 3 historic huts you’ll visit, built from smooth, grey river stones as shelter or fishing retreats for graziers and prospectors.

From here, wade cross Swampy Plain River to join the unsealed 4WD trail on the other side. If you prefer to keep your feet dry, cross the bridge on Alpine Way to reach the trail on the southern riverbank. You’ll need to add an extra 2km.

Follow the trail downstream to picturesque Keebles Hut at Behrs Flat campground. Step inside the hut to connect with Snowy Mountains history. Outside, feast your eyes on majestic views of the rugged Western Fall, the steepest part of the Australian Alps. It’s especially stunning at sunset, and in winter when snow covers the Main Range.

The trail continues behind Keebles Hut and crosses the river again to reach Old Geehi campground, where you’ll find Old Geehi Hut. The crystal clear river is a great spot to cool off your feet on a hot day, or try trout fishing. Return the same way.

Why not camp at Geehi Flats, Behrs Flat or Old Geehi campground to make the most of this area’s many adventures.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Map


Map


Map legend

Map legend

Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this area.

Local alerts

For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/walking-tracks/geehi-huts-walking-track/local-alerts

General enquiries

Park info

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Geehi huts walking track.

Track grading

Features of this track

Distance

6km return

Time

2 - 3hrs

Quality of markings

Sign posted

Experience required

No experience required

Gradient

Gentle hills

Steps

No steps

Quality of path

Formed track, some obstacles

Getting there and parking

Geehi huts walking track is in the Khancoban area of Kosciuszko National Park. To get there:

From Khancoban:

  • Take Alpine Way south for 36km
  • Turn right at Geehi Flats campground and picnic area, just before the Swampy Plain River bridge crossing.

From Jindabyne:

  • From Snowy Region Visitor Centre, take Kosciuszko Road west for 3km
  • Turn left onto Alpine Way and follow around 76km
  • Cross the bridge over the Swamp Plain River and turn left at Geehi Flats campground and picnic area.

Road quality

  • Check weather and road conditions before setting out. After heavy rain Swampy Plains River crossing may be impassable.
  • It's compulsory for all vehicles to carry snow chains in winter, between June and October long weekends, on Alpine Way.

  • Mixture of sealed and unsealed roads

Vehicle access

  • 2WD vehicles

Weather restrictions

  • 4WD required in wet weather

Parking

Parking is available at Geehi Flats campground and picnic area.

Facilities

  • Toilets, picnic tables and fire rings are available along this track at Geehi Flats campground and picnic area, Behrs Flat campground, and Old Geehi campground.
  • Rubbish bins are not available, so please take your rubbish with you when leaving.

Toilets

  • Non-flush toilets

Picnic tables

Barbecue facilities

  • Fire rings (bring your own firewood)

Carpark

Maps and downloads

Safety messages

Alpine safety

Alpine areas present special safety issues. Conditions can be extreme and may change rapidly, particularly in winter. It’s important to be prepared and find out how to stay safe in alpine areas.

Bushwalking safety

If you're keen to head out on a longer walk or a backpack camp, always be prepared. Read these bushwalking safety tips before you set off on a walking adventure in national parks.

Cycling safety

Hundreds of cyclists head to our national parks for fun and adventure. If you're riding your bike through a national park, read these mountain biking and cycling safety tips.

Riders please give way to walkers and horse riders. Stay on formed trails.

Mobile safety

Dial Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. Download the Emergency Plus app before you visit, it helps emergency services locate you using your smartphone's GPS. Please note there is limited mobile phone reception in this park and you’ll need mobile reception to call Triple Zero (000).

River and lake safety

The aquatic environment around rivers, lakes and lagoons can be unpredictable. If you're visiting these areas, take note of these river and lake safety tips.

When crossing rivers, beware of slippery rocks and fast currents. Don’t attempt to cross when river water is deep or fast flowing.

Accessibility

Disability access level - hard

  • 4WD vehicles can access the 3 historic hut areas at Geehi Flats campground, Behrs Flat, and Old Geehi campground. Wheechairs, prams, and visitors with limited mobility will need assistance on grassy, uneven ground in these areas.
  • Geehi Flats campground is fully wheelchair-accessible and has wheelchair-accessible toilet facilities.

Hard access is via steps or a steep slope, or you'll have to move across a rough surface with obstacles such as potholes, tree roots, and rocks. Assistance will be necessary.

Permitted

Camp fires and solid fuel burners

You’ll need to bring your own firewood. Campfires and solid fuel burners may be subject to temporary bans during summer fire season. Gas or fuel stoves are recommended.

Camping

Cycling

Fishing

You can fish in rivers and streams between the October and June long weekends. A current NSW recreational fishing licence is required to fish in all waters. Fishing in dams and lakes is permitted year-round, but some waterways may close temporarily or have restrictions. Refer to the NSW Recreational Freshwater Fishing Guide for information.

Horses

Prohibited

Drones

Flying a drone for recreational purposes is prohibited in this area. Drones may affect public enjoyment, safety and privacy, interfere with park operations, or pose a threat to wildlife. See the Drones in Parks policy.

This area may be a declared Drone Exclusion Zone, or may be subject to Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) rules for flying near airports, aerodromes and helicopter landing sites. See CASA's Drone Flyer Rules.

Commercial filming and photography

Commercial filming or photography is prohibited without prior consent. You must apply for permission and contact the local office.

Gathering firewood

Generators

Pets

Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.

If you're transiting through a national park or reserve on a public road, pets must remain within the vehicle.

Smoking

NSW national parks are no smoking areas. The alpine resorts of Thredbo, Perisher, Charlotte Pass, Selwyn, Ski Rider and Kosciuszko Tourist Park are exempt, though some commercial and outdoor places within these resorts may have no smoking areas.

Visitor centre

  • Khancoban Visitor Centre
    2 Scammel Street, Khancoban NSW 2642
  • Winter (June to September): Open 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 2pm on weekends. Rest of year: Open 9am to 4pm daily. Closed Christmas Day.
  • 02 6070 8400

Learn more

Geehi huts walking track is in Khancoban area. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

Unique landscapes

Olsens lookout, Kosciuszko National Park. Photo: Murray Vanderveer © OEH

The Western Fall of Kosciuszko National Park’s Main Range is the highest and steepest part of the Snowy Mountains. Mount Townsend and Abbot Peak block the view to Mount Kosciuszko, but their towering, rocky peaks are a breathtaking backdrop to the Geehi Plains, 1600m below. The mountain range captures the westerly air stream allowing tall mountain ash forest to grow in the moist soil below the treeline. 

The man-made landscapes of the Snowy Hydro Scheme, one of the civil engineering wonders of the modern world, are also on show. Murray 1 and 2 Power Stations are close to Khancoban, while the scenic drive to Kiandra travels across the very top of the Tumut Pond Reservoir wall.

  • Scammells Ridge lookout Scammells Ridge lookout, 1000m above sea level, offers marvellous views of the rugged Western Fall of the Main Range, and makes a scenic picnic spot just off Alpine Way.

Historic alpine huts

A man walks towards Bradleys and O'Briens Hut, Kosciuszko National Park. Photo: Murray Vanderveer/OEH

The Khancoban area is home to many of Kosciuszko National Park’s picturesque historic huts. Built as shelter or fishing retreats for graziers and prospectors, or like Major Clews Hut, by Snowy Hydro Scheme workers, the huts provide a window into the past. The 8km return Geehi Huts walk is a great way to see Geehi, Keeble’s and Old Geehi Huts, all constructed from river rocks. Be prepared for several river crossings. Bradleys and O’Brien’s Hut is hard to miss along the Khancoban to Kiandra drive. You can also stretch your legs on a short walk to the rustic Patons Hut or Round Mountain Hut, made out of corrugated iron and surrounded by wilderness.

  • Geehi huts walking track Explore Geehi huts walking track by foot, bike, horse or 4WD. This short track, near Khancoban, boasts historic huts, river crossings and magnificent views of the Snowy Mountains in Kosciuszko National Park.
  • National trail: Tom Groggin to Geehi Ride, cycle, or hike 21km of National trail in Kosciuszko National Park. Saddle up your horses for a day of high-country adventure on this epic ride from Tom Groggin to Geehi horse camp.
  • Round Mountain Hut walking track Round Mountain Hut walking track winds through the Jagungal Wilderness Area in central Kosciuszko National Park. A great Snowy Mountains walk or ride, it offers view and spring wildflowers on its way to the rustic hut.

Discover western and central Kosciuszko

Khancoban Visitor Centre, Kosciuszko National Park. Photo: Elinor Sheargold

Khancoban Visitor Centre is a convenient stop to buy passes, get maps, information and inspiration before you enter the park. Alpine Way is the main, year-round route through this area. It offers lookouts, campgrounds, picnic areas, walking tracks and bike trails along its 108km length between Khancoban and Jindabyne. The area's upgraded section of the National trail is popular with horse riders, who can also take advantage of horse camps near Geehi and Tom Groggin.

  • Khancoban to Kiandra drive Picturesque Khancoban to Kiandra drive links Alpine Way with Snowy Mountains Highway, in Kosciuszko National Park, and takes in scenic dams, historic huts, mountain forest, and the highest town in Australia.
  • Khancoban Visitor Centre Khancoban Visitor Centre, on Alpine Way at western entry point to Kosciuszko National Park, is a great place to pick up maps, information and buy a parks pass for your Snowy Mountains adventure.
  • Kosciuszko – Alpine Way drive A driving or motorbike tour along Alpine Way scenic drive is a great way to discover the spectacular mountain views, serene campgrounds, magnificent walks, rides, and heritage of southern Kosciuszko National Park.
  • National trail: Tom Groggin to Geehi Ride, cycle, or hike 21km of National trail in Kosciuszko National Park. Saddle up your horses for a day of high-country adventure on this epic ride from Tom Groggin to Geehi horse camp.

Remote wilderness and rare species

Round Mountain Hut walking track, Kosciuszko National Park. Photo: Murray Vanderveer © OEH

In recognition of Kosciuszko's unique value as a conservation area, it’s been named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. More than half of the park, over 350,000ha (almost 865,000 acres), has been declared wilderness, including the Jagungal, Western Fall and Indi wilderness areas, located in the Khancoban area. The park's alpine and sub-alpine areas are home to rare plant species found nowhere else in the world, such as the Southern corroboree frog.

  • Round Mountain Hut walking track Round Mountain Hut walking track winds through the Jagungal Wilderness Area in central Kosciuszko National Park. A great Snowy Mountains walk or ride, it offers view and spring wildflowers on its way to the rustic hut.

Plants and animals protected in this park

Animals

  • Front-on view of a spotted tree frog on a rock. Photo: Dave Hunter &copy Dave Hunter

    Spotted tree frog (Litoria spenceri)

    The spotted tree frog is a rare Australian frog that lives in only a small number of high mountain streams, including a single location in Kosciuszko National Park. It’s listed as critically endangered in NSW.

  • Bare-nosed wombat. Photo: Keith Gillett

    Bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus)

    A large, squat marsupial, the Australian bare-nosed wombat is a burrowing mammal found in coastal forests and mountain ranges across NSW and Victoria. The only other remaining species of wombat in NSW, the endangered southern hairy-nosed wombat, was considered extinct until relatively recently.

  • Brush tail possum. Photo: Ken Stepnell

    Common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

    One of the most widespread of Australian tree-dwelling marsupials, the common brushtail possum is found across most of NSW in woodlands, rainforests and urban areas. With strong claws, a prehensile tail and opposable digits, these native Australian animals are well-adapted for life amongst the trees.

  • Eastern common ringtail possum. Photo: Ken Stepnell

    Common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus)

    Commonly found in forests, woodlands and leafy gardens across eastern NSW, the Australian ringtail possum is a tree-dwelling marsupial. With a powerful tail perfectly adapted to grasp objects, it forages in trees for eucalypt leaves, flowers and fruit.

  • Emu, Paroo Darling National Park. Photo: John Spencer

    Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)

    The largest of Australian birds, the emu stands up to 2m high and is the second largest bird in the world, after the ostrich. Emus live in pairs or family groups. The male emu incubates and rears the young, which will stay with the adult emus for up to 2 years.

  • A juvenile platypus saved by National Parks and Wildlife staff. Photo: M Bannerman/OEH

    Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

    One of the most fascinating and unusual Australian animals, the duck-billed platypus, along with the echidna, are the only known monotremes, or egg-laying mammals, in existence. The platypus is generally found in permanent river systems and lakes in southern and eastern NSW and east and west of the Great Dividing Range.

  • Echidna. Photo: Ken Stepnell

    Short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)

    One of only 2 egg-laying mammals in the world, the short-beaked echidna is one of the most widespread of Australian native animals. Covered in spines, or quills, they’re equipped with a keen sense of smell and a tube-like snout which they use to break apart termite mounds in search of ants.

  •  Superb lyrebird, Minnamurra Rainforest, Budderoo National Park. Photo: David Finnegan

    Superb lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae)

    With a complex mimicking call and an elaborate courtship dance to match, the superb lyrebird is one of the most spectacular Australian animals. A bird watching must-see, the superb lyrebird can be found in rainforests and wet woodlands across eastern NSW and Victoria.

  • Swamp wallaby in Murramarang National Park. Photo: David Finnegan

    Swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor)

    The swamp wallaby, also known as the black wallaby or black pademelon, lives in the dense understorey of rainforests, woodlands and dry sclerophyll forest along eastern Australia. This unique Australian macropod has a dark black-grey coat with a distinctive light-coloured cheek stripe.

Plants

  • Billy Button flowers at Peery Lake picnic area. Photo: Dinitee Haskard OEH

    Billy buttons (Craspedia spp. )

    Billy buttons are attractive Australian native plants that are widespread throughout eastern NSW in dry forest, grassland and alpine regions such as Kosciuszko National Park. The golden-yellow globe-shaped flowers are also known as woollyheads. Related to the daisy, billy buttons are an erect herb growing to a height of 50cm.

Environments in this area