Cleared Ridge access...
1. Montserrat gives you a good view of Mt Barney, plus there's a small camp close by.
Just turn left past the stockyards @ Graces hut & follow an old dead end 4wd track uphill to the ridge that takes you too Montserrat. Step over a dilapidated rusty wire fence & away you go.
The ridge down to the Upper Portals from Montserrat starts out steep then gradually eases.
2. You already know about the Yamahra valley route.
3. As you mentioned there is a pad down to Yamahra camp from the end of the Cleared Ridge lookout track but I haven't explored that...I got sidetracked when I saw a ridge with rocky outcrops to the left of the lookout & had to explore...provided the best views upstream to the Big Lonely & northern routes up Barney. There's even a big boulder worn away so you can lay back & relax with your arms behind your head while your taking in the view.
4. Graces hut - Mowburra Peak - Cedar Pass - Montserrat route...again i haven't explored that pad yet. Maybe hard to follow through the Cedar Pass section.
Lowers Portals access has 5 routes that I know of to the Upper Portals...the initial access from the car park to L.P camp is a bit boring, but once that's over, it's all good.
1. The ridge behind Lower Portals campsite gives you views to Maroon before rejoining the L.P. to Cleared Ridge pad.
2. L.P. to Cleared Ridge pad gives you great views of Barney at the start then occasional views from outcrops & inbetween the tree canopy. There's a camp in the saddle before you reach Cleared Ridge.
3. A cairned turnoff just before you drop down into Barney Ck camp has great views before climbing to rejoin the L.P. to Cleared Ridge route again.
4. Walk into Barney Ck camp & take the shorter rock hop upstream to U. Portals.
5. Or take the longer rock hop upstream from the Lower Portals to the U. Portals.
Explore upstream from the L.Portals & turn it into weekend long circuit or figure 8 taking in Montserrat along the way.
...or explore downstream from the Cleared Ridge end...either way it's great way to get a feel for the area.
Hope any or all of that makes sense.
Ooroo
Ofuros.