Dead Horse Gap and Thredbo River loop

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Safer Bushwalks

Tips on staying safe on track

Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

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Getting There

Transport options and directions

Start	At the intersection of Dead Horse Gap Walking Track & Alpine Way (-36.5229226,148.2645643)
Mode	Car (A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.)
Directions	From Monaro Highway, A23, Williamsdale. Turn on to Polo Flat Road then drive for 690 m Turn right onto Yareen Road and drive for another 1.6 km Turn left onto Monaro Highway, B23 and drive for another 1.2 km At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Sharp Street, B72 and drive for another 230 m At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Sharp Street, B72 and drive for another 6.8 km Continue onto Kosciuszko Road and drive for another 53.8 km Turn left onto Munyang Street and drive for another 115 m Turn right onto Gippsland Street and drive for another 450 m Turn left onto Snowy River Avenue and drive for another 275 m At roundabout, take exit 1 onto Kosciuszko Road and drive for another 700 m At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Kosciuszko Road and drive for another 1.9 km Keep left onto Alpine Way and drive for another 17.5 km Keep left onto Alpine Way and drive for another 18.7 km

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Track Notes

Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the Cascades Trail track head car park (on the Alpine Way 5.4km west of Friday Drive), this walk crosses the road and turns left following the 'Thredbo Walking Tracks' sign along the track behind the road barrier. The track leads down the wooden steps to soon cross Bogong Creek on a metal bridge. Here the walk heads up a few steps to a signposted intersection with the 'Dead Horse Gap Track'.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	At the intersection of Dead Horse Gap Walking Track & Alpine Way Start heading along Dead Horse Gap Walking Track (a vehicle track). Find the car park at the start. Find the sign at the start. After another 130 m cross the bridge (about 15 m long)
	After another 8 m (at the intersection of Dead Horse Gap Walking Track & Thredbo River Track) turn left, to head along Dead Horse Gap Walking Track (a walking track).
	After another 4.6 km (at the intersection of Kosciuszko Walk & Dead Horse Gap Walking Track) turn right, to head along Kosciuszko Walk (a vehicle track). After another 370 m pass the toilet (10 m on your left). After another 10 m pass the "Eagles Nest" (20 m on your left). Then pass the sign (4 m on your left).
	After another 2 m turn left. After another 15 m find the "Eagles Nest Restaurant" (10 m on your right). Eagles Nest Restaurant Eagles Nest Restaurant This is Australia's highest restaurant, providing great food and outstanding views. It is easily accessible, nestled on the mountain directly opposite the top of the Kosciuszko Express chairlift, and is open year-round. For more information, call (02) 64576019. + - This is Australia's highest restaurant, providing great food and outstanding views. It is easily accessible, nestled on the mountain directly opposite the top of the Kosciuszko Express chairlift, and is open year-round. For more information, call (02) 64576019.
	After another 25 m catch the aerial cable car (about 1.8 km long)
	After another 15 m continue straight. Then head down the steps (about 20 m long)
	Turn left. After another 25 m continue straight. After another 9 m pass the toilet (15 m on your right)., female. Then pass the toilet (10 m on your right)., male. After another 30 m cross the bridge (about 25 m long) After another 25 m pass the artwork (about 55 m ahead). Then pass the "Cascades" (about 60 m ahead).
	Turn right. After another 15 m pass the artwork (20 m on your left).
	After another 75 m (at the intersection of Mowamba Place & Friday Drive) veer right, to head along Mowamba Place (a residential road).
	After another 45 m (at the intersection of Thyne Reid Drive & Mowamba Place) turn right, to head along Thyne Reid Drive. After another 205 m pass the picnic table (20 m on your right). After another 6 m continue straight, to head along Thyne Reid Drive. After another 45 m pass the car park (on your left).
	At the intersection of Crackenback Drive & Friday Drive continue straight, to head along Crackenback Drive. After another 6 m cross the bridge (about 50 m long)
	At the intersection of Thredbo River Track & Crackenback Drive turn left, to head along Thredbo River Track (a walking track).
	After another 4 m (at the intersection of Thredbo River Track & Upper Riverside Walk) continue straight, to head along Thredbo River Track. After another 200 m continue straight, to head along Thredbo River Track. After another 580 m cross the ford.
	Continue straight, to head along Thredbo River Track.
	After another 190 m (at the intersection of Thredbo River Track & Upper Riverside Walk) turn left, to head along Thredbo River Track. After another 75 m cross the ford.
	Continue straight, to head along Thredbo River Track. After another 630 m cross the ford.
	Continue straight, to head along Thredbo River Track.
	After another 740 m find the "Cascades Lookout" (10 m on your right). Cascades Lookout Cascades Lookout This metal platform leans over the Thredbo River, lookout upstream to the flowing cascades. There is also a wooden seat provided here, making it a great rest stop, conveniently situated about half way between Dead Horse Gap and Thredbo Village, on the Thredbo River track. + - This metal platform leans over the Thredbo River, lookout upstream to the flowing cascades. There is also a wooden seat provided here, making it a great rest stop, conveniently situated about half way between Dead Horse Gap and Thredbo Village, on the Thredbo River track. After another 5 m continue straight, to head along Thredbo River Track. After another 15 m pass a seat (7 m on your left)., has no backrest. After another 460 m cross the bridge (about 30 m long) After another 300 m cross the bridge (about 50 m long)
	After another 95 m continue straight, to head along Thredbo River Track. After another 230 m continue straight, to head along Thredbo River Track. After another 790 m find the "Dead Horse Gap" (15 m on your right). Dead Horse Gap Dead Horse Gap Dead Horse Gap is a relatively low mountain pass in the Great Dividing Range at 1582m AMSL. It was once a meeting place for Aboriginal groups in the summer, where they would perform ceremonies and trade with each other. In nature, the pass acts as a funnel for the migration of insects and birds. In the early 20th century, the pass became increasingly popular with stockmen, who brought sheep and cattle to the mountains each summer. + - Dead Horse Gap is a relatively low mountain pass in the Great Dividing Range at 1582m AMSL. It was once a meeting place for Aboriginal groups in the summer, where they would perform ceremonies and trade with each other. In nature, the pass acts as a funnel for the migration of insects and birds. In the early 20th century, the pass became increasingly popular with stockmen, who brought sheep and cattle to the mountains each summer.
	At the intersection of Dead Horse Gap Walking Track & Thredbo River Track continue straight, to head along Dead Horse Gap Walking Track (a vehicle track). After another 8 m cross the bridge (about 15 m long) At the intersection of Dead Horse Gap Walking Track & Bogong Creek continue straight, to head along Dead Horse Gap Walking Track.
	Continue another 135 m to find at the intersection of Alpine Way & Cascade Trail at the end.

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Terrain

Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Dead Horse Gap and Thredbo River loop

Grading

	Class 4/6 Hard track
Length	11.8 km
Time	4 h 15 min to 5 h

Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather	Foretasted & unexpected storms and severe weather may impact on navigation and safety (4/6)

Some facilities on route

Toilet: There are 3 on route, on average they are 3 km apart with the largest gap of 5.1 km.

Seat: There is one 9.8 km from the start.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	5.1 km	[toilet]
Toilet	7 km	[toilet]
Toilet	7 km	[toilet]
Seat	9.8 km	[seat]

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Articles

Discover more details to thrive on track

Covered in snow part of the year
This walk leads through an extreme alpine environment and all walkers must be well prepared. During summer, be prepared for both very hot and cold weather, high winds, rain, snow, extreme UV levels and some sections of snow or ice on the ground. Before starting this walk, check advice with Snowy Region Visitor Information Centre (02) 6450 5600, the weather forecast and the snow conditions then change your plans as needed. These notes, grades and walking times have been written for use in the summer months only. Between May and the end of October, this walk is likely to be covered in snow/ice, visitors should be carrying and be prepared to use snowshoes or cross country skis. When there is a chance of significant snow on the ground, visitors will need particularly strong navigation and snowcraft skills - tracks and signage may not be visible. For most visitors, it is best to consider this walk closed during the colder months.

Dead Horse Gap
Dead Horse Gap is a relatively low mountain pass in the Great Dividing Range at 1582m AMSL. It was once a meeting place for Aboriginal groups in the summer, where they would perform ceremonies and trade with each other. In nature, the pass acts as a funnel for the migration of insects and birds. In the early 20th century, the pass became increasingly popular with stockmen, who brought sheep and cattle to the mountains each summer.

Eagles Nest Restaurant
This is Australia's highest restaurant, providing great food and outstanding views. It is easily accessible, nestled on the mountain directly opposite the top of the Kosciuszko Express chairlift, and is open year-round. For more information, call (02) 64576019.

Kosciuszko Express Chairlift
This is one of the few lifts operating in the summer months at Thredbo, and is made quite popular by thousands of people walking to the summit of Mt Kosciuszko each year. Lift tickets can be purchased from the store at the bottom of the chairlift. Lift tickets are $31 return ($25 one way) per person. This lift is generally closed during November and May for maintenance each year, but the the Snowgum chair can be used at this time instead, this will add extra walking time to you walk.

Cascades Lookout
This metal platform leans over the Thredbo River, lookout upstream to the flowing cascades. There is also a wooden seat provided here, making it a great rest stop, conveniently situated about half way between Dead Horse Gap and Thredbo Village, on the Thredbo River track.

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