Journeys
A variety of walking tracks are provided from several locations in Glass House Mountains National Park. Some are steep and require a moderate level of fitness.
- Glass House Mountains walking tracks and shared trail information and maps
- Learn more about the plants you will see on your walks—obtain a copy of the 'Ranger field guide: Native plants of Glass House Mountains National Park'.
Walking tracks
- Mount Beerburrum summit walk
- Yul-yan-man track
- Mount Beerwah view
- Mount Ngungun summit walk
- Tibrogargan circuit
- Trachyte circuit
- Beerburrum trailhead to Tibrogargan trailhead
Mount Beerburrum summit walk
Access: From Beerburrum trailhead, adjacent to the Beerburrum State School car park.
Caution: 750m of steep, concrete track that can be slippery. Wear ankle-supporting shoes with good grip. Reasonable fitness required—pace yourself.
Distance: 3.5km return
Time: Allow 1hr 30min
Details: The track from Beerburrum trailhead winds through wet eucalypt forest, up into drier open forest. After 1km, the track becomes a very steep, paved pathway, leading to a fire tower that offers good views. Mount Beerburrum's fire tower is used to detect and manage fires throughout the surrounding parks and forests. Mount Beerburrum is 280m above sea level.
Yul-yan-man track
Access: Choose from two access points—Beerburrum trailhead or Tibrogargan trailhead. See Glass House Mountains walking tracks and shared trail information and maps page 2 map.
- From Beerburrum trailhead:
Distance: 9km return
Time: Allow 3–4hr
Alternatively return via a short section of the Trachyte circuit and the Soldier Settlers trail section of the Shared trail (8.8km return). Also recommended as a one-way 6.7km walk to Tibrogargan trailhead—organise transport back to your car. - From Tibrogargan trailhead:
Distance: 13.4km return
Time: Allow 4–5hr
Alternatively return from Beerburrum trailhead to Tibrogargan Trailhead via the Shared trail (12.1km return). Also recommended as a one-way 6.7km walk to Beerburrum trailhead—organise transport back to your car.
Caution:
- Do not begin this hike when: rain is predicted; you can see a fire; or the weather is extremely hot.
- Exposed and slippery rock surfaces. Rock scrambling skills required.
- Sheer cliff edges.
- Pay attention to signs. Bright pink, triangular directional signs along this walk provide track reference numbers and location information.
- Stay on track and note the directional signs location information—knowing where you are is vital in an emergency.
- Take more water than usual—exposed rock surfaces radiate significant heat.
- Take a fully charged mobile phone. Consider carrying a personal locater beacon as well.
Details: Yul-yan-man, from the Kabi Kabi language, means ‘walk slowly’. Take your time to enjoy the spectacular country that has breathtaking views, rock scrambling challenges and diverse plant communities. Marvel at the feeling of remoteness as you trek along the Trachyte Range, taking in 360 degree views without a sign of civilisation. Observe the change in plant communities as you ascend and descend through the forest. Practice your rock scrambling skills on the exposed rock faces and car-sized boulders balanced on the side of Mount Beerburrum.
Mount Beerwah view
Access: This walk begins at the Beerwah car park. The car park is 9.8km from Glass House Mountains township via Coonowrin Road and Mount Beerwah Road.
Distance: 200m return
Time: Allow 15min
Details: A short stroll in a eucalypt forest that takes you to an open grassed area with views of Beerwah's peak and its remarkable geological formations.
Mount Ngungun summit walk
Access: The Ngungun trailhead is about 3km from Glass House Mountains township via Coonowrin Road and Fullertons Road.
Caution: Track passes close to sheer cliff edges—stay on track and supervise children closely. In wet conditions rocks become very slippery.
Distance: 2.8km return
Time: Allow 2hr
Details: The track begins in open forest with a fern understorey. Part way up the mountain there is a great view of Tibrogargan and the track passes a small rock overhang. The summit provides spectacular views of nearby Tibrogargan, Coonowrin and Beerwah peaks. Please stay on track for your safety and to avoid trampling the unique plant communities growing here.
Tibrogargan trailhead, Tibrogargan circuit
Access: The walk begins from the Tibrogargan trailhead located between Beerburrum and Glass House Mountains townships, via Marshs Road and Barrs Road.
Distance: 4.1km return (1km to the Mountain View lookout)
Time: Allow 1hr 30min (20min to walk to the Mountain View lookout)
Details: A short walk leads up to the Mountain View lookout with views of Beerwah, Coonowrin, Tibberoowuccum and Tunbubudla. Keep following the walking track around the base of Tibrogargan through casuarina groves, open eucalypt and melaleuca forests. The track provides some great views of Tibrogargan. Peregrine falcons are often seen soaring above this area. A great walk for families.
Tibrogargan trailhead, Trachyte circuit
Access: The walk begins from the Tibrogargan trailhead located between Beerburrum and Glass House Mountains townships, via Marshs Road and Barrs Road.
Distance: 5.7km return
Time: Allow 2–3hr
Details: This circuit leads through open woodland and heathland linking Tibrogargan and Tibberoowuccum. The Jack Ferris lookout, on the northern end of the Trachyte Range, allows for good views of the surrounding peaks. This range owes its name to a type of volcanic rock which forms many of the Glass House Mountains peaks.
Shared trails
Within Glass House Mountains National Park there is one shared trail between Beerburrum trailhead and Tibrogargan trailhead for mountain bike touring, walking and running.
More shared trail opportunities for mountain bikers, runners, and walkers, as well as horses, are provided nearby in Glass House Mountains Conservation Park and Beerburrum West State Forest—Bracalba running trails and shared trail.
Other nearby locations with shared trails include Dularcha National Park, Parklands Conservation Park and Eumundi Conservation Park.
Note: Horses and mountain bikes are not permitted on walking tracks in Glass House Mountains National Park.
- Beerburrum trailhead to Tibrogargan trailhead
- Glass House Mountains Conservation Park, Bracalba running trails
- Glass House Mountains Conservation Park, Shared trail
Beerburrum trailhead to Tibrogargan trailhead (including Soldier Settlers trail)
Access: from either the Beerburrum trailhead or the Tibrogargan trailhead.
Distance: 5.4km (recommended as a one-way journey)
Time: Walkers allow 2–3hr
Details: Enjoy mountain bike touring, trail running and bushwalking on this trail that passes through a variety of woodlands—scribbly gum Eucalyptus racemosa; blackbutt Eucalyptus pilularis; and paperbark Melaleuca quinquenervia with a heath understorey. There are some alternative walking track sections just for walkers and trail runners. The Soldier Settlers trail section is named for the returned soldiers who began settling the area near Beerburrum in 1916. Pause at the Beerburrum Cemetery and reflect on the area’s history.
Glass House Mountains Conservation Park
Access: is just off the D’Aguilar Highway between Wamuran and D’Aguilar townships. There are several entrance points:
- McConnell Road entrance—best access for the running trails. Travel for 4km along Raaen Road (off the D’Aguilar Highway) and turn right into McConnell Road. There is a car park located near the entrance.
- O’Shea Road entrance—best access for horse floats. Travel along Newlands Road from Wamuran, and turn left onto O’Shea Road. There is ample parking for horse floats.
Bracalba running trails
Three running trails are purpose built circuits for runners. Horseriders, mountain bike riders and walkers can use these trails, unless otherwise signed, but they need to look out for runners approaching quickly from either direction.
Access: From McConnell Road entrance. Walk and jog along the access route to the Mango Tree trailhead (1.2km)—the starting point for three running trails.
Distance: from the Mango Tree trailhead to the McConnell Road car park:
Running trail 1—4km one-way
Running trail 2—7.5km one-way
Running trail 3—11km one-way
Shared trail for runners, walkers, horseriders and mountain bike riders
This trail follows parts of the old railway route.
Access: From the O’Shea Road entrance.
Distance: 7km one-way
Read more about trails in SEQ horse riding trail network.
Summit routes
- Critical skills and risk information
- Mount Beerwah summit route
- Mount Tibrogargan summit route
- For your safety information
The Glass House Mountains are not easy climbs. It is important to be prepared so that you can have a safe and enjoyable visit. Take six minutes to watch this safety video. It could help…
The Glass House Mountains are not easy climbs. It is important to be prepared so that you can have a safe and enjoyable visit. Take six minutes to watch this safety video. It could help save you from having to stay overnight or be rescued.
Critical skills and risk information
- People accessing the summit routes must be well-prepared climbers with a high level of fitness and rock-scrambling experience.
- The summit routes have exposed, steep rocky sections and irregular surfaces with loose stones that require rock scrambling and climbing skills.
- Serious injuries and deaths have occurred on summit routes.
- Rock falls may occur at any time. If you access the summit routes you need to be aware of the risks. Your safety is your responsibility.
- Summit routes are not walking tracks and are unsuitable for young children and inexperienced people who cannot climb unassisted.
- If you feel unsure about your ability to climb or keep up with the rest of your group, then don’t attempt it.
Know the hazards!
- Falling rocks and loose rock debris—can fall anytime and in huge amounts.
- Steep, exposed rock faces and slabs.
- Very slippery rocks in wet conditions.
- Strong winds.
- Poor visibility in mist or fading daylight.
- Heat exposure—can cause heat exhaustion and dehydration.
- Sheer cliff edges—people can become trapped on cliff edges when they deviate from the route.
- Inexperience, poor preparation and inappropriate gear—can result in slips and falls.
- Rescues are risky, even for the rescue team.
Read summit route danger signs:
- Danger: Rockfalls, loose rubble and steep rock faces
- Danger: Rocks are slippery when wet
- Danger: High risk rockfall area
- Danger: Falling rocks, steep exposed cliffs
- People who climb Glass House shouldn’t throw rocks. Climbers below!
Mount Beerwah summit route
Allow: 3–4hr. Allow enough time to complete your climb in daylight. Start early in the day to avoid the heat.
Access: From the Beerwah trailhead, follow the Mount Beerwah view walking track to the day-use area where this summit route begins.
Mount Beerwah is the highest of the Glass House Mountain peaks at 556m above sea level.
This steep climb requires a high fitness levels and rock scrambling skills—it is equivalent to ascending a 111 storey high rise building.
Do not linger in the No waiting zone—it is a high risk rockfall area.
Read further summit route safety information.
Mount Tibrogargan summit route
Allow: 3–4hr. Allow enough time to complete your climb in daylight. Start early in the day to avoid the heat.
Access: From the Tibrogargan trailhead, follow the Tibrogargan circuit 1km to the beginning of this summit route, on the right just past the Mountain View lookout.
Mount Tibrogargan peak is 364m above sea level.
This steep climb requires high fitness levels and rock scrambling skills—it is equivalent to ascending a 76 storey high rise building.
The first section of this summit route has very loose and unstable rock until you reach the ‘No waiting zone’. Do not linger in the No waiting zone—it is a high risk rockfall area. The route continues up a near vertical rockface to the summit.
Read further summit route safety information.
For your safety
Plan ahead:
- Check the weather and never climb in wet conditions or if it is likely to rain—wet rocks are dangerously slippery.
- Have an experienced group leader and set a suitable group pace—keep to the pace of the least experienced rock scrambler in your group. Pushing limits can lead to injury.
- Make sure everyone in your group has suitable sturdy, flexible soled footwear with good grip, a helmet, suitable clothing and enough water.
- Allow enough time to return in daylight. It can take twice as long to descend than it takes to get to the top.
- Do not plan to descend in the dark. You could become disorientated and end up off the route, stranded on a sheer cliff face.
- Plan for emergencies. Pack a mobile phone and first aid kit.
- Let a reliable person know your plans, and what to do if you do not return as expected. Remember to let them know if your plans change.
- Be aware that the likelihood of rockfalls and landslides are heightened by rainfall and intense fire activity.
On the way up:
- Wear helmets and be alert for falling rocks from above.
- Don’t climb directly under others.
- Do not linger in high risk rockfall zones.
- Always walk with care and avoid dislodging rocks as they might hit walkers or climbers below you.
- Even small rocks can cause serious injury.
- If you accidentally dislodge rocks, shout loud warnings.
- Stay in pairs—never climb alone. Stay within earshot of your climbing companions.
- Turn back if conditions deteriorate.
- Take your time and enjoy the climb—take rest breaks.
- Keep track of the time—return in daylight.
- Look back regularly—sometimes people freeze in fright at the steepness on the way back down. If you feel uncomfortable, turn around.
- If you decide to not continue with your group, don’t wait in the high risk zones and do not remain in the ‘No waiting zone’. Return to the day-use area and explore other walking tracks.
At the top:
- Never throw rocks—you can injure or kill people below and could trigger a larger rockfall. Rock climbers are below on cliffs around the mountains.
- Stay well back from cliff edges.
- Enjoy the views—they’re fantastic!
On the way down:
- Use the summit route only. Side tracks can end in tragedy. People who deviate can become trapped in dead ends or on sheer cliffs.
- Take your time. Go carefully and slowly. Go home safe.
- There are currently no park alerts for this park.