Wednesday 29 March, 2017.
Lower Chasm Falls Track, Meander Forest Reserve. Around 6km out and back total.
Safari track rating: Easy, a few roots and rocks, tranquil Myrtle forest & a gushing stream.
A rainy mid week morning set the tone for this short yet worthy meander beside Smoko Creek in the, 'ahem'- Meander Forest Reserve outside Deloraine in the North of Tassie. Recently graded dirt roads lead to a small car parking area on Smoko Road- straight forward to access, just head South out of Deloraine towards Meander, follow the sign posts to Huntsman's Lake and Meander Forest. When you hit the first newly built bridge on your left over Mother Cummings Rivulet, turn right onto Smoko Road and keep trucking.
The creek can be crossed easily when not flooded out in times of heavy rain. Use the side trail to the left of the old log blocking those who may attempt to drive off the cliff (The bridge that was once there has long since washed away). The path drops down to the rocks and water and marker sticks indicate where to cross to over the other side. You chug along an old road for about a kilometre and hit the start of the trail proper.
Lower Chasm Falls, just upstream from a log bridge, are reached after a few other spectacular waterfalls along Smoko Creek. (I think I got that right, it's a bit confusing and correct info is tricky to find. That's why I decided to add to the confusion. Or cause some confusion, whatever. It's a pretty walk, who cares what the various falls are called. Ok, I admit it, my credibility is shot now, the only way is up though.) The main Chasm Falls are located about half an hour later after crossing the bridge (if you believe me at this point) but on this occasion I was taking a hiding from the rain and there were other less exposed trails to explore. That's my excuse anyway.
Lower Chasm Falls Track, Meander Forest Reserve. Around 6km out and back total.
Safari track rating: Easy, a few roots and rocks, tranquil Myrtle forest & a gushing stream.
A rainy mid week morning set the tone for this short yet worthy meander beside Smoko Creek in the, 'ahem'- Meander Forest Reserve outside Deloraine in the North of Tassie. Recently graded dirt roads lead to a small car parking area on Smoko Road- straight forward to access, just head South out of Deloraine towards Meander, follow the sign posts to Huntsman's Lake and Meander Forest. When you hit the first newly built bridge on your left over Mother Cummings Rivulet, turn right onto Smoko Road and keep trucking.
The creek can be crossed easily when not flooded out in times of heavy rain. Use the side trail to the left of the old log blocking those who may attempt to drive off the cliff (The bridge that was once there has long since washed away). The path drops down to the rocks and water and marker sticks indicate where to cross to over the other side. You chug along an old road for about a kilometre and hit the start of the trail proper.
Map sourced from the excellent website www.touringtasmania.info
The red dotted line indicates my route from East to West and return by the same path.
The trail is well marked with reflective buttons and triangles and seems to have a fair amount of foot traffic to keep the pad defined. It gets a tad rocky and root bound but I found the towering shear cliffs and magical Myrtle forest with all the colourful fungi and mosses and what have you, slow me down enough to not really notice this. The rain pattered down and cleaned the air and the resident leeches cuddled up to our legs and shoes, but thats the price you pay for beautiful Tasmanian walking right.
Lower Chasm Falls, just upstream from a log bridge, are reached after a few other spectacular waterfalls along Smoko Creek. (I think I got that right, it's a bit confusing and correct info is tricky to find. That's why I decided to add to the confusion. Or cause some confusion, whatever. It's a pretty walk, who cares what the various falls are called. Ok, I admit it, my credibility is shot now, the only way is up though.) The main Chasm Falls are located about half an hour later after crossing the bridge (if you believe me at this point) but on this occasion I was taking a hiding from the rain and there were other less exposed trails to explore. That's my excuse anyway.
This could be Lower Chasm Falls. Or not.
Or just the lower end of the chasm that contains Chasm Falls proper a bit further on.
I would like to think one of those guesses is correct.
