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Backpack the Walls of Jerusalem Circuit

Walls of Jerusalem, Tasmania

Details

Distance

18 miles

Elevation Gain

4265.1 ft

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by Katie Kessel

A three day hike with beautiful views both from the valley floor and the three mountains you can summit. Since the hike is remote, there is lots of wildlife and gives you opportunities to navigate unmarked sections of trail.

This is a great hike if you're looking for some stunning views, but also has some sections of unmarked trail where you will need to have either GPS or the ability to navigate with your compass/map (preferably both!).

The mountains are stunning, but as you are at a high altitude the weather can change dramatically. As there is often ice and snow, please also take caution when summiting as some of the sections are quite steep and can be built up.

If you wish to have a hike without navigating through unmarked trails, I have also indicated below, as this section of trail starts after the second night (and instead can be hiked as an out-and-back.

Given there are many glacier fed streams, there are lots of places with water, however I indicated at the campsites below where you will be able to find specific areas.

Day 1 - Carpark to Wild Dog Creek Campsite (approx 6.6km, 575m elevation gain)

From the carpark, head up the hill, checking in at the sign in station. 

You will pass the trappers hut, heading up the hill and reaching a junction. Take the left side of the fork and follow the track until you reach the campsite. 

At each of the three levels of tent pads there are faucets for water, however if they are frozen (as there were when I was there!) you can head back down the trail to get water from the stream to the right of the trail.

Day 2 - Wild Dog Creek Campsite to Dixon's Kingdom Hut Campground (approx 8km including side trips, 465m elevation gain)

From Wild Dog Creek Campsite, follow the trail north. The initial portion of the hike can be wet and muddy, but dries after a few km into the hike.

There are several side trips today, including the walk to the Temple and Solomon's Throne in the first 4km and Mount Jerusalem after you pass Dixon's Kingdom Hut. Given they are side trips, you are able to drop your bags before ascending these sections. 

One you finish the Temple and Solomon's Throne (there are well-marked signs on the trail), continue to Dixon's Kingdom Hut. Here, you can drop your bag, set up camp if you wish, then continue to Mount Jerusalem. To get to Mount Jerusalem, follow the signs as indicated next to the hut as the trail initially heads north.

All of the views are stunning - I recommend all of them!

The easiest way to find water at Dixon's Kingdom Hut is accessed within the first 50m on the trail to Mount Jerusalem on the right side of the trail.

If you don't wish to hike an unmarked trail, the third day you can instead walk back the way you came back to the Carpark.

Day 3 - Dixon's Kingdom Hut Campground to Carpark (approx. 14.5km, 200m elevation gain)

As this is the unmarked section of the trail, please make sure (as noted above) you're comfortable navigating the next sections of the trail as it is not as popular as the first two days'.

Throughout today, you will also be crossing several creeks - some of them are too wide to cross without taking off your boots but were shallow enough to wade without issue.

From Dixon's Kingdom Hut, walk south towards Ball Lake, either through the marsh (which I found easiest) or through the forest to the west. I found it easiest to keep to the edge of the forest on the walk downhill. 

Once you reach the lake, you will have to find the trail, which starts a few hundred meters to the west of the lake. It is fairly close to the lake and can be missed, but once here, you can follow the track to Lake Ball Hut, then to Lake Adelaide (a campsite if you wish to extend your trip). 

Once you leave Lake Adelaide, the trail begins to head north. Watch for markers around 6 kms into the walk, as there is a section that looks like a trail and can lead you astray (though it is markered, so make sure to look out). 

From here, you will continue on the trail, heading north through the marshes, until you reach the junction from your first day that leads you back to the carpark.

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Features

Camping
Snowshoeing
Backpacking
Hiking
Bathrooms
Easy Parking
Forest
Lake
Scenic
Wildflowers
Wildlife

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