The Mt William Hike is a really frivolously trafficked path that branches off from Smiths Monitor close to Stoney Creek, simply north of Cairns. Learn this whole mountain climbing information that takes you to the highest of Mt William the place a airplane wreckage website now rests.
The Mt William hike begins on a really accessible path on the highway close to Stoney Creek. Though simply accessed, the Mt Williams path is pretty demanding, being steep, dense and completely filled with leeches!
On the high, you’ll discover the stays of a 1986 airplane crash, which tragically claimed the lives of eight folks when it struck the ridgeline 250 metres from the very best level on Mount William. Plainly the wreck has been moved to the summit, the place there are actually prayer flags and a memorial the place one pays respects.
For these wishing to deal with the Mt William hike close to Cairns, I’d counsel leaving early and dedicating no less than half a day to the endeavour! On this mountain climbing information, I’ll element how you can get to the trailhead, in addition to an in depth part on how you can full the hike.
Find out how to Get to the Mt William Trailhead
The Mount William observe may be very little identified and is extra of a marked route than an official Nationwide Parks path. The route forks off the favored Smiths Monitor, which will be accessed from Stoney Creek or Speewah.
I began the hike by selecting up the Smiths Monitor simply off of Stoney Creek Highway, the identical highway that results in the Glacier Rock trailhead. It’s a bit of tough to identify the path at first. Nonetheless, you’ll spot the small Smiths Path signpost excellent of the concrete underpass on the left aspect of the highway (when dealing with en-route to Stoney Creek).
Beneath I’ve pinned the precise location of the place to begin that will help you discover it. There’s a giant area on the other aspect of the highway, immediately in entrance of the path the place you possibly can park your automobile. Alternatively, you could possibly additionally drive up the steep driveway to a broad clearing adjoining to the trailhead.
Mt William Hike Cairns – Mountain climbing Information
The Mt William hike Cairns is a reasonably lengthy hike with loads of elevation achieve. The primary part alongside Smiths Creek is broad simple to observe. Nonetheless, after turning onto the Mt William path, you will have to diligently persist with the ribbons and markings to keep away from getting misplaced.
I accomplished the hike in simply over 4 hours at a good tempo. Nonetheless, it could possibly be a for much longer day on the trial relying in your pace. I’d counsel leaving early to keep away from navigating down at nighttime.
Additionally, keep in mind to deliver deet! I hiked the Mt William path within the dry season even then, the leeches above the cloud line have been completely devastating.
Smiths Monitor From Stoney Creek Highway
Nearly instantly after selecting up the path, the Smiths Monitor ascends steeply up a frivolously uncovered and predominant eucalypt forest. Ensure to stretch the legs as a result of there’s no heat up right here, only a sharp leg burner to kick off the hike.
At nearly any level throughout this primary climb, you possibly can flip round for nice views of the Northern Cairns suburbs and over to Glacier Rock to the proper.
Comply with this broad, apparent observe because it ranges off, then ascends steeply as soon as once more. You’ll discover the bushes and crops change quickly with the rising altitude.
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Diverting Onto the Mt William Monitor
After roughly 1.9 kilometres, at an altitude of about 490M, there’s a sharp left fork to veer off onto the Mt Williams path.
That is tremendous simple to overlook, so be sure that to maintain an eye fixed out for a slightly ambiguous path to the left. That can assist you not miss the flip, plug in these coordinates: 16° 53′ 3.366″ S 145° 39′ 54.216″ E.
Moist, Muddy Climb to the Mt William Summit
You’ll discover instantly that this observe is way much less trafficked than the primary stretch. You’ll have to navigate over and round heavy treefall and dodge fields of thorny wait-a-while as you slowly climb over dense, rooty undergrowth up the ridgeline in the direction of Mt William.
This observe is well-marked by ribbons within the bushes. I extremely advocate holding an eye fixed out for these as a result of in any other case, it’d be simple to get misplaced.
Sadly, the Mt Williams hike doesn’t provide a lot by way of epic views. Nonetheless, there’s a rocky level generally known as “North Peak” at roughly the three.8KM mark, the place you possibly can look out over Cairns and the encompassing suburbs.
Following this viewpoint, the observe ranges out as you cross the saddle in the direction of Mt William. This part was my favorite, with historical bushes towering over fields of fern and tropical shrub.
At round 700M altitude, I entered the clouds which turned the whole lot right into a moist, soggy and muddy battle to the summit. To inform you the reality, I’ve by no means seen so many leeches in my life. Even after dousing my legs and sneakers with Bushmans, I needed to cease each 20 metres or so to peel and flick the pricks off of my legs, arms and face. Tip: deliver additional deet!
Push on handed the saddle earlier than a ultimate, gentle however slippery scramble to the summit.
Wreckage Web site of the 1986 Cairns Airplane Crash
Since there wasn’t a lot data on-line in regards to the Mt Williams hike, I used to be nervous I wouldn’t be capable to discover the wreckage amid the dense vegetation. Nonetheless, earlier than I even knew I used to be on the summit, I stumbled upon the wrecked fuselage and memorial plaque.
In line with the Bureau of Plane Accidents, the airplane: PA-31-310 Navajo went down in 1986 because of a deadly miscalculation by the pilot, the place following some obvious miscommunications relating to flight routes, was flying too low within the cloudy circumstances in the direction of Biboohra. Apparently, the plane crashed simply 250 metres south-west of the summit. Plainly the fuselage and wreckage stays have been moved to the highest of Mt William for the aim of the memorial website.
I made a decision I wasn’t going to stay round for too lengthy because the leeches have been nonetheless giving me grief. I paid my respects and rapidly headed again all the way down to drier floor.
The Descent
The Mt William hike is an out-and-back path, which implies you’ll want to show round and observe the identical route again down. Nonetheless, when you rejoin the Smiths Monitor, it’s potential to take a left on the fork and proceed onto Speewah.
That being stated, after the heavy, moist slog, I used to be fairly eager on ending up for the day. I received in my automobile and headed straight for Stoney Creek Falls to take a dip and clear the mud and remaining leeches off my physique.
Extra Hikes in Cairns
I hope that you simply loved this information to the Mt William hike in Cairns, Queensland. I’ve spent a number of months exploring one of the best adventures, hikes and waterfalls within the space. So, whether or not you’re a Cairns native or customer on the lookout for extra epic adventures, be sure that to take a look at a few of my different guides and blogs beneath.
For some fast concepts, try this checklist of one of the best waterfalls in Cairns, or this put up to one of the best issues to do in Cairns.
Additionally, when you’ve got any questions and even path updates, be sure that to depart a remark beneath to assist different hikers out!
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