National Parks and Reserves

Shadow Lake is one of Tasmania’s 60 Great Short Walks. The 60 Great Short Walks offer the best of Tasmania’s day walking opportunities.

4-5 hours circuit, 13km circuit. Grade 4.

Shadow Lake is a delightful alpine lake nestled amoung impressive mountains and is the highlight of this varied circuit walk in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Starting in wet forest beside Lake St Clair, the track climbs through eucalypt woodland to subalpine moorland and buttongrass near the lake. Shadow Lake, nestled beneath Little Hugel, also has great views of Mount Hugel. It’s both the perfect resting place and half-way mark. At nearly 1000m altitude, the highest parts of this walk are subject to severe weather conditions. Check the forecast at the visitor centre before leaving.

Near Shadow Lake the vegetation changes to sub-alpine forest. Here snow gums, buttongrass and sedges flourish. Pencil pines fringe the lake edge. The lake contains the introduced brown and rainbow trout. These can be fished if you have a licence. Picnic spots can be found around the lake edge but please remember that campfires are not permitted.

Please refer to the Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania website (parks.tas.gov.au) for up-to-date information about this walk, alerts, closures, safe walking guidelines, leave no trace principles and National Park entry fees where applicable.