Cathedral Mountain
Encyclopedia
Cathedral Mountain is a dominant mountain in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park
in the central highlands
in the state of Tasmania
, Australia
.
The mountain is at grid reference 261622 UTM Zone 55G and high resolution topographical information is available on Tasmap
Cathedral (4236) 1:25000.
Due west from Cathedral lies Mount Ossa, Tasmania's highest mountain, due north is Mount Pillinger, due east is Mount Ragoona
and due south is Castle Crag
in the Du Cane Range
.
Directly beneath the cliff faces of Cathedral Mountain runs the upper reaches of the Mersey River (Tasmania)
.
The Overland Track
passes within two kilometres of the southern side of this mountain.
Most features in the general area of Cathedral Mountain have church-based names. These include; Chalice Lake, Chapter Lake, Cloister Lagoon, Convent Hill, Bishop Peak, Curate Bluff, Vicar Bluff and Dean Bluff.
Within the last three decades, a huge portion of the upper part of the mountain has broken away and catastrophically crashed through the rainforest hundreds of metres below completely obliterating it, creating a huge rock skree which covers several hundred metres and almost reaches the banks of the Mersey River. The resulting scar is very noticeable from many kilometres distant.
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair Map & Notes publication.
To ascend the mountain, the most commonly used route is from the southern end of the Mersey Forrest Road on the eastern side of Lake Rowallan via the Moses Creek track. Then to Chapter Lake, Grail Falls, Chalice Lake and Tent Tarn. From Tent Tarn to the Cathedral Mountain summit is two kilometres with the terrain being mainly trackless, although occasional cairns are visible.
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is located in the Central Highlands area of Tasmania , 165 km northwest of Hobart. The park contains many walking trails, and is where hikes along the well-known Overland Track usually begins...
in the central highlands
Central Highlands (Tasmania)
Central Highlands is a region in Tasmania where geographical and administrative boundaries closely coincide. It is also known as The Lake Country of Tasmania -Geographical region:...
in the state of Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Mountain Facts
Cathedral Mountain has an altitude of 1387 metres. The western side of this mountain has a spectacular and extensive cliff face which plunges some 700 metres to the Mersey Valley floor.The mountain is at grid reference 261622 UTM Zone 55G and high resolution topographical information is available on Tasmap
Tasmap
Tasmap is the main government authority for the state of Tasmania in Australia for the mapping and management of land information systems for the state....
Cathedral (4236) 1:25000.
Due west from Cathedral lies Mount Ossa, Tasmania's highest mountain, due north is Mount Pillinger, due east is Mount Ragoona
Mount Ragoona
Mount Ragoona, at 1350 metres altitude is a relatively high mountain in the southern region of the Walls of Jerusalem National Park in Tasmania, Australia. It is virtually surrounded by four large lakes; Myrtle, Meston, Louisa and Adelaide...
and due south is Castle Crag
Castle Crag
Castle Crag is a hill in the North Western Fells of the English Lake District. It is the smallest hill included in Alfred Wainwright's influential Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, the only Wainwright below 1,000 ft....
in the Du Cane Range
Du Cane Range
Du Cane Range is a mountain range in the Central Highlands district of Tasmania, Australia.The main ridge of the Du Cane Range is essentially the seventh highest point in Tasmania....
.
Directly beneath the cliff faces of Cathedral Mountain runs the upper reaches of the Mersey River (Tasmania)
Mersey River (Tasmania)
The Mersey River is a river on the north-west coast of Tasmania, Australia. The city of Devonport is situated at the river's mouth on Bass Strait. It is fed by the Dasher and Fisher Rivers....
.
The Overland Track
Overland Track
The Overland Track is one of Australia's most famous bush walks, situated in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania. More than 8000 walkers each year complete the track. Officially, the track runs for 65 km from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair. However, many choose to add...
passes within two kilometres of the southern side of this mountain.
Most features in the general area of Cathedral Mountain have church-based names. These include; Chalice Lake, Chapter Lake, Cloister Lagoon, Convent Hill, Bishop Peak, Curate Bluff, Vicar Bluff and Dean Bluff.
Within the last three decades, a huge portion of the upper part of the mountain has broken away and catastrophically crashed through the rainforest hundreds of metres below completely obliterating it, creating a huge rock skree which covers several hundred metres and almost reaches the banks of the Mersey River. The resulting scar is very noticeable from many kilometres distant.
Access
Access to the spectacular and dominant side of Cathedral mountain is mainly via the Overland Track from Cradle Mountain during the main walking season (November to April) when a booking and fee system applies and walking the track is restricted to limited numbers and also to north-south traffic only. In the off-season walking is also allowed from the Lake St Clair (southern) end. Other access tracks include the combined Arm River and Innes Tracks as well as the Lees Paddocks track. There is also a track that links from the Lees Paddocks area adjacent Vicar Bluff to Kia Ora. These alternative access routes ultimately link to the Overland Track which only gives access to viewing the sheer and rugged face of the mountain from the western side of the Mersey River. A wider overview of the area is available on the TasmapTasmap
Tasmap is the main government authority for the state of Tasmania in Australia for the mapping and management of land information systems for the state....
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair Map & Notes publication.
To ascend the mountain, the most commonly used route is from the southern end of the Mersey Forrest Road on the eastern side of Lake Rowallan via the Moses Creek track. Then to Chapter Lake, Grail Falls, Chalice Lake and Tent Tarn. From Tent Tarn to the Cathedral Mountain summit is two kilometres with the terrain being mainly trackless, although occasional cairns are visible.
Other nearby mountains
- Mount Ossa
- Mount RagoonaMount RagoonaMount Ragoona, at 1350 metres altitude is a relatively high mountain in the southern region of the Walls of Jerusalem National Park in Tasmania, Australia. It is virtually surrounded by four large lakes; Myrtle, Meston, Louisa and Adelaide...
- Mount Pelion EastMount Pelion EastMount Pelion East is in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park in Tasmania, Australia. It is the sixteenth highest mountain in Tasmania at 1461 metres, slightly higher than the better known Frenchmans Cap at 1446 metres...
- Castle Crag (Tasmania)Castle Crag (Tasmania)Castle Crag is a mountain in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park in Tasmania, Australia. It is the twelfth highest mountain in Tasmania. It is a major feature of the national park, and is a popular venue with bush walkers and mountain climbers....
- Mount Pelion WestMount Pelion WestMount Pelion West is a mountain located in the Central Highlands of Tasmania and in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park It is located at the eastern most boundary of the Murchison River, Tasmania river catchment.-Height:...
See also
- Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National ParkCradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National ParkCradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is located in the Central Highlands area of Tasmania , 165 km northwest of Hobart. The park contains many walking trails, and is where hikes along the well-known Overland Track usually begins...