Have you ever heard of Wilder Trails (link)? It’s a gamified directory of great Tasmanian trail running routes, where you earn badges for completing runs.

Justin and I independently stumbled upon the same idea: to identify Tasmania’s wildest trails, compile them into a list, and maybe, just maybe, conquer them all someday. This post is all about our list of the wildest trails.

These are stupidly scary routes, I do not recommend anyone actually attempt them unless you want to suffer immensely. We are foolish enough to even contemplate running them one day. This will undoubtedly be a long-term project, taking many years to complete, if we ever do manage to tame all the wildest trails.

History of Wilder Trails

The whole idea began when former Tasmanian resident, Jahn Pahwa came up with the kunanyi-Wellington Loop back in 2016. He made the loop as a sort of non-competitive running challenge. If you ran the loop you were eligible to earn a badge. The Find your Feet store in Hobart stocked the badges and would sell them to anyone who could prove with a gps track that they had run the loop. Pretty much like a scout badge for running.

The folks at Find your Feet further expanded the concept to become a fully fledged trail directory for routes all over Tasmania. Each route has a respective badge that can be earned. It is a cool idea and the website is a great guide to help people discover iconic Tasmanian trail running routes. I highly recommend checking it out if you are getting into trail running or vising Tasmania looking for routes to run.

Wildest Trail Idea

Justin suggested running the Port Davey track and South coast track some time ago. Another mate Dan has proposed running the full Eastern and Western Arthurs in one push. These big ideas got me and separately Justin thinking about setting big audacious running goals.

Running the Western Arthurs a few weeks back Justin said he was thinking of getting together some monstrous routes similar to “Wilder Trails” but an extreme version. I replied saying I had exactly the same idea and had even thought of the titles “Wildest Trails“. As we trundled onwards we brainstormed ideas to put on the list.

The Wildest Trails

In the end we settled on four extremely long and challenging routes. I had thought of a couple more but I think for now these four will be enough to keep us occupied for years. One day I may make badge designs for each route. I don’t think we’d need to get too many made, there aren’t going to be that many people earning them. Below is a map of Tassie showing all of the routes overlaid. I’ve compiled descriptions and information of those that have done these before in the below sections.

Penguin Cradle Trail – Overland Track (PCT OLT)

This is a combination of the Penguin Cradle Trail (PCT) and the Overland Track (OLT) starting from the big penguin on the waterfront of Penguin and finishing at Lake St Clair. I have walked the PCT once before and it’s condition is variable. It can be incredibly rough and scrubby and is prone to landslips in the sections that follow the Leven Canyon. After walking the trail the prospect of running it scares me. It is super tough going and highly exposed along Black Bluff.

I’ve ran the Overland track many times before and know it well. The thought of running it after the PCT is worrisome. If we ever do this route I suspect a rest night at Cradle might be the best plan of action. A side trip option is to go up Mt Ossa and make this a sea to summit mission.

FKT History

John Cannell has run this route many times before. He has attempted the audacious goal of doing this route out and back many times. Since he can only attempt it in the winter months, due to the OLT being one way in summer, he has always been thwarted by weather. There is a page on the FKT website for this route but it isn’t active. I suspect John might have the quickest time for the route. I plan on asking him and updating this page with his time.

Otherwise the FKT for the PCT alone is 21hr 22minutes (link. That puts in perspective how challenging the route truly is.

PCT – OLT Photos

South West Track

This route is an almost perfect 100 miles starting at Scott’s peak dam and finishing at Cockle creek. It involves linking the Port Davey track and the South Coast track together. I have ran the south coast track once before starting from Cockle Creek and running into Melaleuca (one day I’ll do a post about this). It was a monumental day, taking 24 hours in total to complete it and the prospect of returning frightens me. Justin suggested this route a few years ago with the idea of flying in supplies to Melaleuca and possibly having a night sleep before taking on the SCT to run out.

FKT History

The only person I know to have ran this route is Milly Young. She has the current FKT (link) for the route although the time doesn’t show up on FKT website, I presume she is the quickest to do it. There is a mini documentary of the run called “Muddiest Known Time.” You can watch it if you have and Adventure+ subscription.

South Coast Track Photos

Southern Ranges

This is a point to point almost a loop that starts near Lune River and finishes at Cockle creek and traverses the southern ranges reaching the climax of Precipitous bluff. It involves an incredible amount of scrub bashing, a 7km wade through a lagoon then a trudge out the muddy south coast track.

I’ve walked this route once and it remains one of the hardest bushwalks I have ever done. We wore gardening gloves, long sleeves, pants and gaiters to tackle the dense scrub. I only know of a few people to have attempted this route in a single push and the prospect frightens me. I have added it to the wildest trails list because it deserves to be here but I dread the day that I ever attempt it.

FKT History

A group of Hobart trail runners; Piotr, Drew, Lincoln, Matt and Gareth have set the official FKT for this route of 1 day 11h 2m (FKT Link). They were the only people I had ever heard of doing it all in one big push. That was until a friend Hannah Ling and her companion Grace did it. They had a huge day out. I cannot remember their exact time but it was only a few hours slower than the FKT and they did it in scorching conditions.

Here’s a video I found of a solo hike of the route. It highlights how epic and challenging the terrain out there is.

Southern Ranges Photos

Eastern and Western Arthurs

This route links together both the Eastern and Western Arthurs in a single point to point. Starting from Farmhouse Creek and finishing at Scotts Peak. I’ve now done the partial Western Arthurs traverse (A-K) twice (first time link, second time link) but am yet to have tackled the Eastern Arthurs. My friend Dan suggested this mission, he sent a group message to a few of us reminding us that if we ever think of doing it he wants to be involved. This one will take a lot of planning and will need to be self supported unless we can convince a friend to walk supplies into the plains.

FKT History

It’s hard to find much information about people running this route, it’s not recorded on the FKT website. Ben Armstrong has ran what I believe is this route in 31 hours. There is a youtube clip of him doing it. I am not sure of hist exact route and time but I’m sure this would be up there as one of the faster times to do this route.

Western Arthurs Photos

Rules of Engagement

The motivation behind compiling this list isn’t to set FKT’s, it’s more so as a blueprint for future epic adventures. As such we won’t specify any rules regarding support. This is more about creating awesome memories than doing it under specific technicalities. So for the routes where support is available we would probably take advantage of it. Sleeps may be taken and possibly required. Where aid is unavailable it would have to be self supported.

If I ever get around to making badges for these routes I would award them to anyone who completes them in a faster than hiking timeframe. The idea is to have a monstrous day or two out, this isn’t intended as a bushwalking challenge.

Plan of Attack

At the moment there is no plan, just the intention to maybe have a go at these one day. I like having big things on the horizon to look forward to, so this is the culmination of some really big things. As I’ve mentioned before there is no time limit or speed requirement. This is a non-competitive trail running challenge that I hope to take on with a variety of mates over many years. I’m sure some great stories will come from these epic adventures.

Wrapping Up

So that’s our Wildest Trails, or at least the ones we could thing of. Send me a comment or a message if you can think of any others that are worthy of being on the list.

I am also interested in knowing more about any other people that may have already done these before. Let me know if you know of any more people that have done any of these. I would love to pick their brains.

Finally I guess this is a challenge for others if they are willing to take it. Obviously a dangerous, torturous challenge. If you do attempt any of these let me know. We might have to design some badges to give out 😉