Distance: 8.2 km | Duration: 2h | Elevation: + 391m
Snapshot: Start at The Springs parking lot, follow the Pinnacle Track then continue east along the Organ Pipes Track until reaching the Chalet, then turn around and walk back.
Rain drizzled down as I walked up the seemingly endless stone steps that would carry me up the mountainside. Among the sound of rain drops hitting leaves were the inviting calls of various birds tucked away among the foliage of tall eucalyptus trees.
Flowers and mosses poked out from the forest’s understory. I stopped every now and then to caress their soft petals while catching my breath due to not being used to the altitude. I started the trail at the Springs parking lot (located beside the Lost Freight Café), which is at 697m of elevation. Over the course of the hike, the trail gains just under 400m of elevation, resulting in an ascension of up to 1,022m above sea level.
The delightfully rich smell of wet earthy soil and eucalyptus fills my lungs as I walk through the lush tunnel of vegetation that borders the winding stone path. The tunnel of green creates an enchanting lost world-type look which makes me feel like I’m on an Indiana Jones expedition.
The forest is made up of variable shades of dark green with occasional pops of white and red. The vegetation here looks a lot scragglier and thicker than what I’m used to. Probably in part due to the plants hardening themselves against drought and actually having the time and energy to invest in their foliage without risk of losing their leaves after every growing season, like back in Canada.
The winding path eventually crosses a couple narrow boulder fields. Here, nooks of bright green moss alongside smatters of white lichen can be seen making their home on the rounded rocks of eroded dolerite – the predominant rock type in the area.
The trail then passes below its namesake – the Organ Pipes. Above, you can see the towering columns of Jurassic dolerite that reach up towards the top of the mountain’s east face. These iconic pipes can be seen from almost anywhere down in Hobart on a clear day.
Opposite the impressive geologic feature is an unobstructed panoramic view of the city of Hobart nestled within the mountain’s lush valleys and rolling foothills along with a plethora of surrounding bays and specks of coastal islands in the distance. It’s breathtaking. And as luck would have it, the rain cleared up just as I’d reached this vantage point, rewarding me with the full featured view.
The trail continues on towards the Chalet which consists of a partially enclosed wooden shelter that harbours a couple picnic benches and has a stone fireplace situated along one of the walls. It’s possible to continue walking in order to create a lengthy circuit route which includes a few road walking stints, but I decided to turn around here, due to a growing sensation of hunger in the pit of my stomach and wanting to enjoy the columns and views once more.
