Devil's Thumb Hike. Far North Queensland

Notes by Julian P.      2016

Quick summary:

7 hours return.  plus 1 hour or so break

A.   Start approx sea level. at parking 300m past Karnak playhouse.

3 hours to Fern patch at 950 m altitude.   (2 hrs if you are very athletic).

Take a break here.

B. 1hr 20 min  North across ridge to thumb: 1100m altitude.

Total 4.5 hours.  

Return:

50 min of fast walking back to fern path.

1hr40 hours down approx   

Total  2hr40 from thumb. 

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Grand total:  about 7 hours.  plus about 1 hr breaks and lunch = 8 hr

eg leave at 7am, add 8 hrs =  1500hrs back at car.  

Bring 2-3 litres of water per person. You will drink a lot on the steep climb to the ridge.  Start early to avoid heat on way up and to have plenty of time at the top to have lunch etc.  

Detailed description:

Getting to Parking at base of climb:

A series of small country roads: 

Turnoff left just after Murano’s service station (10 min North of Mossman) . On the road that goes from Mossman to the Daintree Ferry.   

After passing the primary school, 
Follow signs to "High Falls Farm" (restaurant) along Whyanbeel rd. 

After small bridge,  do not go left to Falls restaurant, but take next left to Karnak Playhouse.

Go past the old playhouse, up the road 300m.   You will come to gates to 2 properties.  Park in the small parking area on the right. 

Follow the dirt road on the right to gate, follow the signs on the gate to bypass the property. This leads to a creek.

Go downstream 100m . Cross the creek where you can see an obvious track the other side.

From here on, the track is maintained and obvious.  There is a National Park sign at the bottom of the track. 

Parking (sea-level approx)  to Fern patch (950 m altitude) :

3 hours to the open area (visible on the way in from the road, above the series of waterfalls).  This is called the “coral fern patch”,  as it has a large area of “coral” fern bushes.  There is a trench cut through them, as well  as an aluminium stairway on a steep bit.

at about 270m altitude (less than 1 hour approx), you will come to a track to the left. DO NOT take this - this goes to a waterfall. 

Fern Patch to thumb

1.5 hours to the thumb.

Follow the thin track through the fern, up to a forest of thin trees.

Follow the narrow track, with orange tape.  Avoid returning when dark, as one can easily get lost if it wasn't for the tape.

At one stage, the track goes between 2 large boulders. You will need to scramble up between them using tree roots etc.  

When you arrive at the thumb, Go behind it to a small flat area.  Use the tree growing out to clamber up the short distance, then you are on top of the thumb - great 360 degree views.  

General Notes:

Do not do if it has rained heavily the day before - the steep track will be very slippery. 

Look at the day’s weather report before leaving - you will need a fine day.  Rain will make the descent dangerous and unpleasant.

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Bring: a light jacket in case of drizzle or wind - it’s up to 5 degrees cololer up there. Hypothermia is possible in strong rain.

Snacks,  a packed lunch, small 1st aid kit for cuts etc. 

1 torch in case of rain.

2-3 Litres of water per person.  you will consume about 1L on the ascent. 

A phone for emergencies. There is good reception with Telstra, maybe other carriers at the coral fern patch onwards.  

Bring trekking poles if you have them for the descent. Otherwise improvise with a branch.  

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Do not leave late, as you may get lost in the dark on the way back on narrow tracks with some fake sidetracks.

see the entry with photos on my personal blog:

click Here