Upper Perseverance Heights Caves Circuit (2024 update)

In the mountains that set above Lake Perseverance there are a beautiful set of yellow and oche caves that dominate the cliff line. The whole cliff line is composed of uplifted sandstone that is slowly eroding away to form the caves and rock structures.

On this visit the vegetation had significantly covered many of the fire trails that dominate this area following the fires of some time passed. It is for this reason that this normally quite easy route has become much more difficult to follow.

The start is off a gazetted road that passes an unfenced farming property. Lanyon Rd, which goes to the National Park entrance via 3 gates. Lanyon rd comes off Deeth Rd, which extends off Grapetree road. All of these are dirt roads.

After jumping the National Park Gate, you will proceed left down a firetrail that descends into the adjoining valley. This will go through a hoop pine forests after Crossing a creek. Following the firetrail along you will eventually come to a left-hand turn that will ascend you up to the Ridgeline, which has the caves on it.

Turning right at the junction, the firetrail becomes even more overgrown and eventually leads to the main cave and cliff line area. Here, you will descend, and then you will slowly work your way round the edge of the cliffs visiting the caves before ascending back up to the ridge. This track then looped back to the top of the iconic lookouts which overlook Lake Perseverance.

From here to track over the years has virtually disappeared. In years gone past when I have done this walk there has been a campsite which was well frequented which overlooks the whole cliff line and lake area. This is now overgrown.

From here, we followed a path that has now virtually disappeared down the ridge and then descended down to a firetrail. Match of the of the Lantana 3 or 4 years ago was treated by National Parks, but it has come back.

From here we followed the firetrail for a bit before taking a left turn across the creek here and then up to connect with an old firetrail which also has become a grown over which ascends the asjoining ridge line up to a gate. From the gate, the trail becomes very evident and effectively returns you back to the start point.

This hike is also worth doing, and you can well imagine how the local Aborigines used these Caves back 200 years ago. This version of the track does include an extension to the caves which I would rate as hard not moderate which the whole height is. You can do a shorter version which I'll allows you to ascend after the initial three caves on an easier route.