Best way to Lake How (February Plains)

[JoeyJibJabber]

Hey Guys, I'm wanting to check out lake How in the next couple of months. Was wondering if anyone had any information on the best route to take? I thought driving to Sardine creek and walking cross country from there? Not sure how that road is though? Are there any locked gates etc?

[pazzar]

You would need to check with STT about getting access to the road to Sardine Creek. There is a locked gate off Borradaile Road from memory, but you might be able to get a key. It is mostly open walking across the plains, so it should only take a couple of hours to walk down to Lake How.

If you have no luck getting access to the road, and don't feel like a long road bash from Borradaile, heading north from the Wurragarra Creek crossing on the Arm River Track is again mostly open, easy off track walking.

[rob colman]

Thanks for the posts on February Plains to Lake How. I'd be keen to hear how open are the plains themselves -- are they scrubby or reasonably clear?

[north-north-west]

It is possible to follow open ground almost the entire way between Wurragurra Creek - or even Tarn of Islands - and Basil Steers' #1 hut. There is a taped pad between the #1 and #2 huts, plus from the #2 hut to the road (two different routes, in fact) and from #2 to Sardine Creek itself. There's a lot of dodge and weave involved, but you can do a great deal of walking up there without encountering any scrub.
There is also a route from the Arm River Track to the Smurf Hut, which does encounter a bit of scrub but only minor patches. Once up the valley you can, again, wander where you want just dodging what scrub or forest there is.
Much of the plains were severely burnt some years back (before the 2019 debacle) and are still slowly recovering. But it's a fantastic area to explore.

Also, the road from Borrodaile Plains is ungated until the NP boundary. It's rough gravel but OK for 2wd with care. There is parking at the trackhead to Basil's #1 hut (unofficial sign) and just before the gate.

[rob colman]

Many thanks north-north-west, very helpful and sounds like a great place!