High above the Guy Fawkes River, the country opens into escarpment, gorge and wild river country. On 26 April 2026, Annie and I headed out from Chaelundi Campground to run the Guy Fawkes River Wilderness Walk — a route that turned out to be one of those rare combinations of genuine wilderness, surprisingly runnable terrain and spectacular scenery.
Route details
- Route: Guy Fawkes River Wilderness Walk
- Date: 26 April 2026
- Team: Keelan Birch & Annabelle Swainston
- Category: Mixed-gender team
- Style: Unsupported
- Time: 4:18:07
- Direction: Clockwise
Starting from Chaelundi
Annie and I got away a little later than planned, arriving at Chaelundi Campground before setting off along the Escarpment Track.
Right from the beginning, conditions were excellent. The track had recently been mowed and was in great shape — a credit to National Parks and Wildlife Service — and it was relatively dry underfoot, making for easy progress.
We followed the Escarpment Track all the way to Jordan’s Trail, which was a pleasant surprise. Rather than rough wilderness access, it was a well-maintained old four-wheel-drive track, easy to follow and opening up some incredible views into the gorge country on both sides.
For the next hour or two we made good time, soaking in the scenery and enjoying terrain that was far more runnable than we had expected.
Down into the gorge
Eventually, Jordan’s Trail tipped sharply downhill. The descent became very steep, loose and dry — steep enough in places that running simply wasn’t worth the risk, so we walked sections of it.
Towards the bottom, the country opened into grassy flats as we reached the Guy Fawkes River.
From there, the route became something really special.
Running the Guy Fawkes River
We followed a mixture of old vehicle tracks, newer pads and well-worn brumby trails winding alongside the river. There was plenty of sand underfoot too — sandy singletrack in places, broad sandy sections and stretches of dry riverbed that gave the lower section a remote and wild feel.
Progress was surprisingly smooth, with around ten river crossings keeping things interesting. Even where tracks disappeared, navigation remained fairly intuitive and it was generally easy to read the natural lines of the country.
About halfway along we came across a huge mob of brumbies. The horses were curious and calm, and seeing them in such wild country was a memorable encounter.
The river section delivered one stunning vista after another. For the most part, we were able to run comfortably while following the river through the gorge.
Finding the climb out
The most challenging part came at the turnoff where we left the river and began climbing out via a spur.
There’s no obvious landmark marking the start of the ascent, so we relied on the GPX. We followed a gully before pushing through some light bush-bashing onto the spur itself.
As we climbed, the route gradually became clearer, developing from indistinct ground into a faint footpad. The climb started brutally steep, eased halfway through with a flatter section, then kicked sharply upwards again near the top before eventually bringing us back to the junction.
Clockwise or anticlockwise?
We completed the loop clockwise and, based on our experience, that felt like a good direction for running the route, although NPWS signage recommends travelling anticlockwise.
Going clockwise meant descending the steep Jordan’s Trail section and climbing the less-defined spur from the river. Either direction involves a substantial climb and descent, but anyone heading into this country should be comfortable following a GPX and navigating sections where the trail is not always obvious.
A surprisingly accessible wilderness adventure
Overall, we completed the route much quicker than expected. For a strong runner specifically targeting a fast time, there is clearly scope to move considerably quicker again.
What stayed with us more than the time, though, was how accessible the adventure felt. This is rugged and remote country, but on the day we visited it never felt overly intimidating. We felt comfortable throughout our time in the gorge, while still getting that unmistakable sense of being somewhere wild.
The combination of escarpment views, river running, repeated crossings, wildlife encounters, sandy trails and the steep climb back out made it a memorable day.
We’d absolutely recommend the Guy Fawkes River Wilderness Walk to experienced trail runners and hikers looking for a bigger wilderness outing. Conditions in remote country can change, so carry appropriate gear, navigation and enough food and water for the day rather than assuming somebody else’s time will translate to your own trip.
The FKT
Our run was recorded as an unsupported mixed-gender team Fastest Known Time in 4 hours, 18 minutes and 7 seconds.
The FKT was a nice outcome, but this was really one of those days where the route itself was the highlight. Guy Fawkes River is a hidden gem of wilderness running, and we came away already looking forward to exploring more of the country out there.