Mount Pelion East, Mountain summit in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania, Australia
Mount Pelion East rises to 1,486 meters (4,876 feet) above sea level with a distinctive spire-like shape formed through glacial erosion of dolerite rock. The summit sits within the national park's high country and overlooks surrounding peaks and valleys from its exposed top.
The mountain stands as a testament to Tasmania's geological evolution, with its dolerite composition dating back to the Jurassic period around 185 million years ago. These ancient rocks were later sculpted into their distinctive shape through ice age processes during more recent glacial cycles.
The mountain holds deep connections to Tasmanian Aboriginal communities who have maintained spiritual and cultural relationships with this land for generations. These ties shape how visitors experience and respect the place today.
The summit can be accessed via a side track from the Overland Track, with the nearest base at Pelion Hut requiring advance booking from November to April. Visitors should be prepared for changing weather and windy conditions at the top, bringing warm layers for protection.
From this summit you get clear views of Mount Ossa, Tasmania's highest peak, which stands out impressively from this vantage point. The eastern slopes mark the boundary of the Murchison River catchment, revealing an important hydrological feature of the region.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
