A complete guide to the Leven Canyon lookout hike in Tasmania. Learn how to get here, what to expect, and see photos from the Cruickshanks lookout and The Edge over the scenic Leven Canyon and Leven River.
Are you looking for one of the most bang-for-time lookout hikes in Tasmania? I’ve got you covered with this quick guide to Leven Canyon Lookout in Northern Tasmania.
This is a very light walk that is also very easy to get to. It’s also a circuit loop track, which means you’ll get epic views over the Leven Canyon from two lookout points without having to retrace your steps.
I'm Olly, a full-time traveler for the past 5 years. I visit every destination I write about & handpick all recommendations.
Where is the Leven Canyon in Tasmania?
The Leven Canyon is located in the Leven Canyon Regional Reserve, approximately 52 kilometres from Devonport. The closest town is called Nietta.
Below I have pinned the exact location of the reserve, where you will find the start of the walking track.
- Google Maps Pin: "Leven Canyon Picnic Area"
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How to Get to Leven Canyon
The only way to get to the Leven Canyon walk is with your own transport. That's because there are no public transport options running this route.
If you're coming from Devonport or Launceston, you'll want to take Casta Road towards Nietta. From here, take Loongana Road all the way until you see signs for the lookout. The road is sealed and well-maintained the entire way until you get to the turn-off.
Here, it's just a short stretch of unsealed road to get to the picnic area. Regardless, this road is quite well-graded and you'll manage with any vehicle type.
Car Rentals in Tasmania
Unfortunately, the cost of bringing your own car on the Spirit of Tasmania has skyrocketed in recent years.Now, it is usually cheaper to rent a car on arrival. I recommend using DiscoverCars in Tasmania to compare rates for different vehicles across dealerships.
(Rentals are limited in Tasmania so it's a good idea to book in advance).
If you don't have your own transport, consider checking out some of these epic experiences in Tasmania instead.
The Leven Canyon Lookout Walk
- Hiking Distance: 1.9 km circuit loop
- Duration: 1 hour
- Elevation: 149 metres elevation gain
- Difficulty: Easy
The Leven Canyon lookout walk is rated as fairly easy. The track is very well maintained and if you walk this in an anti-clockwise direction to Cruickshank's lookout first, you will avoid any real steep climbs.
However, note that the descent down from Cruickshank's lookout to the Edge lookout is quite steep and involves many steps. If you're not up for this, you can walk to the Cruickshanks lookout and just return to the car park on the same track.
However, I highly recommend that you do walk the entire loop. It's a very scenic hike that wanders through rich forest terrain with many beautiful fern trees.
The Cruickshanks Lookout Over Leven Canyon
The first stretch of this circuit loop leads to Cruickshanks lookout, the main lookout over the canyon. From here, you'll get an aerial view of the Leven River and see how it has carved a deep canyon out of the mountainside. It's seriously one of the wildest viewpoints in Tasmania, and to reach it after less than 15 minutes is just unbelievable.
There is a short viewing platform that stretches out over the canyon. Here you'll get a view of this dramatic landscape and get the opportunity to capture some great photos.
Get Clean Drinking Water on Your Hike
I take the Grayl GeoPress Purifier Bottle on every hike and use it as my go-to source for filtering water all over the world. I've even used it to drink tap water in India!
Compare how the GeoPress stacks up against the best water bottle filters on the market.
The Ultimate Tasmania Travel Resource
Looking for more Tasmania travel guides & adventure inspiration? Below are my most comprehensive blog posts that will serve as a great free resource for your trip.
The Loop Track to The Edge Lookout
If you're up for a steep descent, then continue this circuit loop by following the steps down to the Edge lookout. This is another great viewpoint from a very similar angle, just a lot lower down the canyon.
The walk is really scenic and it's refreshing to be able to complete this hike to Leven Canyon in a loop rather than just doubling back.
More Things to do in Tasmania
I hope that you've enjoyed this quick guide to visiting Leven Canyon in Tasmania. For more travel guides and adventure content, make sure to check out some of my other guides.