Bago State Forest

Bago State Forest is an incredibly diverse forest, incorporating native alpine ash on the Bago Plateau, historic arboretum plantings dating back to the early 1900s, radiata pine plantations and the popular Blowering Dam foreshore. It offers spectacular nature-based attractions and visitor experiences beloved by locals and visitors alike.

Visitor facilities

Pilot Hill Arboretum

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Pilot Hill is a fabulous spot for a day trip to Bago State Forest. Located less than a half hour drive from both Batlow and Tumbarumba and near the village of Laurel Hill, Pilot Hill offers a beautiful picnic area surrounded by lush forest and open, grassy areas.

The arboretum is also home to three sculptures of the Bago Sculpture Forest. The arboretum has plantings of more than fifty tree species from all over the world, with most planted in the 1920s and 1930s. Two short walking tracks pass through the arboretum and the adjoining native forest of alpine ash.

The site is a great base to begin further explorations into the native alpine ash forest of the Bago Plateau and is an integral part of the Snowy Valleys Nature Wellness Drive and the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail. You can find out more in the video below.

The Wellness Walk, Pilot Hill Arboretum

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The Wellness Walk takes visitors through towering pines via an accessible track. The Wellness Walk incorporates sculptural features such as the Sound Pod, where visitors can listen to the amplified sounds of the forest, and the Sky Seat, a place to lie down and gaze up through the trees. These form part of the Naturefix stations along the track, designed to help visitors reconnect with nature, and the sights and sounds of the forest.

Alpine Ash Walk, Pilot Hill Arboretum

The Alpine Ash Walk takes visitors along a beautiful forest walk, invigorating the senses and featuring sculptures along the way. Part of the Bago Sculpture Forest, this 1km, one-way walking track features several sculptures by local, national and international artists for visitors to interact with and enjoy.

Bago Sculpture Forest

The Sculpture Forest within Bago State Forest is a unique cultural tourism offering, forming part of the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail. With 13 sculptures (and more to be added over time) spread across Pilot Hill Arboretum, Alpine Ash Walk and the new Sugar Pines, the Bago Sculpture Forest offers visitors interpretations of the natural world in situ. The Bago Sculpture Forest is the result of a partnership between Forestry Corporation, Sculpture by the Sea and the local community, in response to the Black Summer fires of 2019/20 which had a significant impact on the region.

Paddy's River Dam

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The beautiful Paddys River dam is a peaceful and scenic spot, and a popular attraction in the heart of the alpine ash forests of the Bago Plateau. In summer, it's a great place to go fishing or splash around in the waters of the Dam, and a year-round great place to camp and relax. It was originally constructed as a source of water for gold mining activities in the late 1800s.

Please note that due to the small size of the dam only ‘passive water activities’ are permitted, such as kayaking, swimming, recreational fishing and use of only small electric motored boats, due to the small size of the dam. No powerboats, jet skis or waterskiing.

Paling Yards

An interesting spot on the edge of the Paddy River, a lush green open flat in the high country plains.

Sugar Pines

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Whilst the 100+ year old original and iconic Sugar Pine Walk was destroyed in the 2019-2020 fire season, a new grove of pines has been planted for future generations to enjoy. Whilst these trees grow, the Sugar Pines visitor area still offers visitors plenty of opportunities for forest enjoyment, from a children’s nature playground, to two large sculptural installations (part of the Bago Sculpture Forest) to a wedding arbour (Forest Permits are available for events such as weddings via our website).

Blowering Dam Foreshore

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Restrictions: Area of burnt pine plantation, including McDonald’s Trail, Sturgess’s Trail and Foreshore road between the Flats and Browns Bay remain closed.

There has been significant repair work to the forest to reopen main roads, however many minor fire trails remain closed.

Map of Blowering Dam Camping Access.

Hume and Hovell Walking Track

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The 426km Hume & Hovell Track stretches across South-Eastern NSW, from Yass to Albury, and is perfect for day-trippers, short walks and long-distance hikers, trail runners and ultra-marathon racers.

The track follows the historic route of its explorer namesakes. It finishes at the Murray and passes the Murrumbidgee and the Tumut rivers, covering boardwalks, single track, fire trails and quiet back-country roads.

Make sure you stop in for a short family stroll, a fuller day's hiking in nature or make it a multi-day wilderness adventure. The fully signposted route crosses more than 100 footbridges, and runs along rivers’ edges and through cool-climate forests, with 17 dedicated campsites and picturesque picnic spots along the trail.

You'll get to experience iconic Australian sclerophyll forests of eucalypts, wattles and banksias, sweeping views of valleys below, boardwalks crossing rich swamplands and crystal clear streams of snowmelt.