For a great overall impression of the geographical marvel that is the Kennedy Ranges, you can do no better than walk the 5.8 kilometre return Escarpment Base Trail. There is interesting geology as well as sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) to observe between Temple Gorge Campground and Honeycomb Gorge Trail. A lookout area is a feature of the section between Honeycomb Gorge and Sunrise View trails.
Although there are some loose rocky slopes to contend with, this Class 3 trail is suitable for most reasonably fit walkers. Don't let the 5.8km return hike put you off. The trail skirts the base of sheer rock faces along the edge of this spectacular escarpment. Along the way you can take a short diversion into Honeycomb Gorge. The whole trail features huge boulders that tumbled from the escarpment over time. The stunted contorted sandalwood trees add a stark foreground to massive walls rising out of the rocky plain. Leave early in the morning and watch the rising sun light up the cliffs in a sensational red glow. It is also a good time to watch kangaroos that frequent the area. Sunrise view at trails end is an obvious viewing point. This is one of six walk trials in the park - Temple Gorge, Honeycomb Gorge, Drapers Gorge, the Escarpment Trail (leading to the top of the range), the Escarpment Base Trail, and Sunrise View.
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Start Point: Sunrise Car Park, Kennedy Ranges, 900km north of Perth
End Point: Sunrise Car Park, Kennedy Ranges, 900km north of Perth
Region: Kennedy Range National Park, Coral Coast
For more information, a location map and GPS file please visit Trails WA.
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Scenic landscapes, wilderness, wildflowers, camping, walk trails, night skies, geology – gemstones and marine fossils (to observe only), bird watching and outback photography are some of the attractions at Kennedy Range National Park. Kennedy Range is known as 'Mundatharrda’ to the local Inggarda Aboriginal language group. Kennedy Range is a vast elevated north-south oriented sandstone plateau between 12 and 25km wide and about 75km long. The rocks that comprise the range were originally deposited beneath the sea. Over time they were compressed to form sandstone, then faulted, uplifted and tilted towards the west. Subsequent erosion has isolated the plateau 80m above the surrounding plain. The vegetation of the plain is acacia shrubland (mostly mulga), which shades an abundance of seasonal understory of flowering annuals (including everlastings).
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Kennedy Range National Park
Kennedy Range National Park
Mount Augustus National Park
Mount Augustus National Park
