This hike is only for experienced, self-sufficient hikers who have first registered at the visitor centre and have a personal locator beacon (PLB). Temperatures within the park and on the walk trails can reach 40°C (104°F) and radiant heat can increase the temperature to over 50°C (122°F).€¯ As a minimum carry and drink 1 litre of water per hour of walking, per person, even in the winter months.
Journey into the heart of the magnificent Bungle Bungle Range and experience up close the impressive deeply cut gorges, and formations of Piccaninny Creek. This overnight trek is along an uneven, stony, and sandy creek bed with large potholes, boulders and occasionally through pools of water. This is an unmarked route with no facilities or directional signage.
The walk into Piccaninny Gorge has no marked track and no defined endpoint so hikers must rely on their own navigational skills to complete the walk. The walk to the gorge entrance (the Elbow) is around 10km and takes at least half a day so if you didn't want to venture into the entire gorge system, turn around before or at this point for an excellent but long day hike.
From the Elbow of Piccaninny Gorge it's approximately 4km into the first of the five fingers (side gorges). The fingers terrain changes considerably as you head further up each gorge. Great care must be taken when exploring.
To explore the entire gorge system, a total of more than 40km, hikers need to camp for at least a night, 2 would be better. The track is moderately easy up to the gorge entrance. It then becomes moderately difficult in the gorge itself, with hikers having to negotiate around fallen boulders, loose rocks and along creek beds.
Those planning to camp overnight must register at the visitor centre before setting out and on their return. There is no permanent water, however during the wet season and early in the dry, waterholes may be present. Black Rock Pool is the most reliable source of water. Water must be treated before drinking. To preserve the water quality and the natural eco-system, do NOT swim at Black Rock.
Carry plenty of water (5-8 litres of water per person per day) and a fuel stove for cooking as campfires are not permitted and take a first aid kit, PLB, map, compass and GPS.
Walkers must be prepared and take adequate food, water and clothing. There is no reliable drinking water in the gorge. Hikers must register at the visitors centre and a satellite phone or Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) must be carried at all times. Take warm clothing and sleeping gear - temperatures can go below freezing at night. Flash flooding may occur in the gorge between December and April. Carry out all rubbish including toilet paper. Bury human waste at least 150mm deep and 30m from the water.
Grade 5 (Difficult) - Walks for the Most Experienced: Grade 5 represents the most challenging walking tracks on the
AWTGS. These are only recommended for very experienced and fit walkers with specialised skills, including navigation and emergency first aid. Tracks are likely to be very rough, very steep, and unmarked. Walks may be more than 20 kilometers. These challenging walks demand a high level of fitness and experience to navigate difficult terrain, significant elevation changes, and potentially unformed paths.
This hike is only for experienced, self-sufficient hikers who have first registered at the visitor centre. Carry plenty of water (5-8 litres of water per person per day) and a fuel stove for cooking as campfires are not permitted and take a first aid kit, PLB, map, compass and GPS.
Total distance: 39532 m
Max elevation: 518 m
Min elevation: 247 m
Total climbing: 1824 m
Total descent: -1824 m
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Before you go, complete a trip intentions form and share it with a trusted contact. Agree on a Late-Back Time and ask them to call 000 (Police) if you have not checked in. A clear trip plan is one of the simplest and most effective safety steps you can take.
Download the hiking preparation and safety checklists before leaving home to help you think through your plans. They help ensure important considerations are not overlooked and support safer decision-making on the trail.
Getting to the trailhead: Purnululu National Park.
Access to the park by road is via Spring Creek Track, from the Great Northern Highway approximately 250 km south of Kununurra, to the track’s end at the Purnululu National Park Visitor Centre. The track is 53 km long and is usable only in the dry season (April 1 to December 31), and only by four-wheel-drive (4WD) high clearance vehicles and off-road trailers. Safely navigating it takes approximately three hours. From the Purnululu National Park Visitor Centre, the trail head is then located a further 27 kilometres drive south.
Need a rental car to get you to the hike? Find one here.
Find accommodation close to the trailhead including hotels, cabins, and campgrounds. Use the interactive map to explore available options in nearby towns.
Nearby towns: Balgo, Billiluna, Fitzroy Crossing, Halls Creek, Kununurra, Marble Bar, Turkey Creek, Warmun, Wyndham
The Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park is one of the most striking geological landmarks in Western Australia, offering a remote wilderness experience. Purnululu attracts visitors for a whole range of reasons; the sheer grandeur of the sandstone massif, watching it change to a golden colour late in the day, walking through some of the marvellous gorges and for the really well-prepared, a walk along Piccaninny Creek for an overnight camping experience.
Other walks include the Echidna Chasm Trail, Mini Palms Gorge Trail, the walk to Kungkalanayi Lookout, Cathedral Gorge, the Domes Walk, Homestead Valley Trail, Piccaninny Creek Lookout, Whip Snake Gorge and the Northern Escarpment Trail.
Looking for more walks in or near Purnululu National Park? Try these trails with a similar difficulty grade.
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