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.
The Whip Snake Gorge hike is a 10km return trail over uneven surfaces of soil, sand and rock. It leads into Whip Snake Gorge, ending at a small permanent pool. The shaded amphitheatre supports rock figs, Brittle Range gum, ferns and mosses.
Following the creek bed amongst the beehive domes and large potholes for 2.8km from the Piccaninny Creek car park and you'll reach the Window, a natural window in a sandstone structure that provides amazing views of the Bungle Bungle Range. This spot is magic at sunset. Please do not climb the Window.
Continue along Piccaninny Creek for another 20 minutes and you'll find Whip Snake Gorge. Whipsnake Gorge is a small shady gorge filled with ferns, figs and brittle gums approximately 5km along Piccaninny Creek in Purnululu National Park.
Grade 4 (Hard) -
Challenging Walks for Experienced Walkers: Grade 4 on the
AWTGS signifies challenging walking tracks. Bushwalking experience is recommended for these tracks, which may be long, rough, and very steep. Directional signage may be limited, requiring a good sense of navigation. These walks are suited for experienced walkers who are comfortable with steeper inclines, rougher terrain, and potentially longer distances.
Total distance: 9610 m
Max elevation: 475 m
Min elevation: 247 m
Total climbing: 328 m
Total descent: -327 m
Login to Download GPXGPX files, maps and content are copyright Trail Hiking Australia. Not to be copied, redistributed or uploaded to other platforms including AllTrails.
Leave a trip plan
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.
Getting there
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.
Accommodation nearby
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
About the region
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.
Gallery
Got any photos from this hike? Your photos can help others plan. Share shots from along the trail so fellow hikers know what to expect.
Click to add your photos >>
Similar walks nearby
Looking for more walks in or near Purnululu National Park? Try these trails with a similar difficulty grade.
Favourite
Favourite
Favourite
Favourite
Suggest an edit
Notice something different about this trail? Whether it’s a new feature, a route change, or a closure, share your update so we can keep our info accurate and helpful for fellow hikers.
Click to suggest edits >>