Snapshot
| Where | Great Southern, Western Australia — about 405km / 4.5 hours south-east of Perth via Albany Highway · Roughly 85km / 1 hour north-east of Albany · 58km / 40 minutes from Porongurup National Park on Chester Pass Road |
|---|---|
| Getting there | All approach roads are sealed — Chester Pass Road and Bluff Knoll Road to the entry station — while Stirling Range Drive (42km) and the mountain access spurs are graded gravel that a 2WD handles in dry conditions; high-clearance is wiser after rain, and tracks can close during fire season |
| Best time | August–November — the wildflower season, with mountain bells on Mount Trio and the upper slopes of Toolbrunup and orchids in the heath, and mild enough days to climb before summer fire danger |
| Worst time | December–March — heat on the exposed ridges and the peak of the fire season; DBCA advises against entering the bush or using footpaths on days of extreme fire danger |
| Time needed | 2–3 days — the peak trailheads straddle the range, Bluff Knoll is a half-day climb and the weather regularly forces a change of plan |
| Cost | $17 per vehicle standard entry ($10 concession) · $8 per person in vehicles carrying more than 12 occupants ($3.50 concession) · $10 per motorcycle · Camping at Moingup Spring is charged per person per night · Walkers and cyclists enter free |
| Facilities | Flush toilet, food-prep shelter with gas stove, sheltered gas barbecue and picnic tables at Moingup Spring (no drinking water — untreated supply not guaranteed); toilets and picnic area at Bluff Knoll; no fuel anywhere in the park; mobile coverage is limited |
| Best for | Peak-baggers after southern WA's highest summit · spring wildflower walkers · self-reliant campers on a Great Southern road trip |
| Difficulty |
4 of 5 — Demanding
The lookouts are roadside and easy, but Bluff Knoll is a steep Grade 4 climb of about 670m, and Toolbrunup, Talyuberlup and the ridge walk need scrambling on loose rock and solid navigation — in a range where cold, rain, hail and fog can arrive on any day of the year. |
Stirling Range National Park — Koi Kyenunu-ruff, 'mist rolling around the mountains' — lifts 65km of jagged peaks out of the Great Southern wheatbelt, and it is the only major mountain range in the southern half of Western Australia. The bedrock is metamorphosed sandstone and shale laid down 2,500–2,900 million years ago, and ripple marks survive on the exposed rock layers on the peaks. Bluff Knoll (Bular Mial), at 1,098m, is the highest point in southern Western Australia. This is Menang (Mineng) and Goreng Noongar country, and the range was inscribed on the National Heritage List on 15 December 2006.
People come for the climbs and the flowers. Eight named peaks have walking tracks, from the 3.5km Mount Trio trail to the Class 5 scramble up Toolbrunup and the multi-day ridge route between Bluff Knoll and Ellen Peak, while the park's 1,500-plus plant species — at least 87 found nowhere else on Earth — fill the heath with mountain bells, orchids and banksias from August into November. The mountains also make their own weather, so a summit can turn cold, wet and windy in an hour, and snow falls on the tops on a handful of days in most winters.
Go if…
- You want a real summit walk — Bluff Knoll is 6.8km return with about 670m of climbing, not a lookout stroll
- You can leave the car park in a shirt and still pack a jacket and rain shell for the top
- Spring wildflowers are the point — mountain bells on Mount Trio and Toolbrunup, orchids and banksias lower down
- You are happy to camp simply or stay on the park boundary and drive between trailheads
Skip it if…
- You want guaranteed views — cloud can sit on the peaks all day in any season
- You need sealed, level paths — every summit track here is steep, stepped or involves scrambling on loose rock
- You plan to walk in summer on high fire-danger days, which DBCA advises against
- You will not carry water and warm layers — there is no drinking water on the tracks and the tops get cold, wet and windy
What to expect
Reviewed
You reach the range on sealed road. From Albany, Chester Pass Road runs north-east past the Porongurup Range and on to the Stirling Range, and the park entry station sits just off it on Bluff Knoll Road, with the bushwalker and climber registration shelter across the road. Inside the park the surface changes: Stirling Range Drive is a 42km loop on mostly unsealed, graded road, wide and well formed, which a 2WD handles comfortably in dry conditions and a high-clearance vehicle handles better after rain. There is no fuel anywhere in the park. Fill up at Mount Barker, Cranbrook, Gnowangerup or Albany before you turn off, and check road and park alerts before you leave town.
Each peak has its own trailhead, and they straddle the range. The Bluff Knoll car park, at the end of sealed Bluff Knoll Road about 8km from Chester Pass Road, has toilets, a viewing platform and an undercover picnic area; the summit trail starts on the southern side of that car park and climbs steeply on a path with numerous steps. Mount Trio leaves from Formby Road South, Mount Hassell from a small car park just off Stirling Range Drive, and Mount Magog from a white gum and heath picnic area reached along a dirt road roughly 26km from Chester Pass Road. Toolbrunup, the second-highest peak in the range, is at the end of 4km of dirt road off Chester Pass Road, where the car park holds only about six vehicles. Talyuberlup's trail starts directly on Stirling Range Drive. What all of them share is steepness — the shortest walk here is still a climb — and the trailheads sit far enough apart that driving between them takes real time out of a walking day.
The peaks make their own weather and change it fast. A sudden cool change can drop the temperature and bring rain, fog or hail on any day of the year, and winter days on Bluff Knoll max out around 11°C and fall to around 3°C — the lowest temperatures recorded anywhere in Western Australia. Snow falls on the tops mostly between June and September, with records as early as April and as late as November, so a summer walk is not the same outing as a winter one. DBCA's advice is to carry warm and waterproof layers in every season, fill in a trip intention form before you walk, and stay out of the bush entirely on days of extreme fire danger, because lightning starts most of the fires in this park.
Spring is when the range earns its reputation. More than 1,500 plant species grow here — at least 87 of them found nowhere else on Earth — across five vegetation communities, from thicket and mallee-heath on the high ground to woodlands, wetlands and salt-lake country on the plains. Nine species of mountain bell grow in the park and only one of them grows anywhere outside it; you find them on Mount Trio and the upper slopes of Toolbrunup, with orchids and banksias lower down. Nearly 150 bird species have been recorded, among them Carnaby's black cockatoos, western rosellas, red-capped parrots, wedge-tailed eagles and western spinebills, and the mammals run from western grey kangaroos and western brush wallabies to quokkas, quendas and the western pygmy possum. Tiger snakes and dugites live here too and are rarely seen — watch your hands and feet on rock steps, and stay on formed tracks to limit the spread of dieback.
Two things are worth doing before you walk. If you intend to leave a marked track, climb or abseil, sign the register in the shelter in the picnic area across from the entry station — established walks need no registration, but a trip intention form left with someone reliable is still the DBCA advice, and a personal locator beacon is worth carrying given how patchy reception is. And read the cultural story at the Eastern Lookout on Stirling Range Drive rather than going looking for sites yourself. Bluff Knoll — Bular Mial — is a place of great spiritual significance to the Menang and Goreng Noongar peoples, believed to be home to a powerful ancestral being; the mists that roll down its faces are said to be that spirit, Noatch, made visible.
Where to stay
Most people base at the retreats and bush camps on the park's northern boundary at Amelup, or in Mount Barker, Cranbrook or Gnowangerup, and drive between the peak trailheads; Moingup Spring is the only campground inside the park.
When bookings open: Moingup Spring has seven unpowered campsites and bookings are essential — you can book online up to 180 days (about six months) ahead, or up to and including the day of arrival if sites are left. Official booking page. Checked 28 October 2026. Booking dates for every state.
| Stay | Guest rating | Best for | Distance | Style | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stirling Range Retreat | 4.3 / 5 (155 reviews, Tripadvisor) | The comfortable base at the northern foot of the range — a bed, a camp kitchen and a shower after a summit day | 8639 Chester Pass Road, Amelup — on the park's northern boundary | Rammed-earth cabins, motel rooms, two-bedroom chalets, onsite vans and powered or unpowered caravan and camp sites, with a large camp kitchen, guest laundry and seasonal pool | Check rates |
| Mount Trio Bush Camp and Caravan Park | 4.5 / 5 (303 ratings, Western Australia tourism listing) | Bush camping beside the park, closest to Mount Trio, Toolbrunup and Mount Hassell | 4850 Salt River Road, Amelup — bordering the national park | Powered and unpowered bush sites on a working farm, with nature trails through wildflowers and orchids and an open log fire outside the restricted fire season | Check rates |
| Moingup Spring Campground (DBCA) | 4.3 / 5 (41 ratings, Exa listing) | Sleeping inside the park between the eastern and western peaks | 6357 Chester Pass Road, on the range's southern side near Toolbrunup | Seven unpowered campsites on compacted gravel, flush toilet, food-prep shelter with gas stove and a sheltered barbecue in the day-use area · no drinking water, no campfires, no dogs, no bins | Book now |
| The Lily Stirling Range | 4.8 / 5 (102 ratings, Exa listing) | Something different after a walking trip — a working windmill on the highway | 9793 Chester Pass Road, Amelup — a few minutes north of the park | Self-contained lodging in and around a restored 16th-century Dutch windmill | Check rates |
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What to do here
8 walks & sights
Bluff Knoll Summit Trail
The highest point in southern Western Australia, done as a day walk. The trail starts on the southern side of the Bluff Knoll car park and climbs steeply on a path with numerous steps to the 1,098m summit of Bluff Knoll (Bular Mial), where the view runs the length of the range. Cloud can close it in at any time of year, so carry warm and waterproof layers even on a warm morning, and turn back if the weather turns on the ridge.
Toolbrunup Peak
The second-highest peak in the range and the most committing of the day walks. The trail climbs steadily and finishes in steep loose rock and scree, with some scrambling near the top; the summit is barely bigger than half a tennis court. The trailhead is at the end of 4km of dirt road off Chester Pass Road and the small car park fills early, and you need good fitness for the descent on loose ground.
Mount Trio Trail
A steep but straightforward climb from Formby Road South, with steps for the first kilometre and rewarding wildflowers on the way up. Mountain bells and other endemics grow on the upper slopes, and the flower display peaks from mid-August to October. The summit gives a wide view across the heath and the rest of the range.
Mount Hassell Trail
A gentle start on the lower slopes, then scree and a rocky scramble onto the 847m summit. The trailhead and small car park sit just off Stirling Range Drive, which makes this the easiest of the eastern peaks to combine with the scenic drive. The last section is exposed rock, so take care when it is wet or windy.
Mount Magog Walk Trail
The quietest of the main summits, and rougher for it. The track begins at a white gum and heath picnic area reached along a dirt road about 26km from Chester Pass Road, and it can be overgrown in places; pegs mark the final kilometre and the last section needs rock scrambling. Treat it as a half-day walk and carry a map, since the route is not always obvious.
Talyuberlup Walk Trail
A short distance on paper and a serious walk in practice. The trail starts on Stirling Range Drive and climbs through gullies, caves and rocky outcrops to the serrated quartzite pinnacle; Trails WA grades it an extreme trail for very experienced bushwalkers, with a rough surface, rock scrambling and limited waymarking. The access road is 2WD, but the walk itself is hands-on from the first kilometre.
Stirling Range Drive and the lookouts
The road through the heart of the park, on graded gravel that a 2WD manages in dry conditions. Western Lookout frames Baby Barnett Hill and Mondurup Peak and is ablaze with colour at the height of wildflower season, while the signage at Eastern Lookout tells the cultural story of Bluff Knoll. Picnic areas along the way make this the option for a day when cloud is sitting on the tops.
Stirling Ridge Walk (Bluff Knoll to Ellen Peak)
The multi-day traverse along the range's highest spine, covering about 15.5km between Bluff Knoll and Ellen Peak and usually done with two nights of bivouac. It is a route rather than a marked walking track — the track is easy to lose, the weather is alpine, and it is rated for highly experienced bushwalkers with navigation and alpine skills. Sign the register at the shelter across from the entry station, carry a personal locator beacon, and go only in settled weather.
Stirling Range National Park itineraries: 1, 2 or 3 days
3 plans
One day: Bluff Knoll and the range drive
- Early morning. Bluff Knoll Summit Trail from the car park at the end of Bluff Knoll Road (sealed, about 8km from Chester Pass Road): 6.8km return, 3–4 hours, Grade 4, climbing about 670m on a steep path with numerous steps to the 1,098m summit. Start early — cloud often builds through the day.
- Afternoon. Drive Stirling Range Drive (42km, mostly unsealed, graded) and stop at Western Lookout, framed by Baby Barnett Hill and Mondurup Peak, and Eastern Lookout, where the signage tells the cultural story of Bluff Knoll.
- Late afternoon. The short walk at the Western Lookout picnic area before driving out, rather than another summit track — the peaks here are all climbs, and daylight is better spent on one of them.
6.8km of walking, no nights. Vehicle entry is $17 per day ($10 concession) and is paid at the entry station off Bluff Knoll Road; walkers and cyclists enter free. There is no fuel and no drinking water in the park — fill up at Mount Barker, Cranbrook or Gnowangerup and carry 3–4 litres per person. This plan uses no campsite. Check DBCA alerts and fire danger before you leave: the advice is not to enter the bush or use footpaths on days of extreme fire danger.
Two days: add Toolbrunup and a night at Moingup Spring
- Day 1, morning. Bluff Knoll Summit Trail (6.8km return, 3–4 hours, Grade 4) from the Bluff Knoll car park.
- Day 1, afternoon. Stirling Range Drive (42km) with the Western and Eastern lookouts, then into camp at Moingup Spring.
- Day 2, morning. Toolbrunup Peak from the end of Toolbrunup Road, 4km of dirt road off Chester Pass Road: 4km return, 3–4 hours, Class 5, with steep loose rock and scree on the final quarter. The car park holds only about six vehicles, so start early.
- Day 2, afternoon. Mount Trio Trail from Formby Road South — 3.5km return, 2–3 hours, steep steps for the first kilometre and mountain bells on the upper slopes.
Day 1 is 6.8km of walking and day 2 about 7.5km across Toolbrunup (4km return) and Mount Trio (3.5km return); one night at Moingup Spring. Book the campsite online up to 180 days ahead — there are only seven unpowered sites — and pay the per-person camping fee by card when you book (DBCA's fee schedule works its example at $15 per adult per night); vehicle entry of $17 is payable for the day of arrival only. No campfires, no dogs, no bins, and no drinking water. There is no fuel in the park, so fill up before you turn off Chester Pass Road.
Three days: add Talyuberlup and the eastern peaks
- Day 1. Bluff Knoll Summit Trail (6.8km return, 3–4 hours, Grade 4), then Stirling Range Drive and the lookouts, and a night at Moingup Spring.
- Day 2. Toolbrunup Peak (4km return, 3–4 hours, Class 5) in the morning, Mount Trio Trail (3.5km return, 2–3 hours) in the afternoon.
- Day 3, morning. Talyuberlup Walk Trail from Stirling Range Drive — 2.6km return, 1–3 hours, an extreme-grade trail with rock scrambling, caves and limited signage for very experienced bushwalkers.
- Day 3, afternoon. Choose one peak and not both. Mount Hassell (about 3km return, 2–3 hours, Class 4, summit at 847m) from a small car park just off Stirling Range Drive, or Mount Magog (7km return, 3–4 hours, Class 5) from the white gum and heath picnic area — its track can be overgrown and pegs mark the final kilometre.
Three nights at Moingup Spring. Day 1 is 6.8km of walking, day 2 about 7.5km, and day 3 between about 5.6km and 9.6km depending on which eastern peak you take. Book the campground online up to 180 days ahead and pay the per-person camping fee by card at booking (DBCA's fee schedule works its example at $15 per adult per night); vehicle entry of $17 covers the day of arrival only. No campfires, no dogs, no bins, no drinking water and no fuel in the park. If the forecast is for extreme fire danger, stay off the tracks and read the alerts page before each day's walk.
Suggested gear for Stirling Range National Park
18 items
- Water bottles or a hydration bladder Carry at least 2 litres per person on the walks.
- Water treatment tablets or a filter Treat creek and camping-area water before drinking.
- Sun hat, sunscreen (SPF 50+) and sunglasses
- Sturdy, broken-in walking shoes or boots
- Day pack (20–30 L)
- First aid kit, including blister care
- Insect repellent
- Head torch with spare batteries
- Lightweight rain jacket
- Personal locator beacon Mobile coverage is unreliable in remote parks.
- A waterproof shell plus a warm mid-layer, even in summer Sudden cool changes bring rain, fog and hail to the peaks on any day of the year, and Bluff Knoll winter temperatures run around 11°C by day and 3°C at night.
- A beanie and light gloves for the summits Wind chill on the exposed tops is well below the plains temperature, and snow reaches the range most winters.
- Water capacity for 3–4 litres per person DBCA's daily minimum for walking here, and there is no drinking water on any track — Moingup Spring's untreated supply is not guaranteed.
- Grippy boots with real tread for loose rock and wet steps Toolbrunup finishes on steep scree and Mount Hassell on a rock scramble, and the stepped tracks are slippery when wet.
- A PLB or satellite messenger DBCA and Trails WA both recommend one here; mobile coverage is limited and 000 needs reception to connect.
- Offline park maps via Smartreka/Avenza DBCA publishes geo-referenced maps for the park, and the ridge route in particular is easy to lose when cloud drops visibility.
- Gaiters or long pants for the heath The lower tracks push through dense shrubland, and tiger snakes and dugites are present in the park.
- A saved copy of the DBCA alerts and Emergency WA pages Fire danger days rule out walking altogether, and you may not get signal where you park to check.
How this compares
Stirling Range National Park vs Fitzgerald River National Park
Fitzgerald River, about 185km and 2 hours' drive west along the south coast, is the Great Southern's other botanical heavyweight — one of Australia's most species-rich parks, with Point Ann, sheltered beaches and coastal walking instead of summit tracks. It is wildflower country at sea level rather than in the clouds. Choose Fitzgerald River for coastal scenery and botany; choose Stirling Range for the climbs, the 1,000m peaks and the mountain bells.
- Difficulty
- 2 of 5 — Moderate
- Access
- Sealed roads from Albany and Esperance, with unsealed park roads inland that can close after rain; camping in the park or overnight bases at Hopetoun or Ravensthorpe
- Best for
- Coastal wildflowers · beach walks · a slower leg toward Esperance
Stirling Range National Park vs Walpole-Nornalup National Park
Walpole-Nornalup, a few hours' west through Albany and Denmark, swaps open heath for towering tingle and karri forest, the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk and the sheltered inlets around Nornalup. The walking there is level and protected from the wind, where Stirling Range walking is steep and fully exposed. Choose Walpole-Nornalup for forest walks and calm water; choose Stirling Range for peak-bagging and mountain weather.
- Difficulty
- 1 of 5 — Easy
- Access
- Sealed roads via Albany and Denmark; the Tree Top Walk and main day-use areas are designed for easy access
- Best for
- Tingle forest · accessible treetop walking · sheltered inlets
Stirling Range National Park vs Cape Le Grand National Park
Cape Le Grand, on the coast east of Esperance, is the beach-side alternative on the same road trip — granite peaks above white sand, swimming straight from the shore and short coastal walks rather than full-day summit climbs. The walking is gentler and the scenery is ocean-first. Choose Cape Le Grand for beaches and swimming; choose Stirling Range for high peaks, spring wildflowers and the sense of climbing somewhere.
- Difficulty
- 2 of 5 — Moderate
- Access
- Sealed roads from Esperance; popular campgrounds in the park and a range of accommodation in town
- Best for
- Beach walks · swimming · granite summits above the coast
Before you go
- Vehicle entry is $17 per day ($10 concession), $8 per person in vehicles with more than 12 occupants ($3.50 concession) and $10 for a motorcycle — paid at the entry station off Bluff Knoll Road, where cash, card and self-registration envelopes are used depending on the station
- There is no fuel in the park. Fill up at Mount Barker, Cranbrook, Gnowangerup or Albany before you turn off Chester Pass Road
- Carry 3–4 litres of water per person per day. There is no drinking water on the tracks and Moingup Spring's untreated supply is not guaranteed
- Register at the bushwalker and climber shelter across from the entry station if you leave marked tracks, climb or abseil, leave a trip intention form with someone reliable, and carry a PLB
- Check DBCA park alerts and Emergency WA the morning you leave. DBCA advises against entering the bush or using footpaths on days of extreme fire danger
- Book Moingup Spring online up to 180 days ahead — seven unpowered sites, no campfires, no dogs, no bins, and generators only between 10am and 1pm and 5pm and 8pm
- Download the park's geo-referenced maps before you lose signal. Mobile coverage is limited, and 000 needs reception to connect
- Stay on formed tracks to limit dieback, and watch where you put your hands and feet — tiger snakes and dugites are present
When to go
seasons & the hard months
Spring is the season the range is famous for, and the workable window is roughly August to November. Mountain bells peak on Mount Trio and the upper slopes of Toolbrunup from mid-August to October, orchids and banksias run lower down, and the DBCA brochure points to late spring and early summer for wildflowers and bird life. Days are mild enough to climb and the fire risk is not yet at its worst, though the trade-off is wet weather on the tops and a busy Bluff Knoll car park on weekends and in the school holidays. Autumn is the quieter alternative — fewer cars, cooler walking, but thinner flowers.
December to March is the hard stretch. Heat settles on the exposed ridges and the park sits in its fire season, with lightning the main cause of bushfire in the range; the standing advice is to stay out of the bush and off the footpaths on days of extreme fire danger, which rules out walking rather than merely complicating it. Winter, June to August, is cold and wet on the plains and colder still on the peaks — Bluff Knoll days max out around 11°C and fall to around 3°C, and snow falls on the tops on a handful of days, mostly between June and September. If you come for that, bring genuine winter gear and be ready to turn back when the cloud, hail or fog closes in.
Questions
6 answers
It is 6.8km return and Grade 4, with about 670m of climbing on a steep path with numerous steps — allow 3–4 hours. It is a fitness test rather than a scramble, but the descent is long on tired legs. The other peaks are shorter in distance and rougher underfoot: Toolbrunup is 4km return with scree near the top, and Talyuberlup is graded extreme with rock scrambling and limited signage.
Possibly. Snow falls on the Stirling Range mostly between June and September, with records as early as April and as late as November, and it is one of the few places in Western Australia where it happens at all. Winter walking is fine if you are properly equipped — the tops max out around 11°C and drop to around 3°C, and sudden cool changes bring rain, hail and fog in any season. Carry warm and waterproof layers and check the forecast before you start.
Vehicle entry is $17 per standard day, $10 concession, $8 per person in vehicles with more than 12 occupants ($3.50 concession) and $10 for a motorcycle. Walkers and cyclists enter free, and a valid park pass covers entry. Campers pay the entry fee for the day of arrival only and can leave and re-enter during their stay; camping at Moingup Spring is charged per person per night and paid by card at booking.
Moingup Spring is the only campground inside the park — seven unpowered campsites on gravel with a flush toilet, a food-prep shelter and a sheltered barbecue, but no drinking water. Bookings are essential and open up to 180 days ahead online, or up to the day of arrival if sites remain. Everything else is outside the park, at Stirling Range Retreat and Mount Trio Bush Camp on the northern boundary, or in Mount Barker, Cranbrook, Gnowangerup and Borden.
No. All roads to the range are sealed, and Stirling Range Drive and the mountain access spurs are graded gravel that a 2WD handles in dry conditions, with high-clearance wiser after rain. What you do need is fuel in the tank before you turn off Chester Pass Road, since there is none in the park and the nearest towns are Mount Barker, Cranbrook, Gnowangerup and Borden.
No fuel, and no reliable drinking water — Moingup Spring may have untreated water but the supply is not guaranteed, so carry 3–4 litres per person per day. Mobile coverage is limited and drops out quickly, so download the park's geo-referenced maps and save the alerts pages before you leave Chester Pass Road, and carry a PLB for anything beyond the roadside lookouts.
Nearby & next
Official information
Always check current alerts before you travel.