Trails & lookouts
Guide updated · grades and open status change — verify Explore Parks WA / DBCA
Start with a clear Bluff Knoll vs Toolbrunup vs Drive lookouts decision. Distances, grades and times below are planning ranges — always confirm on Explore Parks WA / DBCA and park alerts. Weather, scree grip and track status change. Not walked for this date.
Decide before you start
- Easy / no summit: Bluff Knoll trailhead picnic and wheelchair-accessible lookouts. Eastern, Central and Western Lookout on Stirling Range Drive.
- Moderate: Mount Trio (steps, ~2 hours) or Talyuberlup (steep, hole in the mountain). Still shoes, water and a reverse plan.
- Hard mountain days: Bluff Knoll Grade 4, or Toolbrunup scramble. Hassell and Magog also scramble. One hero only. Early start, layers, water, turnaround time. The Ridge Walk is unmarked wilderness — not a managed day walk.
Trying to do two big peaks plus every lookout is how first visits go wrong. Pick the table row that matches your energy, then open the full trail guide.
Bluff Knoll cliffs
Aussie Oc · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Quick comparison (planning only)
| Walk / lookout | Effort | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluff Knoll | hard | Allow 3–4 hours return | Fit walkers who want the highest peak in southern WA on a marked day walk — not a lookout stroll |
| Toolbrunup | hard | Allow 3–4 hours return | Fit, agile walkers who want the second-highest peak and will turn around before the scramble if it feels wrong |
| Mount Trio | moderate | Allow about 2 hours return | A shorter western peak with mountain bells in season — still steps, still weather |
| Mount Hassell | hard | Allow 2–3 hours return (longer if the scramble is slow) | Walkers who want Toolbrunup in the view without climbing Toolbrunup today |
| Mount Magog | hard | Allow a half day (often 3–4 hours — confirm live) | Experienced day walkers who want a quieter western peak and will accept overgrown track |
| Talyuberlup | moderate | Allow 1.5–2.5 hours return — longer if you linger in the rock maze | A short steep western peak with a hole in the mountain — sunset only with a torch and a reverse plan |
| Ridge Walk | hard | 2–4 days for fit experienced parties (Trails WA: two to three days on the classic line) | Experienced, self-reliant remote walkers who have already contacted rangers — not casual multi-day walkers |
Moderate
Mount Trio
moderateShort steep hike: 3.5 km return, about 400 m of climbing, lots of steps, around two hours. Endemic mountain bells are a feature in season. Quieter than Bluff Knoll. Not a lookout ramble. Not walked.
- Grade
- Short, steep, stepped climb — ~400 m ascent. Easier than Toolbrunup, still a mountain
- Time
- Allow about 2 hours return
- Distance
- 3.5 km return · ~400 m ascent
View guide →
Talyuberlup
moderateSteep 2.6 km return to a rock-covered peak. Exceptional views, wildflowers in season, gullies, caves and rocky outcrops. The hole-in-the-mountain is the signature. Sunset walks need a head torch for the reverse. Not walked.
- Grade
- 2.6 km return, steep, rock, hole-in-the-mountain — often used as a sunset walk
- Time
- Allow 1.5–2.5 hours return — longer if you linger in the rock maze
- Distance
- 2.6 km return
View guide →
Hard
Bluff Knoll
hardThe park’s signature walk: 6.8 km return, Grade 4, to Bluff Knoll at 1098 m. Well signed from the south side of the parking and picnic area. Steps, a saddle with coastal views, then a ridge to the summit. Mist is normal. Popularity does not make it a casual hill. Not walked for this guide.
- Grade
- Well signed out-and-back to 1098 m — steep path with numerous steps, exposure higher up, rapid weather
- Time
- Allow 3–4 hours return
- Distance
- 6.8 km return
View guide →
Toolbrunup
hardSecond-highest peak in the range at 1052 m. Official listing: 4 km return, good fitness required, 3–4 hours. Woodland beside a creek, then large boulders, loose rock and steep scree to a saddle on the south-west buttress, then a short steep scramble to the top. Not a shorter Bluff Knoll. Not walked.
- Grade
- 4 km return to 1052 m — woodland, then boulders, loose scree and a steep scramble. More technical than Bluff Knoll
- Time
- Allow 3–4 hours return
- Distance
- 4 km return
View guide →
Mount Hassell
hardTrail to 847 m, 430 m of climbing over about 1.5 km up. Starts gentler, then scree, then a rocky scramble. Superb views, especially of Toolbrunup. Not walked.
- Grade
- 3 km return to 847 m — 430 m ascent, scree, then a rocky scramble. Toolbrunup in the view
- Time
- Allow 2–3 hours return (longer if the scramble is slow)
- Distance
- 3 km return · 847 m summit · 430 m ascent
View guide →
Mount Magog
hardChallenging 7 km return to 856 m. Less often climbed. Track may be overgrown. Final section needs rock scrambling. Twin peaks in the western cluster. Not a casual wildflower stroll. Not walked.
- Grade
- 7 km return to 856 m — quieter, more wilderness in feel, final rock scramble
- Time
- Allow a half day (often 3–4 hours — confirm live)
- Distance
- 7 km return · 856 m
View guide →
Ridge Walk
hardUnmarked wilderness route, not a casual multi-day. No designated trail, no reliable water, rugged terrain, changeable weather. Fatalities and costly rescues have occurred. Contact Stirling Range rangers or Albany District before you go. Register off-trail parties. Carry a PLB. This page is a warning, not a route guide. Not walked.
- Grade
- Unmarked cross-country through the Wilderness Zone. Experienced parties only. Not a marked trail
- Time
- 2–4 days for fit experienced parties (Trails WA: two to three days on the classic line)
- Distance
- About 15–26+ km one way depending on variant (Trails WA cites ~26 km Ellen Peak to Bluff Knoll car park)
View guide →
Trails FAQ
Short answers. For live grades, distances and closures use Explore Parks WA — not this page.
Tap a question to expand the answer.
What is the best first walk in Stirling Range?
Most first-timers treat Bluff Knoll as the mountain product if they are a Grade 4 party (6.8 km return, 3–4 hours, 1098 m). If they are not, the trailhead lookouts and Stirling Range Drive (Eastern / Central / Western) still count. Mount Trio is the usual shorter western peak. Always verify with Explore Parks WA / DBCA.
How hard is Bluff Knoll vs Toolbrunup?
Bluff Knoll is a well-signed Grade 4 out-and-back with numerous steps — popularity is not a downgrade. Toolbrunup is shorter on the map (4 km return) and more technical: boulders, loose scree and a scramble. Trails WA lists it as Class 5 / extreme. Do not swap to Toolbrunup because Bluff Knoll is busy unless the party packed for scree. Always verify with Explore Parks WA / DBCA.
Can I do Bluff Knoll and Toolbrunup in one day?
Usually a bad first-visit plan. Two serious peaks is how people get cooked on the second descent. Pick one hero. The Ridge Walk is not a third option. Always verify with Explore Parks WA / DBCA.