Larapinta Trail

The Larapinta Trail is a 135 mi point-to-point hiking trail in Central Australia that takes on a section of the West MacDonnell Mountain ranges. It starts at Alice Springs Telegraph Station in Stuart, Northern Territory and ends on the summit of Mt Sonder, this mountain trail’s highest point and the Northern Territory’s fourth highest mountain at 1,380 metres.  The trail is one of Australia’s newest bushwalking trails and a growing favourite for its spectacular mountain path that undulates through the range, taking hikers over ridgelines and down into shaded gorges. Graded as Medium difficulty, the terrain through this arid landscape is rocky, mountainous and unrelentingly rough, with changeable weather conditions expected year-round. For information on how we grade trails, please click here. Also, check our latest community posts for trail updates. A good level of fitness and some bushwalking experience is advised for this hiking route that takes approximately 12 days to complete; usually divided into 12 sections with access points for vehicles and parking at most trailheads. Caution is advised on trail times as this depends on multiple variables. For more info, click here. Camping is permitted but only within the 26 designated campsites on this mountain trail, and whilst no permit is required for this hiking route, fees do apply to hike and camp within the Tjoritja and West MacDonnell National Park, it’s advised to do this in advance online. https://parkbookings.nt.gov.au/Web/ Highlights on the Larapinta Trail include the Old Telegraph Station at Alice Springs built in 1871, Euro Ridge at 790 m for sweeping views over Alice Springs, the most prominent waterhole, Simpson’s Gap, Standley Chasm with its 80 metre high rock faces and Ormiston Gorge, the infamous swimming hole offering breath-taking views across the MacDonnell Mountain ranges.  Dogs are not allowed on this trail.