Perhaps you’ve heard of the Granite Skywalk or seen epic photos of the lookout on social media. Are you wondering what the hike to get there is like, or whether it’s worth your time?
The day that I tackled the Granite Skywalk was the same day that I had already climbed Bluff Knoll! We thought that a few extra kilometres wouldn’t hurt because we were so amped up from the exhilarating Bluff Knoll Hike. What we didn’t realise was how challenging the hike would be – it felt easier than Bluff Knoll, but it was still uphill the entire way.
This list is a collection of must-know information that I learned on the hike. It includes everything from where the Granite Skywalk is, how long it’ll take, how much it costs, what to expect on the hike, where to stay and what to do nearby, as well as a few insider tips that’ll make you an expert before you even arrive.
1. It’s short but strenuous
The Granite Skywalk Trail is a 4.5km return walk, and it’s considered a Grade 5. Grade 5 is the highest ranking a trail can get and it generally means that the hike will be long, unmarked, very rough and very steep, and these hikes are typically more than 25km long. Learn more about trail grading here. In the case of the Granite Skywalk, I think that the reason it has such a high rating is due to the access to Castle Rock itself.
The majority of the trail is a gradual uphill walk, but by the second half you’ll be wondering if the forest will ever end! Once you finally arrive at the Balancing Rock you can breathe a sigh of relief – you are almost there. This is the part where you can head across to the Karri Lookout for a view across the valley, or you can go straight for the adrenaline-pumping Castle Rock Lookout.
If you’re going to Castle Rock, keep following the trail markers to the right-hand side. This will take you over some big granite boulders and through a crevice towards the walkway. Before you can pause to take it all in, you’ll first have to climb a 6-metre high vertical ladder to get to the final boardwalk.
2. It’s free to hike the Granite Skywalk – but park entry is a small fee
The Granite Skywalk is located in Porongurup National Park. You can access the Granite Skywalk for free but you will need to pay standard WA National Park Entry Fees when you enter the carpark. Standard entry fees are $17 per vehicle or $10 concession, which includes up to 12 people (if you’re in the one vehicle).
If you’re going to be entering a National Park more than once during your trip, or plan to do more throughout the year, I would recommend buying a Holiday Pass or an Annual All Parks Pass. These options give you more value for money if you’re going to be doing a bit of exploring.
An Annual All Parks Pass costs $130 for the year, and a Holiday Pass costs $30 for 5 days, $50 for 14 days, or $70 for a month. Check out your options here.
One main thing to note is that the Pay Station at Granite Skywalk is card-only, they do not accept cash. There’s also limited phone reception, so if you’re planning to purchase a Parks Pass make sure you arrange that before you arrive on the day.
3. The hike can be done in less than half a day
It takes about 1 to 3 hours to complete the Granite Skywalk (Castle Rock) walk trail. If you’re crazy, or fit, or time-limited, then hiking Bluff Knoll and the Granite Skywalk in one day is certainly possible. When I visited, we had more than enough time to take in all the sights and not feel too rushed, but if you’re a beginner hiker or have more time in the region, I would recommend leaving Bluff Knoll a day to itself.
The Granite Skywalk is close to lots of wineries and other smaller hikes, so depending on your interests you could pair the walk with a relaxing winery visit or another shorter walk on the same day.
If you want to time yourself, track your kilometres, or check out your elevation, record your hike on All Trails.
4. It’s only a 40-minute drive from Albany
The great thing about the Granite Skywalk is that it’s only a 40 minute drive to Albany, meaning it can easily be done as a day-trip from where you’re staying in town. It’s also only 40 minutes from Bluff Knoll, which is located north of the Granite Skywalk. You can read my Beginner’s Guide to Hiking Bluff Knoll here.
5. Spring is the best time to visit
Spring is always my favourite time of year to visit almost any place in Western Australia. The best thing about Spring is that the weather tends to be mild, the days are a little longer and the wildflowers are in bloom. Keep an eye out for some of our most famous endemic wildflowers like the Native Wisteria, Flame Peas, or any one of the hundreds of stunning orchids that are found only in WA.
A word of warning about Spring at the Granite Skywalk is that you could be in for quite a lot of pesky flies! Bring a fly net or some bug spray just in case.
If you can’t get there in Spring, the peak season in Summer will be lovely too. This is a very popular hike so be prepared for lots of people. Get there as early as you can to beat the crowds and the heat.
6. Pack a picnic & enjoy lunch in the lush BBQ area
The carpark at the Granite Skywalk opens right onto a beautiful picnic and BBQ area that’s perfect for taking a break at the end of your walk. If you’re planning to take the day slowly, pack yourself a picnic lunch and make use of the BBQs and picnic tables. There are also toilets available.
7. Leave your dog at home
The Granite Skywalk is in the Porongurup National Park, which means that dogs and any other pets are not permitted to enter. Be sure to plan a dog-sitter or plan to leave your companions at home.
8. It is unlikely you will be able to tip over Balancing Rock
At the end of the gradual (but definite) uphill climb, you will come to an opening with some huge granite boulders. One of these boulders is known as Balancing Rock and has formed through thousands of years of erosion.
Let out your inner child and try to tip the rock over, I dare you!
9. There’s a less intimidating lookout – the Karri Lookout
If you’re not great with heights or are unable to clamber over the tricky rocks and up the vertical ladder, there is still a way to see the stunning landscape – the Karri Lookout. Continue on just a little bit further past Balancing Rock to find the lookout. From there you can cast your eye across the land, spy more mountains in the distance and view the sprawling farmland that fills the foreground.
10. Be prepared to get weak at the knees
This is the part you have been waiting for – the boardwalk hovering above the land, attached to Castle Rock. The huge popularity of Castle Rock led to the eventual construction of the Granite Skywalk itself, offering visitors a way to safely climb to the top of Castle Rock and get an unobstructed birds-eye view across the landscape.
Head to the right of Balancing Rock and follow the markers. There are some metals handles bolted to the rocks which will help show you the way. This will require a little bit of climbing and some balance. The trail goes for a few metres between some big boulders, and then you’ll come to the landing at the base of the 6 metre ladder. If there is anyone waiting to come down, let them go first. Never rush anyone or try to push in.
Once you’re at the top you will realise why this place is so popular! You’ll feel like you’re floating through the sky, like an eagle searching for prey. You will have 360° views of the land, you might even try to spot Bluff Knoll in the distance.
11. You could fly your drone
If you want to get an incredible perspective of the Granite Skywalk, you could send up your drone for the perfect shot. You do not need an approval to fly your drone in the National Park for personal use, however you will need to follow the rules outlined on the DBCA website.
These rules include things like being aware of the environment you are in and ensuring that you do not disturb the animals that live there, or other Park visitors. Don’t send up your drone on a busy day, wait until everyone has left, or arrive early in the morning before anyone else. Drones can be irritating to other visitors and could ruin their visit. Never assume people are ok with your drone being above them.
12. Wear sturdy shoes
The hike is considered a Grade 5 for a reason. There are lots of slippery, rocky, and even wet and muddy sections on the trail, depending on the time of year that you visit. A good pair of running shoes or hiking boots will ensure you stay dry and don’t accidentally injure yourself.
13. Take water and a snack
The essential items for any hike are water, snacks, and sun protection. Bring a hat and wear sunscreen, especially in summer, and ensure that you have at least 3 litres of water per person. If you are tackling the hike in summer, bring some extra water. An easy rule of thumb that I always use is to bring at least 1 litre of water per person, per hour that you intend to be out. Know your own limits and be sensible.
14. Go at sunrise or sunset for a magical experience (but don’t forget a torch)
Watching the sunrise over a quiet and empty landscape, perched high above the trees is a magical experience. You have the opportunity to sit and take everything in at a slower pace. Listen out for the sounds of the birds starting to wake up, and watch as the land comes alive.
Make sure that you bring a headlamp or torch with you, because hiking in the dark is dangerous if not impossible! Don’t forget to bring spare batteries too. If you’re planning to watch the sunset at Castle Rock, make sure you have a warm jacket, some form of emergency communication device and an emergency blanket in your backpack as well. This means that if you injure yourself or are forced to spend the night out in the wilderness, that you will have the bare minimum equipment to keep you safe until the next morning.
15. For an easy trip, stay in Albany
Given that Albany is only 40 minutes from the Granite Skywalk, staying in Albany is a perfect option when you want to do this walk. There are lots of cute cottages and plenty of accommodation options in the town of Albany and in the surrounding countryside.
16. For an adventurous trip, stay at the Porongurup Range Tourist Park
The Porongurup Range Tourist Park caters for the camping-oriented folks. The biggest benefit to staying there is its location – it’s only a 7-minute drive to get to the Granite Skywalk from the Tourist Park. This means that your chance of doing a sunrise hike just got way better!
The Tourist Park offers both powered and unpowered camping sites and has all the facilities under the sun. They’ve got a camp kitchen, toilets and hot showers, laundry, BBQ and picnic area, and Telstra-only phone reception. Check it out and make your booking here.
17. Look out for the most massive tree stump you’ll ever see
The Porongurup region is home to some of Western Australia’s most ancient and giant forests. Be on the lookout for Karri, Marri and Yate trees on your walk, these spectacular trees will be towering over you all the way along the trail. Just before you get to the Balancing Rock you will come across a huge fallen tree that had to be cut to let people back through the trail. See if you can count the rings and figure out how old this forest giant was.
18. Check out Park Alerts before you go
Before you leave your accommodation for the day, have a quick check on the DBCA Park Alerts website to check for any closures. Sometimes the National Parks, roads, or walk trails have to be closed due to emergencies like floods or bushfires. The last thing you want is to get most of the way there only to have to turn around and go back.
19. Take a rain jacket
As always, make sure you pack a rain jacket in your backpack even if it’s sunny and clear when you leave the carpark. The weather around Albany is notoriously unpredictable, as well as reliably rainy! The last thing you want is to spend hours getting cold and wet while you try to hurry back to your car.
The Granite Skywalk is one of the few trails in this region that I would say are relatively safe to do in the rain. Unlike many other trails that traverse over large and steep sections of exposed granite, this walk is mostly through the forest. Once you do get to the exposed rock, there are lots of things to hold onto and of course the man-made walkways and ladder allowing you to access Castle Rock. That being said, make sure you take extreme care in the rain, don’t rush, and ensure you always have 3 points of contact when you are climbing on rocks or the walkways.
20. Don’t trust dark coloured or mossy rocks
Even on a dry day the rocks can be slippery. There are lots of little pockets in the granite rock where water pools, forming the perfect environment for slimy and slippery mosses to grow. If you are climbing on rocks, don’t ever step on any dark coloured, green coloured, mossy or slimy parts of the rock. These will offer absolutely no traction and you will be straight on your butt before you know it!
21. Kids can come too!
This is a fairly kid-friendly walk, but it will be tiring for little legs. Make sure you extend the 1-3 hour estimated walk time to compensate for your little ones. Keep the 6-metre ladder and high boardwalk in mind, only you can be the judge of what your child is capable of.
You are a long way from help if something goes wrong, and phone reception is patchy at best, so do not rely on mobile phones as your only means of emergency contact. Although this is something that anyone doing this hike should consider, it is something worth noting for those taking children on the hike.
22. Castle Rock has a height of 570 metres above sea level
The trail has about 250 metres of elevation gain from the carpark to the top of the rock, and the top of Castle Rock sits 570 metres above sea level. The Granite Skywalk walkway itself rises high above the land, with the walkway bolted to the side of Castle Rock. The walkway rises more than 6 metres above the rocks below.
23. Be a good trail user & Leave No Trace
Good trail etiquette is essential to ensuring that you and other visitors have an amazing time at the Granite Skywalk. The steep ladder and narrow walkway on Castle Rock make it even more important that you follow these rules:
- The person going uphill on the trail has right of way, this is because hiking uphill is harder than hiking downhill, and if you need to stop to give way going up you will lose your momentum.
- The Granite Skywalk is unique – if someone is trying to get down from the 6-metre ladder, let them come down before you try to go up. The landing at the bottom is much larger, and the capacity on the skywalk is limited.
- Don’t ever rush people on the ladder. You don’t know if the person ahead of you is afraid of heights or really challenging themselves, be patient and be kind 😊
Always respect the environment that you have come to visit and admire, the most important things you should do are:
- Take your rubbish with you
- Pick up rubbish if you see any, even if it’s not yours
- Don’t go off the track. This can destroy plants and the habitat that supports the huge variety of life there
- Don’t pick flowers or leaves off plants. If everyone did this the beautiful environment would quickly become decimated
24. Look out for snakes
If you visit the Skywalk in Summer, there is a small chance that you could spot a snake! Snakes like to be warm, and rocks warm up in the sun. Be mindful that crevices and cracks in the rocks, especially hidden ones you can’t see into, make great hiding places for snakes. So be sensible and don’t put your hands into any place you can’t see, and take care when walking over rocks.
The Granite Skywalk is typically a very busy place, so is usually the last place a snake would want to be. Although your chance of seeing a snake is low, it’s not impossible.
25. Hit up a winery or brewery for a local brew and delicious feast after the epic adventure
After your epic Granite Skywalk adventure it’s likely that you’ll be content but exhausted, and in need of a good feast or a beer. Another awesome thing about this area is that it’s in Albany’s wine country – there are lots of vineyards to choose from on your way back into town.
You could check out Castle Rock Estate or Ironwood Estate Wines to taste some of Albany’s best produce. Or you could head a little further back into Albany to try Limeburners & Giniversity Albany. Limeburners have a superb and delicious looking food and drinks menu, it’s a must-visit if you’re staying in town.
On the way back into town is also Handasydes Café & Strawberry Farm – a perfect place to take the kids to try their awesome play area and get some locally made gelato.
Another place I’ve been wanting to try forever is Monty’s Leap. Although technically not on the way from the Granite Skywalk to Albany, it’s only a 5 minute detour up South Coast Highway. They’ve got spectacular outdoor dining overlooking their vineyard, delicious locally made wines and a menu to die for – make your booking here.
Is the Granite Skywalk Worth a Visit?
Without a doubt I would go back and hike the Granite Skywalk trail again. It’s the perfect length for an easy half-day adventure and offers a really unique experience. There are no other hikes in the area where you have the opportunity to get a 360° view of the landscape after such a short and relatively easy hike. The amenities at the carpark mean you can enjoy a nice picnic, plus its close proximity to Albany and the wine region make it the perfect addition to a foodie’s tour of Albany too.
If you have any advice or want to share your own stories of the Granite Skywalk, I’d love to hear about them in the comments.