Are you uncertain about the intensity of hiking Bluff Knoll, and wondering whether it’s a good idea to add it to your Albany trip?
It had never really been on my radar as a Perth resident because it’s a long drive and requires a bit of planning to tackle. Driving 4 hours and then hiking a huge peak seemed like way too much effort. It wasn’t until I started to get into bushwalking and hiking that Bluff Knoll hit my ‘Must Do’ radar. I also heard that sometimes it snows at the peak – that really got me interested to know more!
So buckle up and get ready to learn the how, why, and when of the Bluff Knoll Hike. The only thing you can’t prepare for is how out-of-this-world the experience will be.
About the Place
The Noongar people call it Boola Miyel or Pualaar Miial, which means ‘many eyes’ or ‘great many-faced hill’ and it holds significant spiritual value. It is said to be a place where the spirit of the dead go before passing onto the great beyond.
The rocks themselves are 1.2-billion-year-old sedimentary rocks. They formed around the time that Australia was breaking away from Antarctica, with later continental collision causing the Stirling Ranges to rise from the ground. Bluff Knoll preserves this special event in history, and if you look at the rocks closely you will see the fine sedimentary layers folded into all sorts of beautiful patterns.
Where is Bluff Knoll?
Bluff Knoll is located a 4.5 hour drive south-east of Perth, and a 1 hour drive north-east of Albany.
It lies within the Stirling Range National Park and is the busiest of all the Park’s attractions. This region of WA is renowned for its harsh, rainy, and windy weather even in the milder months.
The road to Bluff Knoll is sealed all the way but becomes narrow and winding in the last part. The carpark is also sealed and is open 24 hours. It has great amenities including public toilets, picnic/rest areas, and accessible parking. Learn more about the facilities on Trails WA.
Need to Know
This is a tiring and hard trail, so do not underestimate it. It’ll take a good few hours, up to half-a-day to complete the hike, and there are almost no flat sections the whole way… after all it goes right up the side of the mountain!
Distance: 6km return
Time: 3-4 hours return
Elevation: 641m elevation gain (1095m above sea level)
Difficulty: Grade 4 (Experienced bushwalkers: Long, rough and very steep track)
Who Can Go: Suitable for all ages (kids can hike Bluff Knoll too!) Know your limits, only you can judge whether this trail is suitable for your fitness level.
Want to map or record your hike as you go? Check it out on AllTrails.
What Time of Year Should You Visit?
As usual for hiking in Western Australia, both summer and winter can be extremely harsh. Winds can become strong and dangerous on Bluff Knoll in winter, and there is limited shade during the very hot summers.
My best advice would be to plan your trip for Spring (September to November). If you can’t make it in Spring, try for Autumn instead (March to May). That said, it’s one of Western Australia’s highest peaks, located in WA’s Great Southern … a very unpredictable place in terms of weather!
The best part about visiting Spring is the chance to see a huge variety of wildflowers. The place will come alive and be a feast for your eyes.
When I visited in September it was COLD. We left the carpark wearing 3 layers of clothes, got down to one layer once we were half-way up, and were in 4 layers by the time we got to the top! It was a fine balance between the strenuous sweat on the way up, and the colder air as you gain elevation.
Sunrise, Sunset, or Daytime?
No matter what time of day you choose to tackle the hike, it will be both beautiful and most likely busy! It’s the Stirling Range’s most popular hike for a reason.
Getting up at 3am to make it to the summit for sunrise is an experience like no other. If you choose to take this option, make sure you’re all packed the night before and have enough warm layers of clothing. Taking a torch or headlamp will be essential too, there is no lighting on the trail and you’ll be hiking up in the dark.
If you want to watch the sunset over the Ranges, be sure to prepare a torch or headlamp for navigating on the way down…and bring spare batteries! It could become a seriously dangerous situation if you get stuck at the summit at night without the necessary overnight equipment, or lose your footing because you can’t see on the way down.
If hiking in the dark doesn’t take your fancy, you could plan to get up nice and early and seize the daytime. If you’re visiting in Spring or Autumn, the middle of the day is a really pleasant time to be at the summit. No time pressures, nowhere else to be, just enjoy the views!
Cost
It doesn’t cost anything to hike Bluff Knoll, however you will need to pay Standard Park Entry Fees for entering a WA National Park.
Where to Stay
You can’t actually camp or stay at Bluff Knoll itself, but there are plenty of options for camping and accommodation nearby.
The Stirling Range Retreat is only a 10-minute drive from Bluff Knoll and is the closest accommodation you will find. They have something for all types of travellers including cabins, motel rooms, and campsites. They even run a shuttle bus service and various local tours, including one where 100% of proceeds go to bird conservation projects.
If you’re someone who likes privacy, wildlife, and wide open spaces, look no further than Mt Trio Bush Camp. This is an awesome spot with lovely camp hosts and great amenities including a huge communal kitchen and fire pit. We loved staying here – watching the wildlife come alive at dusk and listening to the sounds of the bush.
They provide both powered and unpowered campsites, and they guarantee unpowered sites will be available without a booking – so just rock up on the day! If you want a powered site, it is recommended that you book beforehand.
National Park Camping
There used to be a campsite in the Stirling Range National Park itself, but it is now closed due to a fire that went through in 2019. There is currently nowhere within the National Park you can camp.
Albany and Denmark
Albany is about a 1-hour drive from Bluff Knoll and has countless accommodation (and food) options. Head a little bit further west and you will land at Denmark, about a 1.5-hour drive from Bluff Knoll.
Albany is a huge regional hub with a range of accommodation options, from hotels to motels to caravan parks. Denmark is much smaller and quieter, and you can find lots of beautiful cottages and guesthouses to relax at.
What to Wear & Bring
Packing for a trip to the Great Southern region is never easy – it could be stinking hot at midday and freezing, raining and windy by the late afternoon. I would recommend wearing and carrying a good variety of layers.
Layers when hiking are always your friend, as it gives you options when you’re hot, cold or sweaty and when its sunny or rainy. Bring a bare minimum of a t-shirt and an all-weather jacket (warm and waterproof). Level up by bringing a few mid-layer jackets, perhaps a thin long-sleeve shirt and a warmer fleece jacket to wear underneath your rain jacket.
I would recommend bringing both a hat and a beanie if you’re planning to head out for sunrise, or if it’s below 25°C.
Expert Tips!
Surviving your hike up Bluff Knoll is one thing, but having an incredible experience that you’ll remember for a lifetime is another.
I really didn’t think WA could get so cold, but the summit of Bluff Knoll proved me wrong! If we’d been a bit more prepared we could have spent much longer enjoying the summit, but our legs were ceasing up and my fingers were turning blue (I can only dream of good circulation!).
Here’s a list of some expert tips I wish I’d known before our hike:
- Pack a picnic and a hot cup of tea/coffee in a thermos. There’s nothing like a summit picnic!
- Bring a sleeping bag or blanket so you can actually enjoy your time at the top. It was absolutely freezing when we were at the summit in September, and we wished we had something to keep us warm. Keeping your legs warm while you take a break is essential to ensure you don’t get any injuries from cold muscles on the way down.
- Aim to have some flexibility if you’re on a longer trip. Bluff Knoll is best experienced on a crisp day with no rain or cloud cover – check the weather and pick the clearest, coldest day if you can!
- Hike with walking poles if you have knee or hip issues. Everyone forgets that the way down can actually be much more challenging on your joints than the way up, walking poles can help ease the impact.
- No dogs allowed on the trail or in the National Park, plan to leave your 4-legged companions at home.
- Plan to take your time, it’s a minimum half-day adventure. Rushing one of the most beautiful hikes in WA is an absolute crime, so plan to spend at least half the day out here if not the whole day. Pause for a while at the summit to really take in the landscape and enjoy what you have worked so hard to get to.
Essential Safety Advice
It’s important to be prepared before setting out to hike Bluff Knoll. Follow the pointers in the list below to make sure you stay safe out there.
- Check on the DBCA website to make sure there are no Park Alerts before your visit that could prevent you from accessing the Park (things like bushfires, road closures or severe weather warnings)
- Take at least 3 litres of water (1L to 2L extra if it’s above 25°C)
- It’s a mountain so there’s not much shade once you get above the tree line – be prepared with a hat & sunscreen, even if it’s not sunny when you leave the carpark
- Also be prepared for heavy rain and winds – carry a rain jacket and warm clothing. Take extreme caution near edges, ledges and on rocks (wet rocks = extremely slippery)
- Always let someone know before you go – if you don’t return when you said you would they can take action.
Trail Etiquette
Having good trail etiquette can make the experience enjoyable for everyone on the trail, including yourself. Follow the rules below to make sure you’re being a good trail user:
- The people going UPHILL have right of way. If it’s not wide enough to go past each other, it’s etiquette to stop and move out of the way for the person who is going uphill (because it’s harder to go up!)
- Take all your rubbish with you and leave the place better than you found it. Pick up any rubbish you see, even if it’s not yours. Rubbish does not belong in the wild.
- If there’s a bottleneck or one-lane rocky section – wait your turn. Nobody likes to be barged around when they’re trying to get over some sketchy rocks. Don’t be that guy, just be patient. There’s lots of areas where you can pass people if you need to.
- Offer to take photos for groups so everyone can be in it! Being friendly always goes a long way.
The Journey
Now that you have all the practical tips and advice for staying safe and having an incredible time hiking Bluff Knoll, I’d love to share a little more with you. It would be wrong for me to miss the opportunity to tell you just how otherworldly the place is.
Every step felt like we were walking through a special piece of the wild; taking in the smell of crisp dew-soaked leaves, finding colourful wildflowers and tiny insects we’d never seen before, pausing to hear nothing but the sound of birds and the breeze gently rustling through the trees.
If there’s one huge piece of advice you take away from this article, it’s to make sure you plan to take your time. Go at your own pace, take it slow, and pause for every tiny moment that nature offers you.
The #1 Reason You Should Hike Bluff Knoll
You’ll feel humbled and amazed once you reach the summit, looking over the stunning landscape in awe of the billions of years of history that led to this place. It’s a challenging but spectacular experience that is well worth your time and effort.
Plus, snow at the summit in winter … what a novel experience for Western Australia!
Leave a comment below if you have any questions or want to share your own experience, I’d love to hear your plans and stories!