Are you heading to Purnululu National Park and looking for the best places to hike? Perhaps you’ve discovered Echidna Chasm, but you have no idea what to expect and what to pack?
Look no further, I’ve got you covered! Keep reading to learn everything you’ll need to know before hiking Echidna Chasm. From the best time of day to go, what the hike is like, what you need to bring, and what else you can see in the area, this list has it all.
1. It’s incredible!
It goes without saying that Purnululu National Park is one of the most spectacular and ancient places in Australia. It’s been home to the Gija and Jaru Aboriginal people for thousands of years and holds a deep spiritual and cultural significance.
Echidna Chasm itself is a spectacular 200-metre-high landform. Composed of smooth rounded pebbles, it looms high above as you walk through its deeply carved belly. It’s hard to fathom just how high the rock walls are, looking up you couldn’t possibly imagine the forces that came together to form such an incredible structure.
As you walk through the Chasm’s floor the sunlight peeks in occasionally, just to remind you that it’s still daylight outside. It’s easy to get lost in the wonder when you’re surrounded by such ancient land.
2. It’s a fairly easy hike
This hike has copped quite a high grading (Grade 4) perhaps because it is so remote and is quite rocky underfoot. Otherwise, given that it’s only 2km return and mostly flat, I would consider it to be quite an easy trail. The one thing to keep in mind that adds to its difficulty is the heat.
Echidna Chasm Trail Information
Trail type: Out and back
Distance: 2km return
Difficulty: Easy to moderate for an average active person
Grade: 4
Time: 1 hour
Besides being mostly flat, the trail does take you over a few bigger boulders and a lot of uneven ground. There are some boulders wedged between the rock walls and are not too hard to get over if you take your time. There are also some small stairs and ladders to help you get over the boulders. The floor of the chasm is covered with fallen pebbles and rocks from the chasm walls, so it’s pretty uneven underfoot in most parts.
Also, be aware that the chasm is only about 1 metre wide (and 200 metres high) in some places – so if you don’t do well in confined spaces this might not be a good option for you. It does open up into multiple big caverns along the way and you can see the sky the whole time.
The very end of the trail was closed when I visited, due to recent rockfalls. If parts of the trail are closed when you visit, or there are warning signs, be sure to obey them for your own safety.
3. It’s a trek to get there by 4WD
If you’ve already done some research on Purnululu National Park, you’ll know that the journey to get there is quite the adventure! If you don’t have your own fully-equipped 4WD to get yourself to Echidna Chasm, you could jump on board one of the daily group tours that run from the Bungle Bungle Caravan Park.
Do you want to know more about what to expect on your drive in to Purnululu National Park (and Spring Creek Road)? Then read my complete Purnululu Camping Guide.
4. You can go at any time of the day
Given that this is a reasonably flat, easily navigable hike, it’s safe to go at any time of the day. Do be aware that the middle of the day is always incredibly hot even if you’re visiting in winter. If you want the perfect lighting for some epic photos, then midday is your best bet. This is when the sun is directly overhead and lights up both sides of the Chasm walls.
If you plan to go later in the day, be aware that it’ll get darker more quickly inside the chasm as the light is blocked by the 200-metre-high walls. Make sure you take a torch or headlamp (and spare batteries) with you if you plan to walk in the late afternoon.
5. You can’t fly your drone
Although Purnululu is a spectacular place when viewed from the air, keep in mind that drones are prohibited everywhere in the National Park. This is partly because there are constant helicopter flights and flying a drone in the same airspace would be incredibly dangerous. If you really can’t resist seeing this spectacular place from the sky, why not hop aboard a scenic flight yourself?
6. There’s plenty of parking
Don’t stress too much about parking at Echidna Chasm, there is a gravel carpark with lots of shady car bays. One thing to keep in mind when planning your hike to Echidna Chasm is the bus tours – these run daily dropping off tens of guests at a time to the hiking trail. If you don’t like crowds and are hoping to have the place to yourself, I suggest getting there before 8am, or arriving after 3pm. This way it’ll be nice and quiet, and you’re likely only to meet a few other small groups along the way.
7. There’s picnic tables & shade at the carpark
If you need a well-earned break from the sun, make sure you stop for a snack or lunch at one of the shaded picnic tables in the carpark. There are lots of beautiful trees and shady spots to have a rest and reflect on your time in the National Park.
8. The rocks are different to the famous banded ‘beehives’ in the rest of the National Park
If you’ve been researching Purnululu National Park, you will no doubt have seen the iconic shots of the stripy, ‘beehive’ rock formations that the Park is famous for. But the thing that’s special about Echidna Chasm is that the rocks there are quite different.
Step inside the huge rock walls and take a closer look – it won’t take long before you notice the big round boulders and pebbles that the entire rock walls are made of. The rock formation that makes up Echidna Chasm is called the ‘Boll Conglomerate’, and it was formed by an ancient, fast-flowing river that washed and tumbled broken bits of rock into the smooth pebbles and boulders you see today.
These pebbles finally settled and compacted over millions of years, forming the massive rock face that exists today. That too has been beaten by the elements over time, with water penetrating the cracks in the rock, eventually forming the Chasm that you’ll traverse on the hike.
9. You’ve never seen palm trees so tall!
One of my absolute favourite parts about Echidna Chasm were the gravity-defying palm trees. Some of them stretched up so high into the air that I wondered how they didn’t fall over.
These prehistoric trees are known as Livistona Palms, and they tell a story of the climates past. They exist only because their roots can reach deep enough to find a permanent water source – which is rare in a place like this. There used to be many more of the same palms when the climate here was wetter than it is today.
10. It gets damn hot, even though it’s shaded
Echidna Chasm is great because it’s shady for most of the day. But don’t forget that there’s still a bit of a walk to get to the Chasm, which isn’t fully shaded. June and July are the coolest months of the year there, with temperatures reaching about 30°C maximum on average. And it only gets hotter from there. For the rest of the ‘dry season’, it’s not unusual to experience temperatures in the 40°C’s. The rocks all around absorb the sun’s heat throughout the day and increase the temperature by throwing back radiant heat.
That’s why it’s so important to take a good supply of drinking water with you on your hike. Take at least 3 litres per person on this hike, as a bare minimum, and make sure you actually drink it. If you’re going to hike during the middle of the day, or aren’t particularly fit, consider taking more. It’s also a good idea to wear a hat, sunscreen, and a lightweight long sleeve shirt to keep the sun’s direct rays off you.
11. You can’t go during the wet season
Although spectacular during the summer rain and storms, Purnululu National Park is usually closed to all visitors from about November to April (the ‘wet season’). The exact dates change every year, so check the Park Alerts before you go to find out when the park is open. Bushfires are also common in the region, so be aware that the Park may close without notice – stay safe by staying aware.
12. There’s poor to no phone reception
Although you might get some intermittent or patchy reception with Optus and Telstra, do not count on it. Do not plan to use your mobile phone to communicate while you are in Purnululu National Park. The best way to ensure you have back-up communication in case of an emergency is to carry a personal locator beacon/emergency location device. These will work absolutely anywhere and are designed to be used to in remote locations.
13. The hike is free, but Park Entry Fees apply
If you’ve landed in Purnululu National Park, chances are you’re also venturing out to some other National Parks during the same trip. If you want value for money and don’t want to pay separately every time you enter a WA National Park, then a Parks Pass is where it’s at. Pre-purchase one of these to make all your travels around WA so much easier.
If you are just visiting for a day or two before jetting off somewhere else, a standard vehicle entry to Purnululu National Park is $17.
14. You can’t bring your pets
Because Echidna Chasm is in a National Park, you are not permitted to bring your pets. This is standard policy across all of Western Australia’s National Parks, so plan to leave your pets at home or find someone to look after them while you head into the National Park.
15. There’s a Bonus Lookout to see: Osmand Lookout
If you just can’t get enough of this incredible landscape when you visit, there are still more options for adventure! Instead of turning right on your walk into the Chasm, keep following the trail and signs to Osmand Lookout. It’s not too far to get to the Lookout and you’ll be amazed at what you learn there.
At the lookout you can see all the way across to the next geological formation – the Osmand Ranges. They are nearly 4 TIMES as old as the Bungle Bungles and Echidna Chasm. The Osmand Ranges are a whopping 1.6 billion years old, while the rocks of the Bungle Bungles are a mere 360 million years old (although that’s still older than the dinosaurs!).
The area is a place of significance for Aboriginal people who have lived here for tens of thousands of years. The valleys, especially Osmand Creek, are a place of permanent water, and were a vital key in survival during times of the year when everywhere else was dry. There are countless spirits, myths and stories held within the land and its people. You can learn more or book a Guided Tour with locally owned and operated Bungle Bungle Guided Tours.
Looking for more Kimberley inspiration?
Are you heading further north towards El Questro? Why not check out this complete guide to exploring Zebedee Springs.
Perhaps you’re going south instead and want to know what to do near Exmouth… Discover 13 Reasons You Should Hike the Yardie Creek Gorge Trail.
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