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Kings Canyon Rim Walk

Australia🇦🇺 | hikesKings Canyon Rim Walk6 km rim loop, 500-step climb, sandstone domes, dawn start | things to do and best time to go

Explore Heysen TrailExplore Larapinta Trail

Backpacking in Kings Canyon Rim Walk
👌 Worth visitinghike ranked #10
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 15, 2026

The real decision at Kings Canyon is whether to start at dawn or sleep in, and the answer is dawn, because the rim closes to walkers on hot days. It’s in the Northern Territory, in Australia’s Red Centre, in Watarrka National Park. The 6 kilometer loop climbs 500 steps at the start, then wanders across domed sandstone with sheer 100 meter drops. Scenery is superb. Getting there without a car is the hard part, since tour coaches from Alice Springs or Uluru are the main option. A ranger at the car park once told me, deadpan, “The sun starts the walk at 9, you start at 6.” I did as told. Carry at least 3 liters of water, and check the closure notice at the gate before you set off.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 Australia Travel Guide.
Best time to go: March - November
Duration: 3 to 4 hours
Distance: 6 kilometers
Total ascent: 300 meters


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✨ Why go?
Ranked #10 hike in AustraliaThe unique appeal for travelers

Backpackers come for the Garden of Eden waterhole, a leafy pool tucked into a gorge that otherwise looks like Mars with a tan. Few walks in the Red Centre pack this much into 6 kilometers, and you can finish before lunch, which leaves time for the rest of an Alice Springs to Uluru route. The scale is the other draw: the 100 meter high canyon walls look carved by a giant with a ruler, and the rock domes of the plateau top are unlike anything on the coast. It also suits mixed groups, because the short, flat Creek Walk in the gorge floor offers a gentler alternative if the rim feels like too much.

💡 HighlightsThe experiences that define the visit

  1. Kings Canyon South Wall: The sheer red cliff face, roughly 100 meters tall, is what most people picture. The rim path runs along the top, with no fence in many spots, so you look straight down.
  2. Heart Attack Hill: The steep stepped climb at the start, around 500 steps. It’s short, brutal and finished within 20 to 30 minutes, and the view from the top pays you back immediately.
  3. Garden of Eden: A permanent waterhole ringed with cycads, ferns and river red gums, reached by a descent into a side gorge. Cool, shaded and a sharp contrast to the rock above.
  4. The Lost City: Weathered sandstone beehive domes scattered across the plateau. Erosion has cracked them into streets and alleys, and wandering between them is the highlight of the loop.
  5. Cotterill’s Lookout: A viewpoint with the best sweep over the
… read more 👉
  1. Kings Canyon South Wall: The sheer red cliff face, roughly 100 meters tall, is what most people picture. The rim path runs along the top, with no fence in many spots, so you look straight down.
  2. Heart Attack Hill: The steep stepped climb at the start, around 500 steps. It’s short, brutal and finished within 20 to 30 minutes, and the view from the top pays you back immediately.
  3. Garden of Eden: A permanent waterhole ringed with cycads, ferns and river red gums, reached by a descent into a side gorge. Cool, shaded and a sharp contrast to the rock above.
  4. The Lost City: Weathered sandstone beehive domes scattered across the plateau. Erosion has cracked them into streets and alleys, and wandering between them is the highlight of the loop.
  5. Cotterill’s Lookout: A viewpoint with the best sweep over the canyon and the Carmichael Crag escarpment, good for photographing the red walls in early light.
The climb up Heart Attack Hill pairs well with the Garden of Eden on the same morning, since you cross both before the heat peaks.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around Kings Canyon Rim Walk

The Amazing Kings Canyon: 4-Hours Walking Tour and Hike

The Amazing Kings Canyon: 4-Hours Walking Tour and Hike

3.0(4) 4h
From €156
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?Choosing the right time of year

  • Winter (June to August): Best conditions for the rim. Days reach 19 to 23°C (66 to 73°F), nights can drop near 0°C (32°F), and daylight runs roughly 10.5 hours. Crowds and accommodation prices peak at Kings Canyon Resort.
  • Spring and Autumn (April to May, September to October): Highs of 27 to 32°C (81 to 90°F) make the walk comfortable if you start at dawn. Fewer visitors, easier bookings.
  • Summer (November to March): Highs often pass 36°C (97°F) and can hit 40°C+ (104°F+). The rim track closes to hikers on forecast days of 36°C or more after 9am, and gates for the climb shut early. Prices drop, flies and heat do not.
Start at sunrise in any season; in warmer months the rim must be started early, before the heat builds.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: good for travelingAPRApril: highly recommended for travelingMAYMay: excellent for travelingJUNJune: excellent for travelingJULJuly: excellent for travelingAUGAugust: excellent for travelingSEPSeptember: highly recommended for travelingOCTOctober: highly recommended for travelingNOVNovember: good for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
Australia - Kings Canyon Rim Walk

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🥾 Hike detailsEverything you need to know before hiking Kings Canyon Rim Walk

Total Distance: About 6 kilometers, a loop.
Estimated Duration: 3 to 4 hours at a relaxed pace, including photo stops.
Difficulty: Moderate to hard in the first stretch because of the steep climb, then easy to moderate along the top. Shade is scarce.
Starting Point: The Kings Canyon car park in Watarrka National Park. Public transport is mostly tour coaches from Alice Springs or Uluru, and the resort area lies a short drive away.
Major Landmarks:
  • Heart Attack Hill: The opening climb of about 500 steps.
  • The Lost City: Domed sandstone formations on the plateau.
  • Garden of Eden: A waterhole in a side gorge.
… read more 👉
Total Distance: About 6 kilometers, a loop.
Estimated Duration: 3 to 4 hours at a relaxed pace, including photo stops.
Difficulty: Moderate to hard in the first stretch because of the steep climb, then easy to moderate along the top. Shade is scarce.
Starting Point: The Kings Canyon car park in Watarrka National Park. Public transport is mostly tour coaches from Alice Springs or Uluru, and the resort area lies a short drive away.
Major Landmarks:
  • Heart Attack Hill: The opening climb of about 500 steps.
  • The Lost City: Domed sandstone formations on the plateau.
  • Garden of Eden: A waterhole in a side gorge.
  • Cotterill’s Lookout: A lookout over the canyon.
Terrain and Scenery: Sandstone steps, then worn rock ledges and domes, with red cliffs and wide views of the surrounding ranges.
Vegetation: Spinifex grass, cycads, ferns, river red gums and desert oaks, with greener growth around the waterhole.
Wildlife: Euros, rock wallabies, dingoes in the area, zebra finches and wedge-tailed eagles overhead, plus lizards sunning on the rock.
⚠️ Hiking info can sometimes be outdated or inaccurate. Before you hit the trail, check the latest conditions with locals. If you do spot anything that's off, I'd love to hear from you, so I can update it for fellow travelers.

🛡️ SafetyStaying Safe: What Travelers Should Know

The rim walk is a well-marked 6 km loop, but heat is the one hazard that sends people to the clinic. The climb begins with Heartbreak Hill, a steep 500-step ascent over sandstone, so go slowly and rest in the shade. Carry at least 3 liters of water per person (there is none on the rim), plus a hat, sunscreen and sturdy shoes with grip. Stay well back from unfenced cliff edges, especially in wind, and keep to the marked route since the domes of the Lost City look alike. Start at dawn, since rangers close the rim in extreme heat. Flies are relentless, so a head net helps. Dingoes and snakes are rarely a problem.
Check Country Safety

FAQTraveler FAQ

The full Kings Canyon Rim Walk takes about 3 to 4 hours for the 6 km loop. Most people allow 4 hours with photo stops at the Lost City domes and the Garden of Eden waterhole. Start at sunrise in warm months, as the track closes to hikers in extreme heat.
Moderate, with one hard section. The first 500 steps up Heartbreak Hill are steep, after which the 6 km loop is mostly gentle but rocky and fully exposed to the sun. Average fitness is enough if you carry 3 liters of water. Ancient sandstone domes and cliff edges require care, but no scrambling skills are needed.
No guide is needed and no permit or trail fee applies, as the rim walk is a self-guided, marked loop in Watarrka National Park. Park entry fees may apply, so check current rates at Kings Canyon Resort. Ranger notices at the trailhead set the closing times for hot days, and the rim is closed after 9am when the forecast is 36°C or higher. The easier Kings Creek Walk on the canyon floor is 2.6 km return and takes about an hour.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Australian hikes near Kings Canyon Rim Walk

Explore more nearby:

  • Larapinta Trail—223 km, West MacDonnells, 12 sections, rock-wallaby gaps| 243 km away
  • Heysen Trail—1,200 km, sectional walking, Flinders Ranges, dry stretches| 1063 km away
  • Thorsborne Trail—32 km, island beaches, Zoe Falls, ferry access, quota permits| 1658 km away

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We 💚 feedbackParting advice and final tips

Most visitors rush the Garden of Eden, but the cool pool and the quiet there are the best part of the day. I would stay for a proper rest before climbing back to the plateau, and I would bring a hat and extra water.

✈️ When did I visit Australia?
On my trip to New Zealand in 1993, I had a short stop in Australia as well.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Australia, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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