×
Larapinta Trail

Australia🇦🇺 | hikesLarapinta Trail223 km, West MacDonnells, 12 sections, rock-wallaby gaps | things to do and best time to go

Explore Kings Canyon Rim WalkExplore Overland Track

Backpacking in Larapinta Trail
🏆 Top pickhike ranked #2
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 15, 2026

The Larapinta Trail runs 223 kilometers west along the West MacDonnell Ranges, in the Northern Territory of Australia, from the old Telegraph Station in Alice Springs to the summit of Mount Sonder. It is a 12-section walk through red quartzite ridges, ochre gorges and permanent waterholes, and you can do it in pieces. Alice Springs has the airport and bus station, but the western trailheads need a shuttle or a hire car, so plan transfers before you plan boots. Water tanks sit at most camps, yet some stretches are dry for days, and food drops are standard for the full walk. I expected a hot, empty desert and found the first creek bed crunching with fallen river red gum leaves and ringing with zebra finches at dawn. The reality was far leafier and noisier than the postcard. The trail is hard, remote and sometimes a logistical puzzle, but the payoff is huge. Section 1 ends at Simpsons Gap, where black-footed rock-wallabies cling to the cliff face.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 Australia Travel Guide.
Best time to go: April - October
Duration: 12 to 20 days
Distance: 223 kilometers
Total ascent: about 9000 meters


example page 0 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
example page 1 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
example page 2 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
example page 3 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
example page 4 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
example page 5 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
example page 6 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
example page 7 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
Loading the map 🌍
CLICK TO FILTER
cities
towns
villages
landmarks
national parks
hikes
beaches
attractions
festivals
regions
SHOW COUNTRY’S BESTSHOW ALL

✨ Why go?
Ranked #2 hike in AustraliaWhy visitors keep coming back

Backpackers come for a long-distance walk that doesn’t need a mountain-hut network or a week of cold rain. The Larapinta gives you 12 sections that you can stitch into anything from a two-day taster to a full two-to-three-week traverse, so your fitness and calendar set the length. Camps have tanks, tent platforms or flat sites, and toilets, which keeps your pack lighter than on most remote trails.

The country itself is the other draw. You climb to the Counts Point and Brinkley Bluff ridgelines for horizons of folded red range, then drop into gorges like Ormiston Gorge, where a swim in a cold waterhole is possible in the cooler months. Few trails in Australia let you cross this much of the Red Centre on foot with real campsites and a clear route.

It also fits easily into a bigger Outback … read more 👉
Backpackers come for a long-distance walk that doesn’t need a mountain-hut network or a week of cold rain. The Larapinta gives you 12 sections that you can stitch into anything from a two-day taster to a full two-to-three-week traverse, so your fitness and calendar set the length. Camps have tanks, tent platforms or flat sites, and toilets, which keeps your pack lighter than on most remote trails.

The country itself is the other draw. You climb to the Counts Point and Brinkley Bluff ridgelines for horizons of folded red range, then drop into gorges like Ormiston Gorge, where a swim in a cold waterhole is possible in the cooler months. Few trails in Australia let you cross this much of the Red Centre on foot with real campsites and a clear route.

It also fits easily into a bigger Outback trip. Alice Springs sits at one end, Uluru and Kings Canyon are a long drive south, and the walk gives you the quiet, slow version of the same landscapes.

💡 HighlightsTop highlights of Larapinta Trail

  1. Mount Sonder Summit: The western finish of the trail and the most famous sunrise walk. The 1,380-meter peak looks like a sleeping figure from the road, and the early start rewards you with first light over the ranges.
  2. Simpsons Gap: A narrow cleft in the ridge close to Alice Springs, reached at the end of Section 1. A permanent pool at the base attracts black-footed rock-wallabies, which perch on the rock walls.
  3. Standley Chasm (Angkerle Atwatye): A slot in the range where the walls glow orange around midday as the sun hits the bottom. It lies on private Aboriginal-owned land, so there is an entry fee, and the camp nearby sits on the trail.
  4. Ormiston Gorge: Steep red cliffs rise above a large permanent waterhole and white-trunked ghost gums. The pound loop above it is a worthwhile detour, and the
… read more 👉
  1. Mount Sonder Summit: The western finish of the trail and the most famous sunrise walk. The 1,380-meter peak looks like a sleeping figure from the road, and the early start rewards you with first light over the ranges.
  2. Simpsons Gap: A narrow cleft in the ridge close to Alice Springs, reached at the end of Section 1. A permanent pool at the base attracts black-footed rock-wallabies, which perch on the rock walls.
  3. Standley Chasm (Angkerle Atwatye): A slot in the range where the walls glow orange around midday as the sun hits the bottom. It lies on private Aboriginal-owned land, so there is an entry fee, and the camp nearby sits on the trail.
  4. Ormiston Gorge: Steep red cliffs rise above a large permanent waterhole and white-trunked ghost gums. The pound loop above it is a worthwhile detour, and the day-use area has facilities.
  5. Counts Point: A high lookout in Section 8 over the ranges to the horizon. It is one of the few places where you see the whole line of the West MacDonnells at once.
Standley Chasm and Simpsons Gap both sit near the start of the trail, so pair them in a single day before heading into the longer sections.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around Larapinta Trail

Uluru Day Trip from Alice Springs Including BBQ Dinner

Uluru Day Trip from Alice Springs Including BBQ Dinner

4.6(663) 18h
From €256
per personViator
Early Morning Ballooning in Alice Springs

Early Morning Ballooning in Alice Springs

4.8(456) 4h
From €243
per personViator
West MacDonnell Ranges Day Trip from Alice Springs

West MacDonnell Ranges Day Trip from Alice Springs

4.7(374) 10h
From €160
per personViator
Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon Camping Safari from Alice Springs

Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon Camping Safari from Alice Springs

4.8(201) 72h
From €626
per personViator
Alice Springs Desert Park General Entry Ticket

Alice Springs Desert Park General Entry Ticket

4.8(157)
From €25
per personViator
West MacDonnell Ranges Half day Tour -Small Group

West MacDonnell Ranges Half day Tour -Small Group

4.8(157) 4h 20m
From €87
per personViator
Alice Springs to Ayers Rock (Uluru) One Way Shuttle

Alice Springs to Ayers Rock (Uluru) One Way Shuttle

4.6(159)
From €163
per personViator
Alice Springs Highlights & Nature Escape Day Tour

Alice Springs Highlights & Nature Escape Day Tour

4.6(125) 7h
From €119
per personViator
West MacDonnell Ranges & Standley Chasm Day Trip from Alice Springs

West MacDonnell Ranges & Standley Chasm Day Trip from Alice Springs

4.9(85) 10h
From €138
per personViator
3-Day Uluru-Kata Tjuta Kings Canyon Outback from Alice Springs

3-Day Uluru-Kata Tjuta Kings Canyon Outback from Alice Springs

4.8(88) 72h
From €626
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?Seasonal considerations and timing

The Larapinta Trail is best walked from May to August, when daytime highs sit around 18 to 24°C (64 to 75°F) and the trail is open.
  • Winter (June to August): Days reach 18 to 22°C (64 to 72°F), nights can fall to -2 to 5°C (28 to 41°F). Daylight runs roughly 10.5 hours, so plan for early starts and a headlamp. This is peak season, so book flights, shuttles and campsites early.
  • Early autumn and late winter (April to May, September): Highs of 25 to 30°C (77 to 86°F) with milder nights of 8 to 14°C (46 to 57°F). Fewer walkers, longer days, and flights are often cheaper. September brings wildflowers after good rain.
  • Summer (October to March): Highs of 36 to 42°C (97 to 108°F). Park authorities advise against walking, and some sections close or carry fire and heat restrictions. Expect storms and the
… read more 👉
The Larapinta Trail is best walked from May to August, when daytime highs sit around 18 to 24°C (64 to 75°F) and the trail is open.
  • Winter (June to August): Days reach 18 to 22°C (64 to 72°F), nights can fall to -2 to 5°C (28 to 41°F). Daylight runs roughly 10.5 hours, so plan for early starts and a headlamp. This is peak season, so book flights, shuttles and campsites early.
  • Early autumn and late winter (April to May, September): Highs of 25 to 30°C (77 to 86°F) with milder nights of 8 to 14°C (46 to 57°F). Fewer walkers, longer days, and flights are often cheaper. September brings wildflowers after good rain.
  • Summer (October to March): Highs of 36 to 42°C (97 to 108°F). Park authorities advise against walking, and some sections close or carry fire and heat restrictions. Expect storms and the occasional flash flood.
Book a full-trail resupply and shuttle seats months ahead for June and July.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: below average for travelingFEBFebruary: below average for travelingMARMarch: fair for travelingAPRApril: good for travelingMAYMay: excellent for travelingJUNJune: excellent for travelingJULJuly: excellent for travelingAUGAugust: excellent for travelingSEPSeptember: highly recommended for travelingOCTOctober: good for travelingNOVNovember: fair for travelingDECDecember: below average for traveling
Australia - the Larapinta Trail

✈️ The backpacker research shortcutAustralia Travel Guide

An offline-friendly backpacking guide with optimized travel routes, ranked highlights, transport advice, and the best areas to stay.
example page 0 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
example page 1 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
example page 2 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
example page 3 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
example page 4 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
example page 5 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
example page 6 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
example page 7 from our offline Travel Guide for Australia
The digital guide (414 pages) contains:
✅ 143 highlights, ranked by travel appeal
✅ Optimized 14, 21 & 30-day travel routes
✅ Cities, national parks, landmarks, beaches
✅ How to get around
✅ Offline-friendly for travel without Wi-Fi
👉 Click to see all 30+ guide features

📅 Plan smarter in minutes, not weeks
✅ Month by month travel advice
✅ Festivals & national holidays
✅ Budget expectations

🗺️ Go to the right places, skip the overrated ones
✅ Honest pros & cons of destinations
✅ Top hikes, parks & viewpoints
✅ Lesser-known places most travelers miss
✅ Clear “worth it vs skip it” guidance

🛏️ Travel smoothly without rookie mistakes
✅ Best areas to stay
✅ Transport systems explained simply
✅ Common scams & safety advice
✅ SIM cards, money & practical tips

🌍 Understand the country, not just visit it
✅ Culture & traditions
✅ Local customs
✅ Festivals worth planning around
✅ Traveler-friendly historical context
✅ Insights that make places more meaningful

📱 Built for real travel conditions
✅ Fully downloadable PDF
✅ Works completely offline
✅ Optimized for phone use
✅ Useful in remote areas & buses
✅ Everything in one place
Stop searching, start planning
Get instant access to your full guide. 30‑day money-back guarantee.
+ Add another guide for just

By proceeding you agree to our terms.
Sent to your inbox immediately after payment • 100% Secure Checkout
Best Backpacking Travel Advisor 2025 tourism awardBest Backpacking
Travel Advisor
2025
What others say about Take Your Backpack Guides:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fantastic, amazing amount of information!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My goodness this is amazing, it's what I've been looking for hats off too you!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I think this is absolutely BRILLIANT
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Very complete and informative. It's still missing places, but I gotta to commend you
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is truly amazing, thank you, can't wait to explore it with my kids!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Awesome resource, thank you!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is amazing! Can't wait to explore the ones I haven't seen
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I love this! Well done, great idea.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks for taking the time to make this gem!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This might be the best website I've ever seen.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Congratulations, and thank you so much for your work; it's incredibly valuable.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
In all seriousness I think you did a great job pointing out the important spots
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
10/10 very good
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
As someone who's only just starting to visit regularly this is awesome, thank you.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you very much! I'm going to visit my dad, it's going to be very useful!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is really cool! We'll be travelling for the first time and this definitely come in handy.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
You are now our minister of culture, congratulations 👨‍💼
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Just wanted to tell you that this is a pearl! Going to follow your recommendations.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is so cool. I'll definitely be using the resource for my travels soon.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is very impressive! Good work.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is an amazing and informative site. Very well done!

🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas to stay in Australia

If you enjoy meeting fellow travelers, consider choosing hostels with high ratings for atmosphere. On the other hand, if you prefer having your own space, a hotel might be a better option.

Best hostels in Australia


Best quality hotels in Australia

🥾 Hike detailsA practical overview of the hike

Total Distance: 223 kilometers one way, from Alice Springs Telegraph Station to Redbank Gorge and Mount Sonder.
Estimated Duration: 12 to 20 days for the full trail, depending on pace. Most people split it into sections of two to five days.
Difficulty: Moderate to hard. Terrain is rocky, ridge climbs are steep and exposed, and water planning matters more than pack weight.
Starting Point: Alice Springs Telegraph Station, a short ride from town. Alice Springs has an airport and long-distance bus connections. Shuttles run to and from the western trailheads, because public buses do not reach them.
Major
… read more 👉
Total Distance: 223 kilometers one way, from Alice Springs Telegraph Station to Redbank Gorge and Mount Sonder.
Estimated Duration: 12 to 20 days for the full trail, depending on pace. Most people split it into sections of two to five days.
Difficulty: Moderate to hard. Terrain is rocky, ridge climbs are steep and exposed, and water planning matters more than pack weight.
Starting Point: Alice Springs Telegraph Station, a short ride from town. Alice Springs has an airport and long-distance bus connections. Shuttles run to and from the western trailheads, because public buses do not reach them.
Major Landmarks:
  • Simpsons Gap: Rock-wallaby habitat and an early waterhole.
  • Standley Chasm: Narrow gorge with a camp on the trail.
  • Ormiston Gorge: Permanent waterhole and large cliffs.
  • Mount Sonder: The 1,380-meter western end of the trail.
Terrain and Scenery: Rocky tracks across quartzite ridges, dry creek beds and open spinifex plains. Ridgelines give wide views over the ranges, and gorge sections are cooler and shadier.
Vegetation: Spinifex grass, mulga, river red gums along creeks, ghost gums on rocky slopes and desert wildflowers after rain.
Wildlife: Black-footed rock-wallabies, euros, zebra finches, wedge-tailed eagles, dingoes at a distance, and plenty of reptiles on warm days.
⚠️ 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

Heat and water are the two things that actually hurt walkers on the Larapinta, so plan around them. Water tanks sit at most campsites but are not guaranteed, so check the current tank status with park rangers before you leave and carry 3 to 4 liters per day between sources on the long dry stretches. Winter nights drop below freezing, so a proper sleeping bag matters as much as sun protection by day. The terrain is rocky and steep in places, especially on Mount Sonder and along the Simpsons Gap to Standley Chasm sections. Sturdy boots and trekking poles save knees on loose scree. The track is well marked, but carry a map and a personal locator beacon, as mobile coverage is patchy. Snakes are active in warmer months, so watch where you step and leave them alone. Dingoes may visit camps, so store … read more 👉
Heat and water are the two things that actually hurt walkers on the Larapinta, so plan around them. Water tanks sit at most campsites but are not guaranteed, so check the current tank status with park rangers before you leave and carry 3 to 4 liters per day between sources on the long dry stretches. Winter nights drop below freezing, so a proper sleeping bag matters as much as sun protection by day. The terrain is rocky and steep in places, especially on Mount Sonder and along the Simpsons Gap to Standley Chasm sections. Sturdy boots and trekking poles save knees on loose scree. The track is well marked, but carry a map and a personal locator beacon, as mobile coverage is patchy. Snakes are active in warmer months, so watch where you step and leave them alone. Dingoes may visit camps, so store food securely. Register your itinerary and pace yourself; many first-timers underestimate the daily distances.
Check Country Safety

FAQCommon questions from travelers

The full Larapinta Trail takes 12 to 16 days to walk end to end, covering about 223 kilometers (139 miles) from Alice Springs Telegraph Station to Mount Sonder. Most walkers split it into 12 sections with food drops at points such as Standley Chasm, Ormiston Gorge and Redbank Gorge. Shorter options include single-section walks of 1 to 2 days, or the 4 to 6 day trek covering the western highlights.
Moderate to hard overall, thanks to the distance, rugged terrain and remote conditions rather than technical climbing. Daily stages run 10 to 30 kilometers (6 to 19 miles), and sections 4, 5 and 9 are the hardest, with steep ridge climbs, with Section 11 and the Mount Sonder summit hike being long days. You need solid fitness, a comfortable pack weight under about 15 kilograms plus water, and experience carrying water between tanks. Section 10 is the gentlest.
No guide is required, and no permit is needed for the track itself, though registering your walk with park authorities is strongly recommended. Walkers camping at the designated trailhead and track campsites in the West MacDonnell National Park must pay camping fees, usually bookable through the Northern Territory Parks online system and roughly A$5 to 10 per person per night. Guided trips, typically 6 to 16 days, cost from about A$2,500 to 6,000 and include food, transfers and camping gear.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Australian hikes near Larapinta Trail

Explore more nearby:

  • Kings Canyon Rim Walk—6 km rim loop, 500-step climb, sandstone domes, dawn start| 243 km away
  • Heysen Trail—1,200 km, sectional walking, Flinders Ranges, dry stretches| 992 km away
  • Thorsborne Trail—32 km, island beaches, Zoe Falls, ferry access, quota permits| 1416 km away

💡 Not sure where to go next?
Create a personalized itinerary for Australia including Larapinta Trail and the places that fit your trip.

Generate my itinerary

👉 Discover all hikes

Or checkout all Australia has to offer (think cities, towns, villages, national parks, hikes, beaches, festivals)
Explore Australia
Country photo of Australia
© Google Images

We 💚 feedbackSumming up the experience

The classic mistake is trying the whole trail in one go without a food and water plan, then slogging through the dry stretches. Break it into sections, arrange food drops at the camps with tanks, and carry extra water where the tanks are far apart. Take Mount Sonder at dawn.

✈️ 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.



🙋‍♂️ Give feedback

👋 Meet the founderWho’s Behind Take Your Backpack?

Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

The goal is to provide realistic, experience-driven guidance — not generic itineraries — so you can explore destinations with better context, clearer expectations, and more confidence.

Read the full story