5 underrated hiking trails to tackle around WA
Sometimes the best hiking trails aren’t always the ones you see all the time on Instagram.
With a vast state to explore, there are plenty of hidden gems out there just waiting to be discovered. Chances are you’ll have them all to yourself too:
Mount Magog
The longest of the day hikes in the Stirling Range, Mount Magog is the last trail you’ll come across if you follow Stirling Range Drive from the sealed Chester Pass Road. While Bluff Knoll and Toolbrunup get most of the attention in the Stirling Range, Mount Magog offers some of the steepest elevation and views to rival any of the nearby peaks. One of the areas not affected by the 2018 or 2019 bushfires, it’s a nice escape from the blackened scenes of the eastern trails of the park. From winter through to late spring there are a great number of wildflowers and orchids on display with the biodiversity of the Stirling Range making this a must do hike.
Where: Stirling Range National Park
Length: 6.4km (Return)
Difficulty: Hard
Best Time to Visit: All Year Round
Warren River Loop Trail
Located deep in the towering Karri forests of Warren National Park and following the banks of the mighty Warren River for a section, the Warren River Loop Trail is one of the best and least talked about trails in the South West. Just a stone’s throw away from Pemberton, experience the magic of walking among giants, searching the forest floor for hundreds of different types of fungi or simply relaxing on a bench by the river listening to the birds chirping in the bushes. With two campsites along the trail, this is the perfect hike for a lazy weekend away where you’ll be surrounded by nothing but the sounds and smells of nature.
Where: Warren National Park, Pemberton
Length: 11.8km (Loop)
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Time to Visit: All Year Round
Warrungunha Trail
Located just an hour away from Karratha, Millstream-Chichester National Park is a little slice of Pilbara paradise during the cooler dry season. On the Millstream section of the park there are a couple of campsites to stay at offering wide open expanses alongside the Fortescue River. One of the best ways to explore this rugged landscape is to walk from the Millstream Homestead to Deep Reach Pool along the Warrungunha Trail. Starting in lush wetlands filled with palms and native Cadjeput trees, you soon head out onto the open spinifex plains above the Fortescue River. Enjoy the smoothed barked Snappy Gums and distant views of the Hamersley Range before arriving at the tranquil setting of Deep Reach Pool. Enjoy a BBQ and a swim in these pleasant waters as a nice reward for your hiking efforts.
Where: Millstream-Chichester National Park
Length: 8.5km (One Way)
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Time to Visit: Winter/Dry Season
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Nancy Peak / Devils Slide
While the famous stainless-steel lookout of the nearby Castle Rock Granite Skywalk gets all the attention in the Porongurups, just down the road is another hike that provides a more rounded exploration of the granite domes that make this area worth visiting. Combining two trails to form a loop with a side trip up Devils Slide, this hike will leave you in awe of the surrounding landscape. With views looking south to Albany, north to the Stirling Range and towards the moss-covered domes of the nearby peaks, there is plenty to enjoy about this one. Add in the lush Karri forest and you have the recipe for a stunning trail that avoids the crowds of Castle Rock.
Where: Porongurup National Park
Length: 6.4km (Loop)
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Time to Visit: Autumn through Spring
Mamang Trail
Located on the western side of Fitzgerald River National Park, the Mamang Trail can be tackled as an overnighter or done in one day as a long 26.8km loop. Given its distance from Perth and remote location between Albany and Esperance, not many people know about this one and there is a good chance you will have the whole place to yourself. Taking you along the pristine St Mary Beach before heading inland to showcase the excellent biodiversity including the unique Royal Hakea, the views you get from Point Charles overlooking the finish at Fitzgerald Inlet are breathtaking. During the whale migration (July to October) there is a good chance you’ll see them resting in the sheltered bay. If you are doing this as an overnight trail then there is a walkers only campsite on the edge of the Fitzgerald Inlet for you to enjoy (note – there is no water tank so you must bring your own).
Where: Fitzgerald River National Park
Length: 15.5km (One Way) or 26.8km (Loop)
Difficulty: Hard
Best Time to Visit: Autumn through Spring
About the author:
Mark (The Life of Py) is a Perth based outdoor enthusiast that loves exploring the trails of Western Australia in his free time. When he isn’t out taking photos he is busy planning the next adventure. See more of his content here.