Mount Bruce Summit Trail
9.5 km return 
4 h to 6 h
Mount Bruce Summit Trail
9.5 km
Return
4 h to 6 h
Starting from the Mount Bruce Carpark at the end of Mount Bruce Road off Karijini Drive, Karijini National Park, this walk takes you to the summit of Mount Bruce and back via the Mount Bruce Summit Trail. A lone and topographically prominent mountain, Mount Bruce is a major sight driving along Karijini Drive. Standing 1,234 metres above sea level, it is Western Australia's second tallest peak. This walk is not for the faint-hearted, alternating between relatively easy, gentle gradients and sections of difficult terrain requiring scrambling. There's a good mix of steps, walking over rolling hills, scrambling up rocky sections and rugged ridge walking. 500 metres into the walk is the Marandoo View, a viewpoint overlooking the nearby Marandoo Mine. From the Marandoo View lookout, the trail traverses over a series of small rolling hills, with Mount Bruce looming ahead in the distance. Even from these lower hills, the views are quite spectacular, with the mountains of the Hamersley Range stretching out in all directions. Before reaching any truly steep sections, the trail passes through a section of rectangular boulders that require some mild scrambling to get through. This rocky section doesn't last long before returning to fairly straightforward walking along the clearly defined walk track. The trail crosses one more rolling hill before beginning the first truly steep incline up Chinaman's Hat, with the trail running as a series of switchbacks up the mountain. As the track approaches a rock face, a chain bolted to the rock helps walkers along a narrow, exposed ledge. You'll need to scramble up a near-vertical climb after going up a narrow chute. Although it is close to vertical, the climb is actually a fairly straightforward scramble, as there are an abundance of hand and footholds all the way up the climb. Beyond the chute, there are a number of smaller scrambles before returning to a well-defined trail along the ridge connecting Chinaman's Hat to Mount Bruce itself. There are excellent views of Mount Bruce from the ridge, and although there are a few scrambles along the way, the walking is relatively easy. The final climb to the top of Mount Bruce follows a series of switchbacks through dense bush. The summit is marked by an impressively large cairn. Near the summit cairn, there is an informative plate identifying the many mountains surrounding Mount Bruce. Explore the summit and take in the beautiful panoramic views before making your way back down the mountain. Almost entirely downhill, the return journey is faster and easier than the walk-up. While the scrambling means this walk won't be for everybody, fans of adventurous mountain walks will find a lot to love about the Mount Bruce Summit Trail. The trail is generally clear and well defined, with sections on uneven, rocky and unmodified terrain. Some parts of the trail require a high level of fitness and experience, but this challenging walk will reward you with spectacular views of the landscape. Try not to climb in the middle of the day in summer as it can get pretty hot. Sturdy hiking boots are recommended. Be sure to take plenty of drinking water and sun protection. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.
Highlights
Views
Environment
Natural
Transport options
To start
Car