The trail would be steep, and the climate at the top cold, but the Bluff Knoll hike would prove to be a spectacular, mountain walk. Bluff Knoll is the tallest peak in the Stirling Range, an extensive group of mountains found in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, five hours from Perth to the north and just an hour or so from Albany in the south.
With its southern location and high peak, Bluff Knoll has experienced snowfall on more than one occasion. In fact, every few years, snow has been recorded on the top, which for Western Australia is a very rare sight indeed. Bluff Knoll though, is not the highest peak in the state.
The hike, although hard, is by no means challenging, even in comparison to other mountains within the Stirling Ranges itself. Many of the peaks that you can see stretching out across the land from the summit of Bluff Knoll are much more difficult or technical climbs to attempt. Bluff Knoll is classified as a Class 4 walk, and many of its neighbours are set at the more arduous Class 5 by the National Park.
Bluff Knoll, perhaps because of the rare snowfall, perhaps because of its distinctive shape and intriguing name, is a much more legendary hike than either of its taller cousins in the north and any of its shorter cousins in the range.
Bluff Knoll is continually surrounded with a dense layer of mist, that swirls around the summit as the wind pushes it between the gulleys and the rocks. At the base of Bluff Knoll Western Australia is a car park, with spectacular views of the face of the mountain.
From here the trail begins, and from here, I could see the misty mountaintop in the distance. In local Aboriginal history, Bluff Knoll was a place to be avoided. The views from the summit are spectacular and worth the effort to get there.
View trail map. Time 3 - 4 hours Distance 6. There are lots of steps along this trail What to Pack? Always take a warm jumper or jacket with you. If you're not a regular hiker then allow at least 1. We reached the summit and as luck would have it, just as we arrived, the heavens parted and we were treated to the most glorious sights. Looking off towards Toolbrunup and Mount Hassell provided a blanket of white cloud mixed in with a pastel purple colour palette.
The real show was looking towards the eastern peaks that form part of the Stirling Ridge Walk with the clouds cascading off the rock faces and creating a mystical scene. With the morning sun shining through, we snapped away quickly because we weren't sure how long the clear conditions would last. Unfortunately in my haste to get shots in the bag I didn't adjust my ISO on the camera back down to something that matched the conditions and the result was very grainy photos noticeable when you expand them.
In the moment though, I was just enjoying the beautiful nature display and just a very happy hiker to be here. Just as quickly as the clouds had parted, they blanketed the summit once again with the picture of everyone standing around in the grey a mere 14 minutes after the first photo in the below gallery.
Just as the clouds came over again, a group arrived, followed by more and more. We all sat around at the summit waiting for the clouds to clear again but they never did. Heading back down the mountain, the sweat I had worked up on the way up made for a very cold descent but it was worth it. As we got closer to the bottom I started noticing more wildflowers and even some orchids popping up in the bleak landscape. What a hike and I can highly recommend getting out there to try and catch a sunrise from the summit.
Final Thoughts — Bluff Knoll is a popular destination for a reason. A challenging hike, spectacular views and being able to claim you climbed the highest peak in the South West all attract visitors to the area. If you have a reasonable level of fitness then this hike is an experience worth doing if you are in Albany but don't underestimate the trail or the conditions.
My biggest fear about doing this hike was not getting the right weather conditions and coming home with a memory card full of grey landscapes. To say I was relieved when the clouds started to blow over on the way down was an understatement. You must Login to tick walks. Menu Edit this walk Navigate to Please, check the walk's official website to confirm if the track is open turn back if it looks like the track is too busy when you get there. Picnic Facilities. Arid or Desert. Tick Walk. Annie on Aug, Got there in the morning to discover it completely engulfed in cloud but persevered anyway.
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