Guide to the Bluff Knoll Hike in Stirling Ranges

The Bluff Knoll hike is easily one of the most popular day hikes in Western Australia. As the highest peak in south west WA, it attracts many people who aim to conquer the mountain in a day trip from Albany.

Located in the eastern side of the Stirling Range National Park, Bluff Knoll is a must do for those exploring the south west. However, it’s not a walk in the park, with a steep trail winding its way to the top of an exposed ridgeline.

If you’re planning a trip to the Stirling Ranges, this post will explain everything you need to know about hiking Bluff Knoll, including whether to go for sunrise or sunset.

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Bluff Knoll Hike Overview

Distance: 6 km return

Time: 3-4 hours

Trailhead: Bluff Knoll Carpark, Bluff Knoll Road

Total ascent: 670 m

Highest point: 1,095 m (highest point in south west WA)

Difficulty: Moderate-Hard

Entrance fee: You must have a Parks Pass to enter Stirling Range National Park.

Don’t forget! Fees apply to visit this WA national park. Purchase a Parks Pass in advance.

How to Get There

Perth to Bluff Knoll Carpark: 408 km or 4.5 hour drive

Albany to Bluff Knoll Carpark: 98 km or 1 hour 15 minute drive

It’s unlikely that you’ll be coming from Perth on a day hike, but the most direct route is via the inland Albany Highway from Perth. This will take about 4.5 hours one way to get to the Bluff Knoll carpark and trailhead.

For those coming from Albany, it’s just over an hour’s drive from town on Chester Pass Road. This is an easy drive that leads directly to the national park. The turn off for Bluff Knoll Road is off Chester Pass Road, just near The Bluff Knoll Cafe.

Where to Stay Near Bluff Knoll

If you want to stay somewhere close to the hike, then your best bet is Stirling Range Retreat. This caravan park offers powered and unpowered camping sites, as well as, cabins and motel rooms. It’s located just a 10-minute drive from the trailhead for Bluff Knoll, so it’s very convenient.

Other nearby options include:

• Mt Trio Bush Camp and Caravan Park: This campground is closer to the western half of the park, but still within just 25-minute drive of Bluff Knoll. They offer powered and unpowered camping sites amongst a rustic setting near Mt Trio. Check it out here.
• The Sleeping Lady Private Retreat: Closer to Porongurup National Park and Albany, this two bedroom chalet is the perfect cosy retreat overlooking a vineyard. It’s a 45-minute drive to Bluff Knoll from there. Check it out here.

When to Hike Bluff Knoll

It’s important to plan your Bluff Knoll hike around the weather. The Stirling Ranges has more of an alpine climate than anywhere else in Western Australia, so the weather can be quite volatile and cold.

I would suggest climbing Bluff Knoll in autumn or spring to get the best weather for hiking. Spring is considered the best time to visit overall, as you’ll also get to admire the wildflowers in the park as well.

Don’t forget to pack warm layers and cold weather clothing for Bluff Knoll, because even in summer, the temperature at the top of the mountain will be significantly lower than at sea level.

Best Time to Climb Bluff Knoll? Sunrise or Sunset?

To enjoy the mountain without the midday crowds and admire a colourful sky, it’s highly recommended to time your Bluff Knoll hike with either sunrise or sunset.

Many people opt for a sunrise hike, which means climbing up in the dark and hoping for a clear sky for a spectacular rising sun. This is a great option, for those staying nearby and who love the thrill of a morning hike.

I decided on a sunset hike instead, as I’d done Toolbrunup Peak in the morning. The forecast was looking good and the sky was still clear by late afternoon, which meant I was certain it would be a good sunset. It also meant walking up in daylight and almost having enough light on the way back too. I only needed my head torch for the last kilometre or so.

It really doesn’t matter whether you go for sunrise or sunset. The most important thing is checking the forecast and trying to time it with clear skies. However, it can be difficult to judge for sunrise as you won’t really know what the conditions are like until you get halfway up the mountain (whereas for sunset, you can wait until the afternoon to make your call if staying nearby). But that’s all part of the fun!

Is Bluff Knoll Hard?

Bluff Knoll is a Grade 4 hike according to Australian standards. This means that it is a challenging walk. However, the trail is a well-formed path the entire way, with steps for most of the way, plus good signage indicating the distance you have left to get to the top. For those reasons, it’s not as difficult as some of the other hikes in the Stirling Ranges, which are more rugged and not well signposted, with most also requiring rock scrambling.

In saying that, you do need to have some fitness to reach Bluff Knoll peak, as the 3km one way hike up is a constant uphill slog, that will test your leg muscles quite significantly.

I would consider this a moderate-hard walk: it’s steep but on a very well-formed trail!

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How Long Does It Take to Walk Up Bluff Knoll?

It takes on average 3-4 hours to complete the Bluff Knoll hike return. This definitely depends on your individual fitness and how long you spend at the summit enjoying the views.

For some context, I took 1 hour and 20 minutes to reach the top at a decent pace with minimal breaks. On the way down, I got back to the car park in an hour, because it was after sunset and I wanted to get down quickly. On top of that though, I was up on the summit for more than an hour enjoying the sunset views.

If you want to time your walk with sunset or sunrise, you’ll need to allow plenty of time so as not to miss the colours in the sky and golden hour.

Bluff Knoll Trail Notes

I’d already ticked off other hikes in the Stirling Ranges in the days before, and was really hoping for a clear day for a sunset mission up Bluff Knoll. After already doing Toolbrunup Peak in the morning, I relaxed at the Stirling Range Retreat until the late afternoon, keeping an eye on the sky.

I drove the 10 minutes to the Bluff Knoll carpark and began my walk up at 4.30pm. The sky was looking pretty clear, so I was stoked for an epic adventure to finish off my day. The trail was on a well-formed track, with stairs beginning almost immediately from the trailhead.

Not long after, I passed a dry little waterfall which can be flowing heavily over the trail after rain. But I continued on my ascent, with my quads burning from all the stairs. There was a strong breeze around, and I knew that might make the summit a bit uncomfortable but as long as there were clear skies I was happy.

The trail crossed the slope of Bluff Knoll in a diagonal direction, until it got closer to the top. Then, it swung around to the left and headed up to the summit and highest point of the ridge.

I had to stop briefly and put some of my layers on, including a thermal long sleeve and beanie. It had been such a warm day down below, but it’s amazing how much the temperature can drop once you head up over 1,000m.

I finally saw the “summit 100m” signpost and I made it to the top of Bluff Knoll. I’d only passed a handful of people on their way down, so I was completely alone at the summit. I’d made really good time, so I had just over an hour before sunset.

I explored the summit, taking in the different angles of the ridge and enjoying views over the rest of the national park.

Another solo hiker joined me and we stayed until after the sun had set. We had perfect conditions, other than some pretty strong wind which made it feel colder than it was. But, the colours were spectacular and the few clouds in the sky turned a bright orange.

We both headed down together and picked up a good pace. We got down to the carpark in an hour, and only needed our head torches for the last 30 minutes or so. It had been an awesome experience, and I headed back to the Stirling Range Retreat very happy with my day.

What to Pack for a Bluff Knoll Hike

Proper footwear: It’s important to wear sturdy footwear while hiking. There are so many options on the market, but I’ve been impressed with the Keen Targhee III hiking boots over the last couple of years.

Daypack: A good daypack will help you carry all your things comfortably while on trail. I like my Osprey Tempest 24L daypack, which is perfect for a wide range of day hikes.

Hiking poles: For steep, rocky trails, hiking poles can be extremely useful in easing the strain and pressure on your body. I’ve used Helinox trekking poles for years and love how light and compact they are.

Hydration reservoir or bladder: Carrying enough water is important. I prefer to take a 3L hydration reservoir or bladder so I can sip on water throughout the day.

Personal Location Beacon: No hiker should head out on a trail without an emergency device. A PLB is a safety essential so that you can call for help whenever and wherever you are in the wilderness.

First aid kit: Another safety essential, you should always carry at least a basic first aid kit with you on any day hike.

Is It Safe to Hike Bluff Knoll Alone?

Yes, Bluff Knoll is safe as a solo hiker. The trail is on a well-formed track with lots of signposts along the way, so navigation isn’t much of a problem. However, if you’re not overly confident, it’s best to do the hike during the day when you’re more likely to see other people and have plenty of daylight to see the trail.

But, I completed Bluff Knoll for sunset by myself and was almost completely alone up there until another solo hiker joined me and we walked down together. I felt quite safe the whole time.

Despite not much phone reception throughout the national park, it works quite well at the carpark for Bluff Knoll and most of the way up. I also had good reception at the summit.

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Bluff Knoll vs Mt Toolbrunup: Which is Better?

While Bluff Knoll is the tallest mountain in the Stirling Ranges, Mt Toolbrunup is not much shorter. And with most people aiming to do Bluff Knoll, Toolbrunup remains a lot quieter. However, it’s for good reason, as Bluff Knoll is an easier hike with well-formed steps most of the way, compared to the more difficult scrambling and boulder hopping required to reach the summit of Toolbrunup Peak.

For this reason, many experienced hikers actually prefer Mt Toolbrunup to Bluff Knoll, because it feels wilder and more rugged, with views that are arguably better too. I definitely agree with this and would recommend Mt Toolbrunup to those who are fit and looking for more of a challenge.

But in reality, I would say try and do both of the mountains and compare for yourself. They both have different views and a different sort of trail, so it’s worth doing both if you have the time. Although Toolbrunup would be more difficult for sunrise and sunset, because the trail is more rugged and would be challenging in the dark.

Other Hikes in Stirling Range National Park

There are plenty of other hikes to try in the Stirling Range National Park. While most people opt for Bluff Knoll, there are several other peaks that offer a more challenging hike and with just as good, if not better, views.

Read my post to find out more: Best Hikes in Stirling Range National Park

Exploring More of the South West?

• Porongurup National Park: Guide to the Granite Skywalk, Castle Rock
• Albany: 20 Best Things to Do in Albany
• Camping: 15 Best Campgrounds in South West WA
• Hiking: 12 Best Hikes in South West WA
• Perth to Esperance: Ultimate 10 Day South West Road Trip Itinerary

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