Hiking Bluff Knoll for Sunrise
One of the most popular day hikes in WA is Bluff Knoll. Situated in the scenic Stirling Rangers, Bluff Knoll is the second highest peak in Western Australia. At 1,099 metres above sea level, it is the perfect day hike for any adventurer. The trail is 6.8km, you should allow roughly 3 hrs return for the climb.
We chose to do the hike in early November as temperatures were nice and cool at night and warm and sunny during the days. We travelled down from Perth for the weekend and decided to stay the night before the hike at Stirling Ranges Retreat. We set up our newly purchased Drifta Stockton roof top tent next to a beautiful paddock with stunning views of the Stirling Range. After a quick easy dinner and glass of wine we climbed up into bed since we had an early start the following morning.
We set our alarm for 2:30am with the aim to be at the base of the climb by 3:30am to reach the summit before sunrise at 5:15am. Be sure to check the sunrise times as they differ greatly during different seasons!
The hike starts out from the carpark on nice bitumen before turning into a winding incline at times on a steep rocky path. We were able to complete the hike in roughly 1 hr 15 minutes with a few stops for water and to catch our breaths.. Admittedly we were a little out of shape! The first light started as we were about 2km from the top which made us quickly pick up the pace to ensure we did not miss the sunrise. The last few kms were our favourite as we could start to see the impressive landscape that was surrounding us!
When you reach the top there is plenty of space to find a spot to take in the breathtaking view. The morning was clear but as the sun started to rise clouds started to roll in. It was surprisingly cold at the top. Our hands started to freeze when we were taking pictures and we had to put another layer of jackets on. We highly recommend taking gloves - regardless of the time of year.
After snapping up some beautiful shots we sat back and took in the view. Joss made us a hot cup of coffee to enjoy.. But mainly to defrost our hands! The trail on the way up was quite busy but at the top people didn't stay long and we had it to ourselves for a while.
The hike back to the car park did not take long and was really enjoyable to stop and look back up to the impressive mountain we had just climbed. We were lucky enough to see a variety of beautiful wildflowers along the path and in the bush.
Things to take:
Make sure you take plenty of drinking water as the hike can be challenging in some spots
Snacks
Warm clothing as the weather conditions on top of Bluff Knoll are known to change rapidly and strong winds have been experienced.. We both wished we had packed gloves (even though it was Nov)
We had enough room to take a Jet Boil to make a coffee at the top
Camera
Comfortable and sturdy walking shoes
Comfortable backpack
Head torch
Entrance fee
There is a pay station at the entrance of the park which is $15.00 per vehicle which can be paid via credit card at the terminal or cash when the office is manned. The RAC parks pass is accepted for this National Park.
Where to stay
Stirling Range Retreat offers a variety of accommodation options, from powered and unpowered sites to chalets and family rooms. There is a pool, huge camp kitchen and shower block with a small general store.
Nearby there is the Mt Rio BushCamp which has powered and unpowered sites. We stayed here the first night of our Stirling Ranges weekend.
Albany is roughly a 1 hr drive from Bluff Knoll and has a variety of accommodation options and a good base if you plan on spending more time in the Great Southern Region.
Road conditions
You can gain access to the Stirling Rangers national park with a 2WD as majority of the roads are sealed however the scenic drive is unsealed but in good condition with limited corrugation (be sure to check local information on road conditions before you arrive).
Best time to climb Bluff Knoll
We both really enjoyed the time of year we did the hike however if you want to climb during daylight we would recommend going early morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat.
Most popular months to hike is from September to April as there is less chance of rain and warmer temperatures as in the winter months you can expect heavy fog and once a year even snow!!!
