Trails, gorges & the Larapinta
Guide updated · grades and open status change — verify NT Parks
Start with a clear easy gorge vs Pound vs multi-day decision. Simpsons Gap plus one optional waterhole covers most first Alice days. Distances, grades and times below are planning ranges — always confirm on NT Parks and park alerts. Weather, closures and track status change.
Decide before you start
- Easy gorges: Simpsons Gap, Ellery Creek — high reward, still heat, flies and cold water.
- Moderate day walks: Ormiston Pound, Ghost Gum Lookout, Redbank — heat and rock, possible wades.
- Hard / multi-day: Larapinta sections and end-to-end — bookings, water, comms and bail-outs required.
Doing two hard walks plus a “must-see” lookout on a first visit usually runs you out of time. Pick the row that matches your energy, then open the trail page for how to get there.
Ormiston Gorge waterhole
Binarysequence · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Quick comparison (planning only)
| Walk / lookout | Effort | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ormiston Pound | moderate | 3–4 hours typical | The park’s signature day walk — Pound amphitheatre plus the permanent waterhole |
| Larapinta Trail | hard | Full trail commonly 10–14+ days; official end-to-end notes often allow ~20 days with rests | Fit, experienced multi-day walkers — or day / section walkers using vehicle trailheads |
| Simpsons Gap | easy | 30–90 minutes at the gap; longer if you add the bicycle path | First stop west of Alice, families, rock-wallaby watching, an easy gorge taste |
| Ellery Creek | easy | 1–3 hours including a swim decision and picnic | Swimming (when conditions allow), picnic, overnight camp, a calmer middle-corridor stop |
| Redbank & Mt Sonder | moderate | 1–2 hours gorge; half-day+ for a serious Sonder lookout start | Western-end drama, Sonder silhouette, cooler-season ridge mornings |
| Ghost Gum Lookout | moderate | 30–60 minutes typical | A shorter Ormiston payoff when the full Pound loop is too hot, too wet, or too long |
Easy
Simpsons Gap
easyTowering red cliffs and a waterhole close to Alice Springs — the classic first West Macs stop. Short formed walks, busy on weekends, and a known site for black-footed rock-wallabies at quieter times. Not a substitute for Ormiston.
- Grade
- Easy formed walks / short gorge paths — confirm live notes
- Time
- 30–90 minutes at the gap; longer if you add the bicycle path
- Distance
- Short paths into the gap; longer links exist toward the bicycle path
View guide →
Ellery Creek
easyA large permanent waterhole under red cliffs — the classic West Macs swim/picnic stop when official advice allows it. Cold water, submerged hazards, and a designated campground booked separately from the Parks Pass.
- Grade
- Easy picnic access; optional short walks — confirm live notes
- Time
- 1–3 hours including a swim decision and picnic
- Distance
- Short paths around the waterhole; longer Dolomite / other walks optional
View guide →
Moderate
Ormiston Pound
moderateThe West Macs day that earns the drive: climb to a saddle over the 46+ km² Ormiston Pound, cross the flat amphitheatre floor, then return via the gorge creek bed to the main permanent waterhole. Official park-open note (checked 14 Aug 2026): the loop currently requires a short swim through deep, cold water.
- Grade
- Grade 3 moderate — confirm live notes
- Time
- 3–4 hours typical
- Distance
- ~8.5–9.5 km loop
View guide →
Redbank & Mt Sonder
moderateNarrow chasm and waterhole at Redbank, with Mount Sonder (Rutjupma) as the western icon and a common Larapinta finish. The last stretch of the Redbank access road is unsealed — high-clearance 4WD is commonly recommended. Confirm live access.
- Grade
- Gorge walk + lookout / ridge effort — confirm live notes
- Time
- 1–2 hours gorge; half-day+ for a serious Sonder lookout start
- Distance
- Short gorge walk; longer lookout / Larapinta Mt Sonder side trip
View guide →
Ghost Gum Lookout
moderateA short, steep climb from the Ormiston visitor area to ghost gums and gorge views. Official park-open note (checked 14 Aug 2026): Ghost Gum Lookout is open; the Ghost Gum Loop currently requires swimming/wading through cold water — return via the lookout if you will not swim. Use the lookout as Plan B when the Pound swim is wrong.
- Grade
- Short steep lookout — confirm live notes
- Time
- 30–60 minutes typical
- Distance
- Short return from Ormiston Gorge visitor area
View guide →
Hard
Walks FAQ
Tap a question to expand the answer.
What is the best first walk in Tjoritja / West MacDonnell?
From Alice Springs, start at Simpsons Gap. If you have a full day and heat allows, commit to Ormiston (Ghost Gum + waterhole, or the Pound loop only if you will swim — official park-open note, 14 Aug 2026). Do not stack every gorge plus Mount Sonder into one day.
How hard is the Ormiston Pound Walk?
Published planning figures are about 8.5–9.5 km and 3–4 hours at Grade 3. Official park-open note (checked 14 Aug 2026): the loop currently requires a short swim through deep, cold water. Heat and rock still apply. Re-check NT Parks.
Do I need a permit for the Larapinta Trail?
Day walks on single sections do not use the overnight trail fee. Overnight consecutive days require the Larapinta trail fee plus camping bookings — separate from the Parks Pass. Standley Chasm has its own private fees. Verify live on NT Parks.
Verify current conditions, fees and openings directly with NT Parks (nt.gov.au/parks) and the park booking system before travel. This is an unofficial guide.