The Pinnacle walks

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The Pinnacle walks

Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park

From the street, The Pinnacle appears unnervingly high and potentially difficult to walk. The good news is that it is not, and the views from the lookout make every bit of effort worthwhile. It is one of the very best vantage points in the Grampians National Park for terrific scenic views over a vast expanse of western Victoria.
There are a number of walking options to reach The Pinnacle, varying in distance and difficulty. The easiest route to The Pinnacle departs from the Sundial carpark within the national park and ascends to The Pinnacle via Devils Gap. This is the best route to use if young children or unconfident walkers are part of your walking group. The 4.2km walk will take one and a half to two hours for the return trip. It does include some water crossings and rock-hopping, so good sturdy shoes are essential.

A more challenging walk departs from the aptly named Wonderland carpark and ascends via the impressive Grand Canyon. It does not resemble the American canyon of the same name but is equally impressive with its unique Australian rock formations, albeit on a smaller scale! The walk continues through the Silent Street before rising up to The Pinnacle.

For the really adventurous, you can walk to The Pinnacle from the base of the mountains, starting at the Halls Gap caravan park. This extended walk will take around five hours return so is suitable for fit and experienced walkers.

All these walks offer a variety of incredible rock formations to see and negotiate, as well as lush vegetation that has recovered from bushfires with fresh spurts of new growth. In springtime, wildflowers burst into life with their brilliant bright colours. With an abundance of wildlife living in the park, your walk may also include glimpses of koalas, kangaroos, snakes, skinks and maybe even an echidna or two.

Whichever way you get there, the view from The Pinnacle lookout will astound you. While you get your breath back after your ascent, you will be able to see Halls Gap far below you, as well as Lake Bellfield. Plus you will get a close-up look at the irregular and fascinating rock formations for which the Grampians are so well-known.

The Pinnacle walks

 
A couple in their thirties take in the view along Dead Timber Track.

Hiking and bushwalking

Witness breathtaking natural scenery at some of Victoria’s most iconic places when you lace up your boots and take to a hiking trail.
Father and son bird watching on boardwalk

Bird watching

From bushland to wetlands and everything in between, parks provide habitat to an abundance of common and rare bird species. Go for a wander and see how many you can spot.
A couple looks on at a Wombat on Wilsons Promontory National Park,

Wildlife viewing

Get up close and personal with some of Australia's shy native wildlife or look up to spot tree-dwelling mammals and flocks of colourful birds,

Brambuk The National Park and Culture Centre

Brambuk The National Park and Cultural Centre in Halls Gap began with the building of the Brambuk Cultural Centre in 1989 to acknowledge, protect and share the cultures of the Jadawadjali and Djab Wurrung Peoples.

 

How to get there

The Pinnacle walks

Grampians National Park is located in Western Victoria, a three-hour (260km) drive from Melbourne and a five-hour (460km) drive from Adelaide. The central Grampians is easily accessed from the villages of Halls Gap and Wartook and is a scenic day trip from the regional towns of Hamilton, Horsham, Stawell and Ararat. It is also a key destination on the internationally renowned Great Southern Touring Route.

Need to know

The Pinnacle walks

Change of Conditions

Nature being nature, sometimes conditions can change at short notice. It’s a good idea to check this page ahead of your visit for any updates.

  • Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park

    Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park - Roads Update 17.01.2025

    The Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park has many roads temporarily closed due to recent bushfires. Please be aware the movement of visitors in parts of the national park is restricted.

    Mitchell Rd between Redman Rd and Mt William Picnic Ground Rd.

    Temporary Road & Seasonal Road Closures
    These are mostly due to recent bushfires and is a long list. Please refer to the attached up-to-date road report below.

    Seasonal Roads
    Seasonal Roads reopened on Thursday 31st October 2024.

    The following seasonal roads require further management and remain closed:
    ·      Moora Track
    ·      Launders Track
    ·      Mt Cassell Fireline

    Seasonal road closures are necessary to maintain water quality, protect public safety and prevent erosion during the wetter months, making them vulnerable to damage.

    Please see the latest road report attachment for full road and track details at the bottom of this page.

    Attachments: Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park - Road Report - 17.01.2025 (224KB)

    Rock climbing closures due to Grampians-Yarram Gap Bushfire

    Due to recent bushfires in the area and ongoing efforts to suppress them, designated rock climbing sites 63-91 in the Wonderland and Serra Range are temporarily closed to climbers and visitors.

    This includes:  
    63. The Elephants Hide
    64. Wild Geese Wall
    65. Mackeys Peak
    66. The Tower of Paine
    67. Crock Wall
    68. Blockbuster Buttress
    69. Wil Flower Wall
    70. Point Sunshine
    71. The Upper Goon
    72. The Lower Goon
    73. Signal Peak
    74. Frenchmans Beret
    75. Grand Canyon
    76. The Underworld
    77. The Wall of China
    78. Neurology Wall
    79. Bellfield Peak
    80. Wurzelgammage
    81. Lookout Point Wall
    82. Lake View Wall
    83. The Bleachers (Sundial Peak) (Bouldering Area)
    84. Equinox Walls (RNA)
    85. Western Wall
    86. Stoney Peak
    87. Bundaleer
    88. Calecstasia Walls
    89. Tower Hill
    90. Rosea Far Right
    91. Mount Rosea

    Reopening of Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park - Southern Section

    Parts of Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park have now reopened following the containment of the Yarram Gap Bushfire. 
     
    Some sections of the park will remain closed for the time being while fire suppression works are ongoing.
     
     
    Visitor sites in the Southern Grampians area which will REOPEN on 10 January include:
    - Mt Abrupt (Mud-Dadjug)  
    - Mt Sturgeon (Wurgarri)  
    - Piccaninny (Baingugg)  
    - Signal Peak  
    - Buandik (Jadawadjali) Falls 
    - Chimney Pots  
    - Billimina Art Shelter  
    - Manja Art Shelter 
    - Red Rock Picnic Area 
    - Strachans Campground 
    - Buankdik Campground 
    - Grampians Peaks Trail: South Section S4-S5 - Dunkeld to Cassidy Gap Road (including Dunkeld Trailhead, Victoria Valley Road Trailhead, Bainggug (Picaninny) Trailhead, Mud-Dadjug hike in campground, Djardji-Djawara hike in campground (End Point - no access north of the campground), Cassidy Gap Trailhead)
    - Victoria Range Overnight Hike (including Fortress remote overnight Hike-in campground) 
     
    Visitor sites to remain CLOSED: 
    - Paddys Castle  
    - Tower Hill 
    - Burrong Falls 
    - Moora Moora area   

    Reopening of Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park - Central Section

    Parts of Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park have now reopened following the containment of the Yarram Gap Bushfire.
    Some sections of the park will remain closed for the time being while fire suppression works are ongoing. 
     
    Visitors can view a Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park Closure Map here. 

    Visitor sites in the Central Grampians area which will REOPEN on 10 January include:
    - Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Centre 
    - Brambuk Wetland loop 
    - Fyans Creek (Barri Yalug) loop  
    - Boronia Peak  
    - Venus Baths 
    - Bullaces Glen 
    - Chatauqua Peak (Bim) 
    - Clematis Falls  
    - MacKenzie Falls  
    - Broken Falls 
    - Mackenzie Falls Bluff Lookout walk 
    - Fish Falls, Mackenzie River/Bun-nah Trail 
    - Zumsteins Picnic Area and Historic walk 
    - Boroka Track and Lookout 
    - Lake Wartook Lookout 
    - Smiths Mill Campground  
    - Plantation Campground (State Forest) 

    Visitor sites to remain CLOSED: 
    - Reeds Lookout 
    - Balconies Lookout  
    - Pinnacle walks from Halls Gap, Wonderland and Sundial car parks 
    - Wonderland Loop from Halls Gap 
    - Mackey’s Peak  
    - Grand Canyon Loop 
    - Wonderland Forest Loop  
    - Turret Falls  
    - Splitters Falls   
    - Lakeview Lookout 
    - Sundial Peak  
    - Viewpoint 
    - Sundial 4x4 track access from Lake Bellfield 
    - Mt Rosea day walk 
    - Stony Creek camp link 
    - Bundaleer    
    - Burma Track loop 
    - Borough Huts campground to Mt Rosea  
    - Tunnel Walking Track  
    - Terraces Fireline around Lake Bellfield 
    - Pomonal Fireline 
    - Mt William Summit Walk 
    - Sheep Hills 
    - Kalymna Falls 
    - Mafeking Picnic Area 
    - Brownings Loop Historic Walk  
    - Teddy Bear Gap Walk 
    - Borough Huts Campground 
    - Stony Creek road bush camps 
    - Moora and Vic Valley bush camps 
    - Kalymna Campground 
    - Wannon Crossing Campground 
    - Boreang Campground
    - Jimmy Creek Campground 
    - Grampians Peaks Trail: Section N4 – S3 - Halls Gap to Cassidy Gap Road (including Bugiga Hike-in campground, Barri Yalug Hike-in campground, Duwul Hike-in campground, Durd Durd Hike-in campground, Yarram Hike-in campground, Wannon Hike-in campground, Wonderland carpark access, Sundial carpark access, Rosea carpark access, Redman Road Trailhead, Mt William Carpark, Jimmy Creek Road Trailhead, Yarram Gap Road Trailhead, Griffin Trailhead)  
    - Mt William Overnight Hike – Boundary Gap/First Wannon remote hike in campground 

    Reopening of Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park - Northern Section

    Parts of Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park have now reopened following the containment of the Yarram Gap Bushfire.

    Some sections of the park will remain closed for the time being while fire suppression works are ongoing.
     
    Visitors can view a Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park Closure Map here. 

    Visitor sites in the Northern Grampians area which will REOPEN on 10 January include:
    - Mount Zero (Mura Mura)  
    - Mount Stapylton (Gunigalg) summit and loop  
    - Flat Rock viewpoint  
    - Hollow Mountain (Wudjub Guyan)  
    - Gulgurn Manja Art Shelter  
    - Ngamdjidj Art Shelter  
    - Golton Gorge 
    - Beehive Falls 
    - Briggs Bluff walk 
    - Mt Difficult (Gar)  
    - Waterfalls of Gar  
    - Brim Springs Picnic area 
    - Heatherlie Quarry  
    - Stapylton Campground 
    - Troopers Creek Campground  
    - Coppermine 4x4 Campground 
    - Grampians Peaks Trail North Section N1- N3 - Mt Zero to Halls Gap (including, Mt Zero Trailhead, Coppermine Group Camp, Longpoint West Group Camp, Barigar Hike-in campground, Gar Trailhead, Gar Hike in-campground, Werdug Hike-in campground, Halls Gap Trailhead)

    Aerial pest animal control program in the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park

    Parks Victoria is conducting a conservation program to respond to the ecological impacts of the Yarram Gap fire.

    An aerial shooting operation will be undertaken between Monday 20th – Friday 24th of January 2025 to target pest animals and to support the recovery of the park and its native species.

    The fire affected over a third of the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park impacting native plants, animals, aquatic species and invertebrates. 

    Urgent action is being taken to reduce introduced predators and herbivores, threatening the survival and recovery of vulnerable native plants and animals.

    No additional closures of visitor sites or campgrounds are being implemented. To ensure visitor safety, warning signs and staff will be placed at temporary closures and major road access points to the control area. Visitors are encouraged to follow all instructions on permanent and temporary signage.

    For further information visit Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Centre in Halls Gap or call Parks Victoria Information on 13 19 63. 

    Attachments: Notification - Fact sheet - Grampians Invasive Herbivores and Predators Jan 2025 (558KB)

    Outbreak of fire near Boroka in the Northern Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park

    A fire has been reported on Boroka Track on Monday 20 January west of Halls Gap.

    There is an active fire response underway.

    Check with VicTraffic website traffic.transport.vic.gov.au for road closures.

    Check the Vic Emergency website emergency.vic.gov.au or Vic Emergency App for the latest warnings and advice.

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