Bluff Knoll is the highest peak of the Stirling Ranges, which are in Australia’s South West. The range stretches from east to west for more than 65 kilometres and is characterised by rugged peaks, awesome views and abundant and rare flora. At 1095 meters, Bluff Knoll is not only the highest peak of the Stirling Range. It is the highest peak in the southern half of Western Australia and is the most popular hiking mountain.
Climbing Bluff Knoll
Many years ago, there was no sealed road to the base of the mountain. It is about 6km (from memory) from the main road (Chester Pass Road). The road is steep and not suitable for caravans.
The trail to the summit is very well maintained. It starts as an easy paved trail through eucalypt woodland. It then gets rougher and exposed. The climb is quite steep for most of the time with the steps along the way. Due to this, it is very strenuous and is especially hard on the knees and you need to be reasonably fit. Many people climb Bluff Knoll every day but not everyone makes it to the summit. There are markers along the way, indicating the distance left.
Roughly, 1/3 of the way, there is a nice small waterfall where you can sit on the rocks, recuperating. Roughly half way, you can see some rare flora like the mountain bells, which only grow at higher elevations (We’ve written a whole post on the flowers at Stirling Range NP, including Bluff Knoll). The views also become very picturesque here. The whole trail is 3,1km one way and it takes a couple of hours or so to climb.
Summit
Climbing Bluff Knoll is an experience by itself and very rewarding. But reaching the summit and seeing the views like that is like an icing on the cake (that is, of course, if you love sweets, then the analogy would make sense :)).
The summit offers amazing 360 degree views of the surrounding area.
We spend nearly an hour on top of Bluff Knoll, enjoying the views, as well as having our lunch there. Many people were there too.
Now that the hard bit of climbing up was done, the summit reached and thoroughly enjoyed, (together with the lunch) it was time to go down. Going down was easier and faster but still it was hard work. We were also tired by then and had to stop a few times. But the views of the mountain ranges were gorgeous, and it kept us going.
Where is it?
Bluff Knoll is in Stirling Range NP, roughly 4,5 hours drive south east from Perth. It is easily accessible via sealed roads.
