West MacDonnell National Park
Larapinta Trail
Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Distance
223 km
Duration
12–20 days (full route) or individual sections
Elevation gain
8,700 m
Difficulty
HardNo booking required — Free (camping fees apply at established campsites: AUD $5–7/night)
Best season
April–September (October–March too hot — temperatures exceed 45°C)
Check current trail conditions
Track closures, snow conditions, hut availability, and safety alerts update daily. Always check before departing.
About this trail
One of Australia's finest multi-day walks, the Larapinta Trail traverses the West MacDonnell Ranges in the red heart of Australia from Alice Springs to Mount Sonder (1,380m). The landscape is primordial — Precambrian red rock gorges, ancient dried riverbeds, Aboriginal sacred sites, ghost gums, and vast silence. The trail is divided into 12 sections, each walkable independently as day or overnight trips, making it extremely flexible. Section 12 (Mount Sonder) is the most popular single day walk. Walking the full route takes 12–20 days depending on pace and fitness.
Highlights
- ✓Mount Sonder (1,380m) sunrise — the highest peak on the trail, iconic red rock summit
- ✓Ormiston Pound — a natural amphitheatre of red quartzite walls around a permanent waterhole
- ✓Counts Point (Section 7) — 360° views across the MacDonnell Ranges
- ✓Simpson's Gap — permanent waterhole with rock wallabies
- ✓Ochre Pits — ochre source used by Arrernte people for thousands of years
🚌 Getting there
Fly to Alice Springs (ASP) from Sydney, Melbourne, or Darwin. The trail starts at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station. Section 12 (Mount Sonder) accessed by car transfer 132km from Alice Springs.
🎒 What to bring
- ·8 litres of water carry capacity minimum — water sources in summer are unreliable
- ·Full first aid kit including snake bite bandages
- ·Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) — essential in remote Australia
- ·Sun protection: SPF50+, full-length sun shirt, hat, sunglasses
- ·Camping gear for self-sufficient multi-day walking
- ·InReach or PLB satellite communicator — mobile coverage is zero along most of the trail
Hazards & safety
- ·Heat: the Larapinta Trail must not be walked from October to March — temperatures regularly exceed 45°C and heat stroke deaths occur. The season is strictly April–September.
- ·Water: confirm tank water status before each section. Water sources can fail — carry more than you think you need.
- ·Snakes: eastern brown and western taipan snakes are present. Walk with trekking poles to alert snakes of your presence and never place hands or feet where you can't see.
- ·No mobile coverage for most of the route — PLB essential.
📋 Know before you go
- 1.Water tank status is critical — check with NT Parks Alice Springs before each section. Some sections have historically unreliable tanks.
- 2.Organised tour operators (Trek Larapinta, World Expeditions) provide supported walking with vehicle backup and camp setup — a good option for those without full self-sufficient camping experience in remote areas.
- 3.The trail crosses Arrernte country — the Indigenous traditional owners. Walking respectfully and acknowledging you are on Arrernte land is appropriate.
🚨 Emergency contacts
Australia Emergency
000
NT Parks Alice Springs
+61 8-8952 1013
PLB Emergency
AMSA 1800 627 484
Before you go
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Adventure insurance
Covers helicopter evacuation, search & rescue, and medical costs. Check your policy covers this trail's altitude or multi-day duration.
World NomadsAllTrails Pro
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Don't want to navigate alone? Guided versions of this trail handle logistics, permits, and safety. Browse options on Viator.
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Official sources
Trail information here covers stable facts — distances, difficulty, gear, and what to expect. Current conditions (closures, snow levels, hut availability, permit quota) change regularly and must be checked at the official source before you depart.
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