I’ve long known about Bluff Knoll. Most years it features on a weather report as having had a bit of snow. It had always been in the back of my mind that I should climb it one day. In fact, it had been sitting on my to do list for years.
While I had a long weekend visit to Albany, I took up the opportunity to head out to Bluff Knoll to do the climb.
Overview of Bluff Knoll
Bluff Knoll is the highest peak in the Stirling Range National Park in Western Australia. It offers breathtaking views and a challenging climb for outdoor enthusiasts. The peak stands at an impressive 1,099 meters and is a popular destination for hikers and climbers. The climb to the summit takes approximately 3-4 hours, depending on your fitness level and pace. Along the way, you will encounter stunning landscapes, diverse flora and fauna, and unique rock formations.
Preparing to climb Bluff Knoll
When to Climb Bluff Knoll
You can climb Bluff Knoll year round, however, the spring (September-November) or autumn (April-May) months offer the most favorable conditions.
I took the opportunity to hike the Bluff Knoll trail in early April. It was sunny, but not too hot. Even so, I got quite hot while climbing to the peak. I certainly wouldn’t want to take it on mid-summer.
How to get to there
Given its location, driving is the only really viable way to get to Bluff Knoll. There are certainly no public transport options.
Location wise, it is just over 400km from Perth, which will take you about 4.5-5 hours (depending on traffic and which route you take). On the other hand, it is about 100 kilometres from Albany, which would take 1-1.5 hours.
It’s worth noting that Bluff Knoll is located in a national park. As such, you need to pay an entry fee. As with most parks in Western Australia, this is $17 for a day entry for your car. Of course, if you have a park pass, you can use that.
What to Take on your climb
- Water – I went through much more water than I thought I would. It is also worth that there isn’t really anywhere to fill up at the car park, so make sure you bring enough,
- Hiking Poles – I didn’t think of this, but after seeing people with various sticks and poles, probably would have been a good idea.
- Sun protection
- Camera
Doing the Climb
You start off from the car-park which is located to the west of Bluff Knoll. Here you will see signs indicating that you are looking at 3-4 hours for the return journey. Given that the hike is a 6.2 km return journey, the estimated time gives some indication of how steep the climb is.
It all starts off well – leaving the car park on a well formed path. This quickly gives way to steep rocky steps. While it is a challenging path, it is well maintained. These steps seem to go on and on for quite some time.
Of course, we’re here for the views. It’s worth taking a stop every now and then just to take in the views.
It was quite cool and windy at the summit, even so, after the climb I had built up quite the sweat. I had often seen pictures at the top of people with a sign to tell them they had reached the summit. Despite looking around, I could not find this sign.
Was it Worth it?
It is definitely a challenging climb, but I am glad I did it. I was surprised by how well maintained the pathway was, but I guess this helps encourage walkers to stay on the path.
