Echidna Chasm and Osmand Lookout

1 h to 1 h 30 min

1.9 km
return

↑ 191 m
↓ -191 m

Hard track
Starting from the Echidna Chasm car park off the Great Northern Highway, Purnululu National Park, this walk takes you past the Osmand Lookout, then into Echidna Chasm via the Echidna Chasm Trail. A little walk off the main track will take you to a lookout where you can get exceptional views of the Osmand Range. After visiting the lookout, you'll follow the dry creek bed that leads into Echidna Chasm. The start of the walk is hot and exposed, but soon you'll be in the cool shelter of the tall chasm, surrounded by towering walls of conglomerate rock with remarkable colour variations. Signs along the walk describe how the chasm was formed, and the boulders along the path let you have an idea about the origin of the Bungle Bungle Range. The walk gets more challenging towards the end of the chasm, requiring some scrambling over large boulders and climbing up ladders. Sturdy footwear is recommended as walking over the boulders can be tough on the ankles. Daytime temperatures can exceed 40°C, so be sure to bring plenty of drinking water, a hat and sunscreen. The best time of the day to visit Echidna Chasm is around noon when the sun is directly overhead. This is the only time when sunlight penetrates into the chasm, creating an amazing spectacle with light bouncing off the walls. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.
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Safer Bushwalks
Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.
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Getting There
Transport options and directions
Start (-17.3233001,128.4124827)
Mode Car
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Track Notes
Turn by turn instructions & maps
Getting started
From the Echidna Chasm car park off the Great Northern Highway, Purnululu National Park, head past the sheltered picnic area and follow the dirt trail ahead, passing between the informative signboards on each side of the trail. After about 80m, you'll reach a yellow 'Echidna Chasm/Osmand Lookout' sign (to your right). Following the 'Osmand Lookout' directional arrow, head along the trail for about 200m until you reach the lookout. From there, head back to the yellow sign and follow the 'Echidna Chasm' directional arrow, which leads you along the dry creek bed for about 700m until you reach Echidna Chasm.....
Turn map Directions & comments
Start.
Echidna Chasm Car Park (about 10 m back from the start).
The starting point of an optional sidetrip. This optional but recommended side trip takes you to the Osmand Lookout where you can get truly panoramic views over the surrounding land. Can take around 6-10 minutes out &back. To start this optional side trip veer left here. On returning from this side trip turn left when you get back to this intersection. Details below.
After another 90 m continue straight, to head along Echidna Chasm Trail.
After another 690 m come to the "Echidna Chasm".
Echidna Chasm
Echidna Chasm

Located on the northern side of Purnululu National Park, Echidna Chasm is one of the highlights of the Bungle Bungle Range. The long, narrow chasm has walls that rise 200m and sections that are less than a metre wide. A fracture in the range was the initial weak point where the formation of the chasm started. Millions of years of erosion by water and wind cut deeply into the range, forming the narrow and deep chasm. Livistona palms are able to make it through the year due to the protection that comes with the steepness of the gorge. Completely shaded for most of the day, the chasm comes to life when the sun is directly overhead, and shafts of light reach the chasm floor. Brilliant shades of orange and red paint the chasm walls, creating excellent photographic opportunities.
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Located on the northern side of Purnululu National Park, Echidna Chasm is one of the highlights of the Bungle Bungle Range. The long, narrow chasm has walls that rise 200m and sections that are less than a metre wide. A fracture in the range was the initial weak point where the formation of the chasm started. Millions of years of erosion by water and wind cut deeply into the range, forming the narrow and deep chasm. Livistona palms are able to make it through the year due to the protection that comes with the steepness of the gorge. Completely shaded for most of the day, the chasm comes to life when the sun is directly overhead, and shafts of light reach the chasm floor. Brilliant shades of orange and red paint the chasm walls, creating excellent photographic opportunities.
Continue another 190 m to find the end. Then turn around here and retrace the main route for 960 m to get back to the start.

This optional but recommended side trip takes you to the Osmand Lookout where you can get truly panoramic views over the surrounding land. Can take around 6-10 minutes out &back.
Turn map Directions & comments
Start.
After another 230 m come to "Osmand Lookout".
Osmand Lookout
Osmand Lookout

A short walk with a moderate slope takes you to the Osmand Lookout, an elevated ridge with panoramic views of the dry, wild and rugged Osmand Range. Signs at the lookout explain the significance of the range and some of its natural features, and there are a couple of wooden seats for you to sit and admire the view. The lookout is enjoyable at any time of day but particularly spectacular in the early morning or late afternoon light.
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A short walk with a moderate slope takes you to the Osmand Lookout, an elevated ridge with panoramic views of the dry, wild and rugged Osmand Range. Signs at the lookout explain the significance of the range and some of its natural features, and there are a couple of wooden seats for you to sit and admire the view. The lookout is enjoyable at any time of day but particularly spectacular in the early morning or late afternoon light.
The end.
Turn around and retrace your steps back the 230 m to the main route.
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Terrain
Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Echidna Chasm and Osmand Lookout


Grading
Class 4/6
Hard track
Length 1.9 km
Time 1 h to 1 h 30 min
Quality of track Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient Very steep (4/6)
Signage Clearly signposted (2/6)
Infrastructure Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather Weather generally has little impact on safety (2/6)
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