Larapinta Trail Section Logbooks
At each trailhead, NT Park Rangers have provided Section Logbooks for Larapinta Trail walkers. The intent of the logbooks is to encourage trail users to register or record their details before embarking on the respective section.
Each Logbook page is divided into columns for dates, names, section details and a column for other comments the walker may want to add. By accurately entering your details and the date and time of your arrival or departure at the respective trailhead, authorities, namely NT Park Rangers, will have a general idea of where to begin a search in the event you are lost, missing or hurt.
Now of course, this is assuming authorities, or anyone else for that matter, knows that you are missing. If you submitted your walker plan with expected start and finish dates, someone will know when to start raising the alarm after a certain time. However, if you are a high-risk taker and do not carry an EPIRB, satphone or submit a walker plan, the logbooks may be your only means of ‘communication’ for rescue ( or if you’re lucky, other walkers that may be in the area).
If absolutely nobody knows you are out there, it could be days before another walker or group of walkers come by (assuming you did not veer off track and can be seen and/or heard).
Logbooks are especially important for solo walkers or two-person groups.
Always remember: The Larapinta Trail is remote mountainous country. Rescue can take many hours to mobilise once the alarm has been raised. It could take another few more hours, at times, a day or so to find you, and even more time to get you out, weather conditions permitting. Every year there are Larapinta Trail walkers who initiate requests for help or rescue. Incidents vary, but include everything from getting lost, to breaking bones or getting sick. As such, emergency rescue should always be part of your planning and preparation.
More information:
Your Questions: Post Them Here
We receive a number of enquiries about the Larapinta Trail. Many of these enquiries would be useful to other people as well. So instead of sending us an email, post your question here and we’ll answer it either on our facebook page or on this blog.
Accessing Larapinta Trail Trailheads
Bottom Line: All 12 trailheads can be accessed by either 2WD or 4WD vehicle (See list below).
This blog is mostly for walkers who have access to a vehicle (or a support crew/vehicle) for the duration of their walk.
While the Larapinta Trail is a very accessible trail, it is not necessarily easily accessible. The trail route is a one way east-west (west-east) route. This means that whatever walking option you choose, you will need a vehicle to get you to the start point and pick you up at the finishing point.
Additionally, unless you plan to do loop based walks, re-trace your steps or hitch a ride back to your car (i.e. your start point), someone will need to pick you up at your finishing point. Of course if you have a support vehicle or a nominated driver, that won’t matter to you.
Access can be further limited depending on whether you have a 2WD or 4WD. Not all trailheads can be accessed by 2WD. In fact, most trailheads will need a 4WD to access, while some will need high clearance 4WD vehicles such as Landcrusiers, LandRovers etc. to access trailheads such as Birthday Waterhole and Hugh Gorge.
Technical Note: Don’t confuse AWD ( All Wheel Drive) vehicles such as X-Trails or RAV-4’s as 4WD’s- they are not. (Our opinion only!).However, an AWD will be OK for accessing some of the dirt road trailheads. See table below.
VEHICLE ACCESS TABLE
2WD, AWD and 4WD: Bitumen – Sealed, smooth ride, easy access
- Telegraph Station Trailhead – Section 1
- Simpsons Gap Trailhead – Section 2/3
- Standley Chasm Trailhead – Section 4/5
- Ormiston Gorge Trailhead – Section 9/10
2WD, AWD & 4WD: Dirt Road– unsealed, graded road, corrugated, little rough, dusty
- Ellery Creek Trailhead -Section 6/7
- Serpentine Gorge Trailhead – Section 7/8
- Redbank Gorge Trailhead (Section 12) – AWD & 4WD only!
4WD Only: Track- dirt, unsealed, not graded
- Serpentine Chalet Dam – Section 8/9
- Finke River Trailhead – Section 10/11
- Jay Creek Trailhead – Section 3/4
- Jay Creek Access Track
4WD Only : Bush Track - dirt, unsealed, not graded, rough
Further information on accessing trailheads can be found on each of our Section pages under the subtitle Getting Here.
Key Points:
- There are vehicle access points for all 12 trailheads
- Most need 4WD’s to access
- Hugh Gorge Trailhead and Birthday Waterhole Trailhead are the roughest to access.
- Serpentine Chalet Dam and Finke River Trailhead cannot be directly accessed vehicles. Car Parks are a few kilometres away.
