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Overview
Official Name Larapinta Trail
Distance 223km
Sections 12
Location Central Australia, Northern Territory Australia
National Park West MacDonnell National Park
Manager NT Parks and Wildlife ( NT Government Department)
Geographic Info
Highest Point Mount Sonder: 1379m
Lowest Point Alice Springs Telegraph Station:
Ranges MacDonnell Ranges, Chewings Range, Heavitree Range
Peaks Mt Giles ( 1389m), Mount Sonder (1379m), Brinkley Bluff (1209m), Paisley Bluff (1191m)
Main River Systems Finke River, Hugh River, Todd River
Main Creek Systems Jay Creek, Ellery Creek, Ormiston Creek, Davenport Creek, Redbank Creek
 
The NO's go
Point No Campfires NO fires allowed on the trail. Stoves/Fuel Only
Point NO dogs or cats allowed on the Larapinta Trail
Point NO mountain biking on the Larapinta Trail
 
 
Section Information go
Section Trailhead Start Trailhead Finish Grade Hrs Km
Section 1 Telegraph Station  go Simpson Gap Moderate 9 23.8
Section 2 Simpson Gap go Jay Creek Moderate 8 25.1
Section 3 Jay Creek go Standley Chasm Hard 5.5 13.6
Section 4 Standley Chasm  go Birthday Waterhole Very Hard 9 17.7
Section 5 Birthday Waterhole go Hugh Gorge Very Hard 10 16
Section 6 Hugh Gorge go Ellery Creek Moderate 11 31.2
Section 7 Ellery Creek go Serpentine Gorge Hard 5.5 13.8
Section 8 Serpentine Gorge go  Serpentine Chalet Dam Hard 5.5 13.4
Section 9 Serpentine Chalet Dam go Ormiston Gorge Hard 12 28.6
Section 10 Ormiston Gorge go Finke River Moderate 4 9.1
Section 11 Finke River go Redbank Gorge Hard 9.5 26
Section 12 Redbank Gorge go Mount Sonder Hard 6 15.8
 
 
Section Snapshots Total Sections: 12
Longest Section Section 9: Serpentine Chalet Dam - Ormiston Gorge go
Shortest Section Section 10: Ormiston Gorge - Finke River go
Hardest Section Section 5: Birthday - Waterhole Hugh Gorge go
Easiest Section Section 10: Ormiston Gorge -  Finke River go
 
 
Section Trailheads go
Total Trailheads: 12
Section Trailhead Start Facilities at Section Trailhead (Start Points)
Section 1 go Telegraph Station  TrailheadPark & Trail InformationParkingWaterToiletrsGas BBQShelterFirst Aid FacilitiesTables, Chairs and/or Tent PadsRanger StationNo Camping
Section 2 go Simpson Gap  
TrailheadPark & Trail InformationCampsite/CampgroundWaterToiletsGas BBQShelterTrailhead ShelterParkingTables, Chairs and/or Tent PadsRubbish BinsRanger StationNo Campfires
Section 3 go Jay Creek TrailheadPark & Trail InformationCampsite/CampgroundWaterToiletsShelterTables, Chairs and/or Tent PadsTrailhead ShelterGas BBQNo Campfires
Section 4 go Standley Chasm   TrailheadPark & Trail InformationCampsite/CampgroundWaterParkingToiletsShelterFirst Aid FacilitiesTables, Chairs and/or Tent PadsShowerKioskFood StoragePay Phone
Section 5 go Birthday Waterhole TrailheadPark & Trail InformationCampsite/CampgroundWaterParking
Section 6 go Hugh Gorge TrailheadPark & Trail InformationCampsite/CampgroundWaterParking
Section 7 go Ellery Creek
TrailheadPark & Trail InformationCampsite/CampgroundWaterToiletrsShelterParkingTables, Chairs and/or Tent PadsGas BBQFood StorageNo Campfires
Section 8 go Serpentine Gorge  TrailheadPark & Trail InformationCampsite/CampgroundWaterToiletrsShelterParkingTables, Chairs and/or Tent PadsTrailhead ShelterNo Campfires
Section 9 go Serpentine Chalet Dam TrailheadPark & Trail InformationCampsite/CampgroundWaterToiletrsNo Campfires
Section 10 go Ormiston Gorge TrailheadPark & Trail InformationCampsite/CampgroundWaterToiletrsGas BBQShelterParkingTables, Chairs and/or Tent PadsShowerRanger StationKioskRubbish BinsFood StorageNo Campfires
Section 11 go Finke River
TrailheadPark & Trail InformationCampsite/CampgroundWaterToiletrsGas BBQTrailhead ShelterTables, Chairs and/or Tent PadsNo Campfires
Section 12 go Redbank Gorge
TrailheadPark & Trail InformationCampsite/CampgroundWater (Tank)ParkingShelterToiletrsTables, Chairs and/or Tent PadsNo Campfires
Key Points
Point Transfer operators provide drops/pick ups along most trailheads
Point 5 trailheads can only be accessed by 4WD
Point Finke River ( Section 11 Trailhead) cannot be accessed by vehicle
Point Standley Chasm (S4 Trailhead) has an entry fee
Point Jay Creek (Section 3) & Finke River ( Section 11) have large shelters
Point All trailheads have water tanks
Point Alice Springs Telegraph Station does not have campsite facilities
 
 
 
Campsites go
Total Official Campsites: 34
Point There is no booking system for campsites. First in best dress system
Point Some campsites have camping fees ( see below)
Point Fees can be paid in 'cash only' at the campground
Point Park Rangers check camping fee receipts
Point Strictly no fires at any campsites. On the spot fines apply for illegal fires
Point Avoid clearing areas for campsites
Point All trailhead campsites have water tanks
Point Some trailheads have large shelters
 
 
Fees & Permits
Point No Walking Fees or Permits Required
Point Campground Fees apply at Ellery Creek ($5) go, Ormiston Gorge ($10) go,Standley Chasm: $18.50 entry/camping fee
Point  
Point Food Storage Keys (Refundable): $60. Organise key at Tourist Info Centre
 
 
Getting Here go
Point Regular flights to Alice Springs from most capital cities
Point Alice Springs can be accessed by road, air or rail
Point Trail transfers are available from Alice Springs
Point Qantas and Virgin are the only airlines that fly to Alice Springs
Point Alice Springs is more than 500km away from Uluru
Point There is a wide range of accommodation options
 
 
Trail Transfers go
Point By commercial operators only - See list go
Point NT Parks & Wildlife does not provide this service.
 
Food Considerations go
Point Alice Springs has a number of supermarket & stores for food purchases
Point There are very few places to buy food along the trail ( see below)
Point Food drop services are offered by some local businesses's
Point There are two official food storage areas along the Larapinta Trail
Point You will need a key for these official storage sheds ( see below)
Point If you cache your food, protect the cache well from dingoes
Point You will need to carry most of your rubbish
Point There are only 4 rubbish points along the trail. (See below)
Point Please DO NOT burn or bury rubbish!
 
Water Considerations go
Point There are water tanks at each trailhead and at intermediate points
Point NTPWS (Park Rangers) maintain trailhead water tanks
Point DO NOT use trailhead water for washing clothes!!
Point Treat any water you source along the trail including tank water
Point There are natural water sources but they are very unreliable
Point Carry a minimum of 6litres of water per day
Point Rehydrate your body each night/morning at the trailheads
 
Rubbish Points
Point At Alice Springs Telegraph Station go, Simpsons Gap go, Standley Chasm go & Ormiston Gorge go
 
Showers
Point Standley Chasm go, Ormiston Gorge go
 
Kiosks
Point Standley Chasm go, Ormiston Gorge go
 
Icon Descriptions
Run mouse over icon to see description. Applies across the website
Icon Description
Park & Trail Information Park & Trail Information
Campsite/Campground Campsite/Campground
Unofficial Campsite Unofficial Campsite
No Camping No Camping
Water Water
Parking Parking
Toilets Toilets
Trailhead Shelter Trailhead Shelter
Shelter Shelter
Shower Shower
Trailhead Trailhead
Ranger Station Ranger Station
Tables, Chairs and/or Tent Pads Tables, Chairs and/or Tent Pads
First Aid Facilities First Aid Facilities
Pay Phone Pay Phone
Kiosk Kiosk
Cliffs/ Steep Drop Cliffs/ Steep Drop
Open Fire Place Open Fire Place
No Campfires No Campfires
Gas BBQ Gas BBQ
Accommodation Accommodation
Rubbish Bins Rubbish Bins
Vehicle Access (2WD, AWD) Vehicle Access (2WD, AWD)
No Vehicle Access
4WD Access Only 4WD Access Only
Swimming Swimming
Cultural Site Cultural Site
Food Storage Food Storage
 
 
 
Popular Pages
  Walking Options
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  Sections go
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  Climatic Considerations go
  Food Considerations go
  Getting Here go
  Facilities go
  Trailheads go
  Trail Transfers go
  End to End Trek go
  Multiday Treks go
  Emergency Considerations go
  Risks on the Trail go
  Safety go
  Trail Grading System go
  Communications go
  Trail Conditions go
  Overnight Walks go
 
 
 
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