Halls Gap - The Pinnacle Walk
From the Main Street of Halls Gap, at the base of the sandstone mountain range that is at the heart of the Grampians National Park, or Gariwerd as it is called in the local Aboriginal language, you can see The Pinnacle. It is one of the rocky spurs jutting out from the jagged cliff faces that loom over the town.
From the street, The Pinnacle appears unnervingly high and potentially difficult to walk. The good news is that it is not, and the views from the lookout make every bit of effort worthwhile. It is one of the very best vantage points in the Grampians National Park for terrific scenic views over a vast expanse of western Victoria.
There are a number of walking options to reach The Pinnacle, varying in distance and difficulty. The easiest route to The Pinnacle departs from the Sundial carpark within the national park and ascends to The Pinnacle via Devils Gap. This is the best route to use if young children or unconfident walkers are part of your walking group. The 4.2km walk will take one and a half to two hours for the return trip. It does include some water crossings and rock-hopping, so good sturdy shoes are essential.
A more challenging walk departs from the aptly named Wonderland carpark and ascends via the impressive Grand Canyon. It does not resemble the American canyon of the same name but is equally impressive with its unique Australian rock formations, albeit on a smaller scale! The walk continues through the Silent Street before rising up to The Pinnacle.
For the really adventurous, you can walk to The Pinnacle from the base of the mountains, starting at the Halls Gap Botanical Gardens. This extended walk will take around five hours return so is suitable for fit and experienced walkers.
All these walks offer a variety of incredible rock formations to see and negotiate, as well as lush vegetation that has recovered from bushfires with fresh spurts of new growth. In springtime, wildflowers burst into life with their brilliant bright colours. With an abundance of wildlife living in the park, your walk may also include glimpses of koalas, kangaroos, snakes, skinks and maybe even an echidna or two.
Whichever way you get there, the view from The Pinnacle lookout will astound you. While you get your breath back after your ascent, you will be able to see Halls Gap far below you, as well as Lake Bellfield. Plus you will get a close-up look at the irregular and fascinating rock formations for which the Grampians are so well-known.
Walk Summary
Sundial Car Park to The Pinnacle
Start: Sundial Carpark
Distance: 4.2 km return
Grade: Medium (this is the easiest walk to reach The Pinnacle and is the best option for children)
Time: Approx. 1.5-2 hrs return
Points of Interest: Lovely views, Pinnacle Lookout
Facilities: Sundial Car Park has toilets and tables
Wonderland Car Park to The Pinnacle
Start: Wonderland Carpark
Distance: 4.2 km return
Grade: Medium / Hard (elevation: 280m, this is a challenging walk to reach The Pinnacle)
Time: Approx. 2-2.5 hrs return
Points of Interest: Grand Canyon, Cool Chamber, Bridal Veil Falls, Silent Street, Pinnacle Lookout
Facilities: Wonderland Car Park has toilets and one table
From the Wonderland Carpark, cross the Stony Creek and travel via the impressive Grand Canyon and wonderful rock formations of Silent Street to the awe inspiring views from the Pinnacle.
Halls Gap Botanical Gardens to The Pinnacle
Start: Halls Gap Botanical Gardens, School Road (same as the Venus Baths Walk)
Distance: 9.4 km return
Grade: Medium / Hard with steep rocky sections (this is the hardest walk to reach The Pinnacle)
Time: Approx. 5 hrs return
Points of Interest: Botanic Gardens, Stoney Creek, Venus Baths, Splitters Falls, Grand Canyon, Cool Chamber, Bridal Veil Falls, Silent Street, Pinnacle Lookout
Facilities: There are picnic facilities, toilets and a playground in Halls Gap.
The walking tracks to reach this famous peak involve rock steps, slippery track surfaces, several water crossings and some rock hopping. A reasonable level of fitness is required. Pay close attention to navigational markers in rocky sections. Remember to wear sturdy shoes with a good tread and carry at least two litres of water per person.
Access for Dogs:
Dogs are not permitted on the walk. Note that dogs are not allowed in the Grampians National Park except within vehicles on sealed roads and in sealed parking areas.
Review:
The walk to The Pinnacle is a fantastic iconic walk in the Grampians. Pick your starting point from the three options depending on your capabilities. We would recommend starting from Wonderland Carpark if you have sufficient fitness (and determination) to do this route. The route passes through iconic attractions along the way, including the Grand Canyon (after 0.1km), Echo Wall, Cool Chamber, Bridal Veil Falls, Silent Street (after 1.8km) and Lady's Hat Rock before reaching The Pinnacle (after 2.1km).
We did the walk from Wonderland Car Park. The walk is definitely tough and the legs might be aching a bit by the time you reach the Pinnacle. The path is mainly composed of large rock steps so it is quite a stretch for small legs to get from one rock to another. The second half of the walk is not as steep as the first part. We saw a number of people giving up after negotiating a long, heart-pumping metal staircase and seeing a sign saying it was only 0.4km from the carpark with another 1.7km to go! Be very careful if it is wet because the rocks would be slippery.
At the Wonderland Car Park there is one picnic table and toilets. Apart from the route to The Pinnacle, there is a 0.7km walk to Splitters Falls or a 3.2km walk to Halls Gap.
After crossing a bridge the path splits. Take the Pinnacle via Grand Canyon 2.1km route and not the Pinnacle 2.0km route. This walk is part of the Grampians Peaks Trail route which is marked with yellow triangle signs. There are plenty of rocks to sit on but also two seats along a long stretch of metal boardwalk. When you approach the half way point, there is some side-splitting humour in evidence. "Almost 1/2 way" is painted on a rock and five metres around the corner is the "Half Way Seat"! The track passes Bridal Veil Falls which was just trickling down the rock face into a pool below when we visited in Spring.
The rock formations along the walk are amazing and in Spring there are lots of colourful wildflowers beside the path.
When you get to The Pinnacle there is a lookout with amazing views of Halls Gap far below and Lake Bellfield.
Location
Wonderland Car Park, Northern Grampians Road, Halls Gap 3381 Map
Web Links
→ Grampians National Park - Park Note (PDF)
