1) Walk map - Shows route and waypoint locations

2) Photo from walk  (also see VIDEO & Photos Gallery)

3) 3D map view

4) Google map & Satellite imagery

5) Route profile

6) Walk description

7) Waypoint listing and grid references

View of Mounts Cuthbert and Vincent

 (mid-distance) and Mount Cooke (distance)

 from Mount Randall, June 2002.

Click on photo for larger version.

More photos & VIDEO.

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for larger frame Google Maps image

of the walk area.

-Use zoom bar

for road details.

Step 1: Left Click here

For fly-in to waypoints and route

 on image of the walk area.

Or Right Click to

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Step 2: Left Click here

For fly-in to 3D view

 of the walk area.

Or Right Click to

 "Save Target/Link As..."  kml file.

Hint: For enhanced 3D effect, set 'Elevation Exaggeration'

in Google Earth to "3" (via 'Tools' menu, 'Options' & 'View' tab).

          Route profile

33 kms SE of Armadale along Albany Hwy.

14.5 kms (55% off-track)

(or see 9-9.5 km short walk options)

MEDIUM   (What does this mean?)

See Google Map for start point on road map.

(Use zoom ladder for detail. Select 'Hybrid' to add satellite imagery.)

Good parking at 'START' point just off Albany Highway down Herold Rd (minor dirt road, 7km past Jarrahdale Rd turnoff down Albany Hwy, on right hand side going south), and at 'END' point Sullivan Rock large parking/picnic area on right hand side of Hwy opposite Bibbulmun Track exit. 

'START and 'END' points are 2.5kms apart along Albany Hwy, so it's best to have two or more cars and do a car shuffle at the start (leaving one car at Sullivan Rock picnic area) to avoid  an otherwise uninspiring walk along the Highway to finish the walk. Note: Vehicle access to the Sullivan Rock picnic area is not directly off the Hwy, but via a short sidetrack off the northern end of the dirt access road that passes behind the picnic area.

(Alternatively, instead of a car shuffle, see Route Notes below for a good alternate ending route back to the START using the old Bibbulmun Track and bypassing the Sullivan Rock segment.

Important access issue:   Walkers need to be aware that this walk area and many others on WalkGPS lie within drinking water catchment areas. In 2007 DoW in effect recommended a prohibition of all traditional off-track bushwalking activities across the entire Perth region catchment areas covering 4500 sq km, far beyond the limits of  existing or proposed Reservoir Protection Zones (see map). By March 2008, in the face of growing community outrage, the DoW had reconsidered its published position, advising that it would now be allowing walkers ‘free-to-roam’ access to the forested water catchment areas outside of the RPZs. The community, including visitors to WalkGPS, need to remain vigilant to ensure that commonsense continues to prevail over regulatory zealotry.  See also Home page: 'Access' and Related access issues on WalkGPS, and links below to Drinking Water Source Protection Plans for Canning River  and Serpentine Dam.   

Bear west or southwest to Albany Highway.

/Highlights:

For overnighters: For those keen to camp overnight in the area: The Monadnocks Campsite (which includes a 3-sided shelter; at waypoint 'BIBHUT') on the Bibbulmun Track is located after the initial 4 kms of the walk. Alternatively the Campsite  provides a useful opportunity for a brief rest stop during the walk.

Controlled burns:   - A burn was carried out in Autumn 2010 across the whole area east of the 'Old Bibbulmun Track' (see map) including Mt Vincent, Mt Cuthbert and the 'North Rocks area. This impacted on forest along the Bibbulmun Track section of the walk route between waypoints 'OLDBIB' (near the Monadnocks Campsite) & 'EXIT' (near Sullivan Rock). See DEC's 6-season indicative burn programme.  

9-9.5 km short walk options: See WalkGPS Blog article "A late spring in the step" (Oct. 2010) which includes a summary of shorter variations to the full walk which are more suitable for warmer weather when the full walk will not be comfortably enjoyable.

WalkGPS walk map for OziExplorer users:  A downloadable OziExplorer format MAP file (*.map) for this walk area is included on the Maps, Waypoints & Track Files page. The zipped folder also includes the associated 'base' topo map image file, plus other attached waypoints, tracks/routes, etc in OxiExplorer file formats.

WalkGPS reconnaissance history: Click here for a map of past WalkGPS test walks in the walk area, plus the final route. The final route was selected only after several visits to the area which aimed to achieve a walk that would be the most rewarding.

Other:   Jarrahdale 1:50,000 Sheet (Dept. of CALM, ca. 1990);

or Jarrahdale & Yaganing 1:50,000 CALM Operations Graphics series 2003/2004, Sheet 2133-3 & 2133-2.

"Three Mountains" by 'nickleth', (on EveryTrail), 2010  - Two young ladies report on their experience of the route, with map and photos. A good effort!

"A Guide to the Bibbulmun Track, Northern Half, Kalamunda to Donnelly River Village" by Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) 2002, 2nd ed., pp.96-102.

"Forests on Foot (40 walks in W.A.)" by Meney & Brown, 1985, pp.44-48 (Wescolour Press, Fremantle).  Describes the route from Mt Randall to Sullivan Rock prior to the development of the Bibbulmun Track.

"Family Walks in Perth Outdoors", CALM, rev. edn. 2000, pp.158-159, includes a mud map and description for the Mt. Vincent Walktrail (via Sullivan Rock), a 7 km return on-track walk.

See Climbers' Association of W.A. site for a climber's perspective on the granite 'slabs' and boulders of Mount Cuthbert, Mount Vincent and Mount Randall.

Drinking Water Source Protection Plans : "Canning River Catchment Area..." (Report # 77, Water Resource Protection Series) by Department of Water (DoW), June 2007. - See pdf version (5MB). Page 32 is of particular relevance. 

"Serpentine Dam Catchment Area..." (Report # 78, Water Resource Protection Series) by Department of Water (DoW), July 2007. - See pdf version (2.3MB). Pages 42-43 are of particular relevance.

Note: DoW's recommended protection strategy in the above reports intended to prohibit recreational off-track bushwalking opportunities within the entire 1420 sq km of these two catchment areas, far beyond the combined 180 sq km of proposed Reservoir Protection Zones, and including this walk area which is located over 20km SSE of the Canning Reservoir and over 10km ENE of the Serpentine reservoir.

Trivia:   What is a "monadnock? (Click for answer.)

Soon after crossing Albany Hwy from the 'START' point, the route goes off-track at 'ENTRY' waypoint  and northward for approx 3km, initially climbing to a N-S ridge (via the waypoints 'SFLANK', 'ROX', 'S-1' & 'S-1A & 'S-2'). There is a very good view 13 kms S-ward to Mt Solus from the large sloping granite slab at 'ROX'. Note: The 150m section from 'S-1' to 'S-1A' climbs uphill through some potentially scratchy and partly dense shrubland; take it slowly to pick out the more open animal tracks, and initially follow the granite outcrop steeply uphill if it is not too wet and slippery. This short section near the start of the walk may deter some walkers but is NOT typical of the whole walk! (I have re-walked the route as recently as May 2011 and traversed this section OK.) [Alternative :  If you prefer to avoid the short scratchy section, after crossing Albany Hwy from the Start point, follow the (blocked) dirt road from the NE side of the Hwy, and continue ENE past 'ENTRY' to the T-junction at 'BIBCNR'. Turn left (northward) on the 'old Bibbulmun Track' to about 'OLBIB3', then NW off-track to climb quite steeply uphill to 'RAND-S' near the small southern culmination. Then veer northward to follow the ridge through quite open forest to link back into the main route at 'S-3'. This option adds about 600m to the total walk distance.]

After the second outcrop, at 'S-2', follow the N-S ridge northward (via 'S-3', 'S-RAND' and 'S-4') through pleasant open jarrah-marri forest. Cross a further small outcrop at 'GRAN', before reaching an old W-E forestry track at 'W-ETRK' waypt. Approx. 50m west along that track, turn right at waypt 'CAIRN' (where there may still be a small rock cairn) to follow an undeveloped foot-track northward uphill (via 'R-1, 'R-1A', 'R-2')  through very nice forest to a granite outcrop (at 'VU') just below the summit of Mt Randall (excellent views to Mts Cuthbert & Vincent and Cooke). [Note: The last section of the foot-track to 'R-2' may be difficult to follow due to the  control burn in the area in 2010 which also included the summit area of Mt Randall; but the fire also opened up the understorey, so it is easy to pick your own route.] To leave the summit area, follow another initially faint foot-track (at 'R-2A') which starts from the foot of a short granite slope less than 50m north of 'VU'. Once you have found the track it becomes easy to follow eastward (via 'R-2B' and 'R-3') down the gentle eastern ridge of Mt Randall. [Note: The control burn in the area in 2010 also made this foot-track initially very difficult to follow; but look for very small rock cairns after about 'R-2B'.] After 'R-4' the vague foot-track passes through a narrow belt of shrubland before emerging close to the Monadnocks Campsite (at 'BIBHUT'). - If you do lose the foot-track after 'R-3', you may prefer to continue off-track close to the ridge crest (via 'RIDGE') to meet the Bibbulmun Track at 'BIBTR'. Then turn right to follow the Track  for less than 150m to reach the Monadnocks Hut. -Follow the Track from the Hut until 'OLDBIB'  (close to the intersection of old and new Bibbulmun Tracks). Then head ESE off-track through mixed jarrah-marri-banksia forest, across a very gentle slope, to cross a ridge before descending, initially passing through an interesting cluster of very large granite boulders (at 'BOLDRS').  Continue ESE, soon descending more steeply and picking a best route through a patch (about 50m) of scratchy shrubland to reach (after 'NR-1) an extensive granite outcrop (informally named 'North Rocks' on WalkGPS map). The large sloping granite slab provides good views to the east across the Darling Plateau, including 23.5 kms NNE to the distinctive conical-shaped Mt Dale on the horizon. The route then follows the upper part of the outcrop SE-ward (via 'BIGROCK', 'NR-2', 'NR-3', NR-4', and NR-5') and then re-enters the forest after 'ENDROK', through a very short section of possibly scratchy scrub. The route then climbs briefly (via 'SADLE2') to  follow a ridge SW-ward until at 'C-4' it passes very close to  the foot of the northern granite slopes of Mt Cuthbert. At 'C-3' the route starts rising and soon meets the Bibbulmun Track (at 'TURN'). (Option: From 'C-4', you can opt to head straight up the northern outcrop slope toward 'C-2', but be aware that there will be a short section of scratchy shrubland to pick a way through before meeting the Bibbulmun Track about 40m north of 'C-2'). The remaining 5km of the walk from waypoint 'TURN' follows the Bibbulmun Track  and its exit track to Albany Highway via Sullivan Rock. This part of the Bibb. Track crosses the summits of Mts Cuthbert and Vincent. (The Bibb. Track is marked by 'Waugal' markers, with black 'serpent' on yellow background). There are magnificent sweeping views northward and eastward from the northern granite slopes of Mt Cuthbert and also 12 km SE to Mt Cooke. During the southward descent of Mt Vincent there are also views 12 kms SSW to Mt Solus. 

Alternate ending :  If a car shuffle between the END and START is not possible, a good (and pleasant) alternative to walking the last 2.5km along the Highway back to the START, is as follows: Follow Bibb. Track down Mt Vincent only as far as waypt 'VIN S'. Then go off-track to meet the old Bibbulmun Track (a vehicle track) at waypt 'OLDBIB1'.  Follow the old Bibb. Track via 'OLBIB2' to reach 'BIBCNR'. Turn left at 'BIBCNR' onto another old vehicle track that leads back to Albany Highway and the START point.This alternate ending adds only about 1.5kms to the total walk distance.