Mt Frankland

Mt Frankland National Park offers four short walks to suit people of all fitness levels.

1. Mt Frankland Wilderness Lookout – 600 m return, universal access on a metal boardwalk that hugs the mossy granite hill. The viewing platform soars above the landscape, offering a 360-degree panorama across the Walpole Wilderness, including vast karri, tingle and jarrah forests and heathland and distant granite peaks.

2. Towerman’s Hut – 200m return. Sealed path, suits all levels of ability. Shady picnic area with tables and gas barbeques. The old hut was used as a base for the ‘towermen’ who climbed to the summit several times a day to watch for fires and log weather conditions.

3. The Summit – 1.2 km return. Good fitness and experience required. This short, steep walk includes climbing a ladder and over 300 steep steps. The summit of Mt Frankland/Caldyanup is an immense granite monadnock – erosional remnant – towering over the forests and the Frankland River winding below. On a clear day you can see eastwards to the Porongurup and Stirling Ranges and southwards to the Southern Ocean. On the flat summit (fenced for safety) there is a modernised watchtower still used to record conditions today.

4. Caldyanup Trail – 1.6 km return. Good fitness and experience required. Granite sections may be slippery. This trail immerses you in one of the best karri and granite areas in the South West as it loops around the base of the granite dome, also taking in the Soho Lookout. You can take this trail on your descent from the summit as an alternative route to the Towerman’s Hut.