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Kings Canyon Rim Walk
4.9
314 reviewsAbout
Experience the breathtaking beauty of Kings Canyon with an early start to catch the sunrise on the iconic Rim Walk. This 6 km loop offers spectacular views across the desert landscape and down into the sheltered creek below.
The walk begins with a steep and challenging climb, so it's recommended only for those who are fit and healthy. Once at the top, the trail follows the canyon's edge, offering dramatic vistas before descending back to the car park. About halfway along, you'll reach the Garden of Eden - a tranquil rockhole surrounded by rare plant life. Please note that swimming is not permitted in this waterhole.
The Rim Walk is graded as level 4 (moderate to difficult) and typically takes 3–4 hours to complete. During the hotter months (September to April), it's best to avoid walking in the middle of the day and consider shorter alternatives.
On days when the temperature is forecast to reach 36°C or higher, walkers must begin the Rim Walk before 9:00 am. Entry to the trail is not permitted after this time for safety reasons. Kings Canyon Rim Walk is located in Watarrka National Park, approximately 450 km south-west of Alice Springs.
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Reviews & Ratings
Zannatul Akter
Google review
We did the Rim walk on a cold but sunny day. The first part was undoubtedly challenging and is honestly the hardest bit. But the view is breathtaking and you are absolutely rewarded for the hard work. The entire hike is rocky, so proper footwear is recommended. We saw lots of families with young kids also enjoying the walk. We did it at a leisurely pace and given the day was cold, no flies bothered us. The walk had lots of direction markers. We stopped at many places to enjoy the view and got it all done in about 4 hours.
Pandora Lloyd Harvey
Google review
Brilliant hike, the start is a little challenging (we now know why it's nicknamed heart attack hill) but it's so worth it. We did it at a leisurely pace with a stop for lunch and still finished in just over 3 hours. Shout out to the wonderful rangers on the hike too, lovely people! We started just before 9am and the temperatures were perfect as it was fairly windy on the day we hiked.
Karolina Emilia Michałowska
Google review
We absolutely loved the Kings Canyon Rim Walk. If you’re at least "regular fit," don't let the stories about the stairs at the beginning scare you off. The 500-step climb (often called "Heartbreak Hill") is definitely a workout, but it’s not nearly as bad as people describe. Plus, it’s great to get the hardest part done and dusted right at the start—by the time you finish the loop, you’ve forgotten all about the climb! It took us about 2.5 hours total at a steady pace. The views from the top are incredible, and the landscape changes quite a bit throughout the walk. Top Tip: Make sure to take the small detour viewing spots along the way. They only add a few minutes to the walk but offer the best perspectives of the canyon walls and the "Lost City" formations. They are definitely the highlight of the hike. Much more interesting and engaging than the Uluru base walk. If you only have time for one big walk in the Red Centre, make it this one!
Nemcel Tulud
Google review
We did the rim walk for 3 hours as we took a lot of stops for photos. It was hard at first but mostly flat when you reached the top. Overall, it was beautiful.
1012
Google review
Great hike. Did it in one hour with the garden of eden and several lookouts Started at the carport at 08.49 with 38 degrees celcius and ended at 09.51. On days hotter than 36 degrees Celsius the path closes at 09.00 (this day it went up to 43 celsius). For me it was very doable. Enjoy and bring enough water because there is almost no schade.
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Where you'll be
Kings Canyon Access
Petermann NT 0872