Porcupine Gorge National Park: Pyramid Walking Track & Lookout!

Porcupine Gorge National Park is one of Queensland’s most underrated natural wonders, offering dramatic cliffs, vibrant sandstone walls, and the famous Pyramid walking track that takes you right into the heart of the gorge.

Many travellers underestimate the length and difficulty of the Pyramid Walking Track, or they arrive unprepared for the harsh outback conditions and limited facilities. That can turn what should be an awe-inspiring experience into a tough, even uncomfortable day.

Since Matt and I have explored Porcupine Gorge and Queensland’s “Little Grand Canyon”, this article will walk you through the walking track details, the lookout point, and the best times to visit. Plus, practical tips to help you stay safe and enjoy the journey without surprises.

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Is Porcupine Gorge National Park worth visiting?

For me, Yes! Porcupine Gorge National Park is definitely worth visiting. However, If you’re not able to take the walking track down onto the river bed, then I would ensure you have other stuff to do in the area that will make it more worth while. 

The Gorge extends for about 25 kilometres and has sandstone cliffs carved into the landscape by the eroding water. This water has also created the Pyramid, which is a multi-coloured sandstone sculpture rising from the floor of the Gorge.

It’s shaped like a beautiful Pyramid of Egypt, and The locals call this spot “Little Grand Canyon.” It’s a stunning place, and I can safely say that I haven’t seen anything else like it in Australia.

How to Get there?

The Porcupine Gorge National Park is located 45 minutes or 64 Kilometres north of Hughenden (please see directional map HERE) along the Kennedy Development Road.

This is around Central to Northern Outback Queensland and over 600 kilometres directly west of Airlie Beach.

The only way to get there is by driving your own vehicle, but preferably a four-wheel drive high clearance vehicle to handle the dirt road conditions. Some of the surrounding roads can be tough and you need to prepare your vehicle and have some understanding on the conditions of driving the Outback roads.

As you can see from the Map below, there are two different areas to visit when exploring Porcupine Gorge. 

• The Campground Day Use Parking area to complete the Pyramid Walking trail into the Gorge. This is accessed by turning into Mount Emu Road & then Pyramid access road.
• The Porcupine Gorge Lookout Point is accessed by turning off the highway into the Porcupine Gorge Lookout Access road.

These two spots are over ten kilometres apart and will give you views of two different areas of the Gorge.

If it’s the Pyramid you want to see, then it can only be viewed from the walking track onto the river bed. The Lookout point towards the south will NOT have a view of the pyramid rock formation. 

How long is the Walking Trail & Difficulty?

The Pyramid walking track is 2.4 kilometres return, and it takes approximately 1.5 hours to return back to the Campground Day use parking area.

Unfortunately, our timing was wrong, and we did this walk in the hottest part of the day. So, know there is minimal shade, and the sun reflecting off the rocks can make conditions harsh.

Therefore, please take plenty of water, wear a hat and sunscreen for protection. But, you can check out our experience firsthand in my YouTube Video Here. 

The walking track is not a hugely challenging trek, but walking into the Gorge is downhill and took us about 30 minutes (closed-in shoes were a must). We spent about 20 minutes walking on the river bed, taking photos, using the drone, and checking out the pools of water.

Then, the uphill portion on the way back took us about 40 minutes.   

But if you’ve got a moderate level of fitness, there’s no reason why you can’t make it. Just remember that it’s an uphill stint on your way back, so get ready to break a sweat! As long as you keep an eye on your footing and take regular breaks if needed, you can complete this hike with no problems.

How to Get to the Lookout Point?

You can get to the Porcupine Gorge Lookout Point by turning off the Kennedy Development Highway into the Porcupine Lookout Access Road. From here, you have a couple of minutes’ drive into the car park. 

The fantastic news is that pretty much everyone can access this lookout Point. Once you park your car, there is only a 200 metre or 3-minute walk to the lookout. along a formed cement pathway.

In fact, this is probably the only place you can go in the summertime when the river bed is too full. 

FAQ’s – Common Questions?

Can you swim?

In winter, the river bed of Porcupine Gorge has a series of waterholes, and Yes, it’s worth the swim. But it’s definitely better after a bit of rain.

This means if you’re trying to swim in a dry spell (middle of winter), the water is a bit stagnant (like on our visit) and not quite as enjoyable. 

On the other hand, In the wet season, it can become a raging cascade that has excavated the deep chasm over time. Sometimes this makes the river bed inaccessible, so you need to time your visit in-between this.  

Is the road sealed to get there?

The road into the National Park is primarily unsealed, and you will need to exercise caution and drive slower for the road conditions. Additionally, while the road might be suitable for two-wheel drive vehicles, I think it’s always safer for four-wheel drives. 

Do you need help planning your trip to Queensland? Book a one-on-one consultation call with me, to get your questions answered & personalised help!

Are there Bathrooms?

Yes, bathrooms are available at the Campground parking and day-use section. Although, consider these are National Park facilities and generally an environmental drop toilet. 

Very handy to use these before venturing onto the gorge on the Pyramid walking Track. Also, bringing your own toilet paper might be a good idea, just encase!

What is the Challenge!

Are you up for the Challenge or maybe winning some prize money? Every year in winter(June), there’s an 8-kilometre challenge to run the river bed of the Porcupine Gorge. 

The event caters to all categories, including shorter distances for children & walkers. And surprisingly, they seem to get a few people to enter, so it could be good to see if you’re passing by at the time.

Where to Stay?

There are 22 non-powered sites available in the Pyramid Campground. Campfires are allowed (no Showers), and there is room for Tents, Caravans, or campers as long as you can camp off-grid. 

They are a cheap place while you’re road-tripping around Outback Queensland and give you extra time in the Gorge, so sites can be booked HERE if you’re interested. 

Alternatively, we managed to find a hotel to stay at for the night in Hughenden (The Great Western Hotel). This was also convenient for a meal and a couple of refreshing drinks after our day of hiking. 

Hughenden’s population is just over 1000 and does limit your options, but it’s part of the Dinosaur trail and will get a few Aussie tourists passing through during the winter season. 

Best time to visit?

For me, I think the best time to visit Porcupine Gorge National Park would be after the warmer summer months at the start of the year (March to May), but also after some rain so you can go swimming.

As a photographer, I think any time of year would be suitable and fabulous for Sunrise or Sunset pictures.

Our visit in August was not disappointing, but a little dryer than I would have liked it. A family we passed on the track was still intending to swim, but not sure if they did or not. The water was a little stagnant for us and extra warm from sitting in the rocks. I would not have thought it would be refreshing at all! 

I would definitely recommend completing the Pyramid hike in the early morning or late afternoon. Even in August, the direct heat in the middle of the day reflects off the rock and makes the hike a little unconformable.

Wrap up!

Thanks for reading this blog post today and finding out if the Porcupine Gorge National Park is worth visiting. I hope you found the information you were looking for. However, if you’re still researching, please check out my other Outback Queensland Blogs for inspiration.

• Best Things to see in Outback Queensland
• Risks of Night Driving in Outback Queensland
• How to Get to Rainbow Falls in the Blackdown Tablelands National Park
• Is Cobbold Gorge Worth Visiting & Things to do
• Carnarvon Gorge Walks & Sites in the National Park
• Best Things to do in Longreach!
• Things to do in Winton that are worth visiting!