This relatively easy off-track walk isn’t signposted, but takes you to a spectacular vantage point over Carnarvon Gorge from the the top of Clematis Ridge.
Starting at the Mickey Creek trail carpark, walk back down the road (south-east) for about 600m, until you spot a long rock outcrop on the right (south) of the road. It’s now time to head off-track, directly to the base of the rock outcrop. (You’ll pass Mickey Creek – which is no longer running by the end of the Dry Season – and you may spot remnants of the new-closed track to the Baloon Cave.)
Once you reach the base of the large rock outcrop, head up the eastern side; in the many shallow overhangs along the length of the rock you’ll see Aboriginal hand stencils. There are 109 recorded stencils in what I’ve called the Clematis Ridge Art Site (it doesn’t have an official name).
From the top of this rock outcrop, continue heading up to the top of the ridge, veering to the left.
You’ll soon be on top of Clematis Ridge, which extends across the entire entrance of Carnarvon Gorge over a distance of about 10 kilometres. There are multiple “breaks” along the ridge, including one carved out by Carnarvon Creek, which is also used by the road into the park. You can continue along the knife-like edge of the ridge to get some dramatic views over the park.
At the eastern-most end is the most spectacular viewpoint: you can see Clematis Ridge continuing to the east, and beyond it the white cliffs of Precipice Sandstone which form the inner parts of Carnarvon Gorge to the north-east.
There are great views of the distinctive Carnarvon Gorge cliff walls from all along the jagged ridge line.
In all directions is the vast expanse of Carnarvon National Park…
Getting to the Clematis Ridge Lookout
Park at the Mickey Creek Trail carpark, which is along Carnarvon Gorge Road, just after the Rock Pool Picnic Area and about 1.5km before the carpark at the end of the road.
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