James Range Gorge 1
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| | Difficulty:2B I (v2a1 I) Raps:0
Red Tape: Shuttle:None Vehicle:4WD - High Clearance Rock type:Hermansburg Sandstone | |||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 9 Nov 2025
"A fun day exploring the James Range canyon off the Boggy Hole Track, taking the right-hand (northern) canyon at the junction. The route offered plenty |
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-24.0378, 132.8410
-24.0388, 132.8457
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WaterflowIntroduction
Side trip on the Boggy Hole 4wd Track. Several smallish waterholes and seeps. Both the north and south branch have an interesting slot gorge.
Approach
Driving along the Boggy Hole Track in Finke Gorge National Park, the entrance to the James Range canyon appears a few kilometres in on your right — a distinct opening in the range framed by rugged red cliffs. There’s a shaded area with good trees to park under before setting off on foot. The initial approach involves hiking through long, dense grass before dropping down into the creek bed, where the route follows rocky sections and scattered boulders. The grass can be quite high in places, making navigation slower but adding to the sense of wilderness. Eventually, the creek splits into a junction; so far, only the northern branch has been explored.
Descent
Exit
Red tape
Beta sites
Oct 202 The northern canyon off the Boggy Hole Track in the James Range begins in a stretch of tall spinifex and native grassland before narrowing into a rugged maze of red rock and shadowed cliffs. As the terrain deepens, a chain of clear, spring-fed waterholes winds through the gorge—some shallow and serene, others tucked beneath towering walls. Progress through the canyon demands a mix of scrambling and traversing along rocky ledges, weaving between boulders and narrow chutes carved smooth by seasonal floods.
Between the rock pools, sections of open sand and small plateaus provide ideal rest points, and a short climb up the ridgeline reveals flat, scenic spots perfect for overnight camping.