Ormiston Gorge and Pound

This walk is not as tough as is made out. It's basically a big loop through the desert leading into the back of Ormiston Gorge. Obviously the time of year makes a difference as summer would be very hot. The majority of people on the track appeared to have guides but it's a very good walk to do solo (if you can find five minutes without fellow walkers!). The views of the MacDonnells are spectacular and the entry into the back of the gorge a delight. I felt much more a part of it than standing on the viewing platform. If you want a walk within 150 km of Alice, this is a good one!

Lookouts

Swimming

Picnic Facilities

Toilets

No Dogs Permitted

Arid or Desert

Add to
My Wishlist

Tick Walk

Located 135 kilometres west of Alice Springs in the West MacDonnell National Park, it is accessible via sealed roads and is the Trailhead for sections 9 and 10 of the 223 kilometre Larapinta Trail walk. Go to the visitors centre and follow the signs. The walk is free. Highlights for me were walking through the pound and pausing at the top of the ridge to sit and look down on it. Walking through the gorge from the back end alone was something very special. I carried a couple of litres of water and a snack, the terrain was a little hilly but the track well defined and somewhat busy!

GPS Tracks

No GPS available for this walk yet.

Comments

An incredible hike around the Ormiston Pound with crazy beautiful views of the gorge. It gets very hot around there by late Aug / early September so start early (started at 7:30 am and that was already a bit too late). By that time of the year, there aren't too many people there though.

They recommend anti-clockwise but we did it clockwise - it's a bit of scramble to find your way out of the gorge and to the trail leading into the pound but gorgeous views out of the gorge and then into the pound.
Kati on 9 Sep, 2017

We spent the rest of day two walking up and down this gorge. This was in my mind the pick of the gorges. The green vegetation against the vivid red rocks was stunning.
Brian on 13 Aug, 2017