Larapinta Trail

Infobox Hiking trail
Name= Larapinta Trail
Photo=Larapinta Trail.jpg
Caption=Along the Larapinta trail from a ridge of the West MacDonnell Ranges.
Location=Northern Territory, Australia
Length=Convert|223|km|mi|0
Start/End Points= Alice Springs, Mount Sonder
Use=Hiking
ElevChange=
HighPoint=
LowPoint=
Difficulty=Medium
Season=Winter
Months=June to August
Sights=Arid mountains, gorges, dry creek beds, waterholes
Hazards=Dehydration, Snakes, Hyperthermia, Hypothermia

The Larapinta Trail is an extended walking track in the Northern Territory, Australia. Its total length covers Unit kilometre|223|0 from East to West, with one end at Alice Springs and the other at Mount Sonder, one of the territory's highest mountains. It follows the West MacDonnell Ranges, sometimes along the ridge line, other times on the plain below, in the West MacDonnell National Park.

Notable attractions

*Finke River
*Simpsons Gap
*Standley Chasm
*Ellery Creek Bighole
*Serpentine Gorge
*Ochre Pits
*Ormiston Pound
*Redbank Gorge
*Glen Helen Gorge
*Tnorala Gosse Bluff
*Palm Valley

History

The walk harbours many aboriginal sacred sites of the Arrernte tribe, which has allowed tourists to visit them. In the 1990s the walk was only half as long, with the section between Mount Sonder and Ellery Big Hole completed at the turn of the millennium. Presently, the Northern Territory government is advertising the walk as Australia's best extended walk, competing with Western Australia's Bibbulmun Track and Tasmania's Overland Track and Western Arthurs track.

Amenities

The trail is very well marked with kilometre posts marking both the distance to the next campsite or section as well as the total length of the walk to go. There is a published leaflet that details the requirements and attractions of completing each of the twelve sections and notice boards at the transition of each section. These notice boards also show elevation graphs of the walk and alert walkers to potential dangers.

There is a reasonable amount of water along the track, both naturally found and trucked in. There are only one or two places in which water cannot be obtained throughout the day, with frequent storage tanks. Signage suggests that all water should be treated by boiling it for 5 minutes or adding water treatment tablets.

No fires are allowed along the walk.

Climate

Most people decide to do the trail during winter when the heat is bearable.Fact|date=February 2007 Rain is still unlikely during this time, although it has been known to rain on walkers for extended periods. Temperatures are often still hot during this time.

ee also

* West MacDonnell National Park
* MacDonnell Ranges

External links

* [http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/ Northern territory Parks and Wilderness Commission information]
* [http://www.travelnt.com/en/experience/walking/larapinta.aspx Larapinta Google Map including all sections, water supplies and day trip possibilities]
* [http://aboriginalart.com.au/culture/arrernte.html Arrernte art]
* [http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/parks/walks/larapinta/ Larapinta Trail]