WA’s Mount Frankland Wilderness Lookout Walk Offers a Short Hike & a View For Everyone

Explorer Margie and her family traipsed this inclusive walking trail with impressive uninterrupted views, and it was the perfect afternoon out. 

We Are Explorers acknowledges that this adventure is located on the traditional Country of the Menang people who have occupied and cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Quick Overview

Mount Frankland, in the Walpole region of Western Australia, is home to many walks of various difficulties. The Mount Frankland Wilderness Lookout walk is a short Grade 1 trail that’s 600m return. Its sealed track makes this walk suitable for all fitness levels and abilities.

And it’s nice and wide

Mount Frankland Wilderness Lookout Quick Facts

Distance: 600m
Duration: Allow 30 minutes, plus time to enjoy the views
Elevation gain: 80m
Nearest town: Walpole

About Mount Frankland Wilderness Lookout

The main attraction of Mount Frankland Wilderness Lookout is the impressive, wheelchair-friendly lookout structure that takes you right to the end of the lookout. This free walk is very short, but you could spend all day admiring the magnificent views. 

Located within the Frankland National Park, the short walk to the lookout is a quieter option than some of the other nearby attractions like the Valley of the Giants Treetop Walk and the Giant Tingle. 

In terms of accessibility, the Giant Tingle has a wide, accessible path to the tree, but the slope is decent. The Valley of the Giants is accessible but a lot busier so you’ll most likely be people dodging. 

The Mount Frankland Wilderness Lookout pips these others at the post.

Keep reading: Day Hikes in WA’s Mighty Southern Forests

Real life is even better than the photo (yeah, yeah, everyone always says that, but it doesn’t mean it’s not true!)

Mount Frankland Wilderness Lookout History

Known as Caldyanup by the Menang Traditional Owners, the 31,000-hectare national park is home to Tingle, Jarrah, and Karri Forests. An impressive granite peak stands high above the lot. 

These days Mount Frankland is used as an integral part of emergency services provision during fire season, with a manned fire observation hut at the summit.

En route to the lookout

How to Get to Mount Frankland Wilderness Lookout

Mount Frankland National Park is 28km north of Walpole. It can be accessed by car via North Walpole Rd. This road is partly unsealed but is suitable for a 2WD. 

Take the easy 30-minute drive from Walpole, or if you’re a keen 4WDer, take the scenic route and explore the plentiful tracks that meander into Mount Frankland Wilderness Lookout – all ranging in difficulty. 

If you’re looking at visiting from Perth, it’s a five-hour drive south, so ideally, you’d want to stay a few days to make the most of this awesome area.

Take the time to pause and appreciate the landscape – it’s worth every second

Where to Stay Near Mount Frankland Wilderness Lookout

The closest place to stay when visiting Mount Frankland Wilderness Lookout is the Fernhook Falls Campground, located 20km to the west. It offers eight tent sites and two huts for a minimal fee. There are toilets, BBQs, and wheelchair-accessible walks to view the cascades.

Additionally, the Walpole Summerstar Tourist Park offers accessible cabins, campsites, and amenities. Their website suggests contacting them to discuss accessible accommodation options.

Where to Eat Near Mount Frankland Wilderness Lookout

Walpole has a small selection of cafes and takeaway restaurants, however, to make the most of your visit (and budget), I suggest heading to the local IGA and picking up some tasty BBQ items. 

Sit at the picnic tables at the start of the Mount Frankland Wilderness Lookout and soak in the forest surroundings while you enjoy your BBQ lunch. Just remember to pack up all your goodies, leave no trace of your visit, and keep the facilities how you found them, or better! It’s easy to ignore rubbish dropped by others but if you’re taking yours home anyway, you might as well add the piece that someone else forgot. It all helps.

Great spot for a rest

Skill Level

Beginner

The Mount Frankland Wilderness Lookout offers a beginner-level experience with a highly achievable distance of 600m. While there are more difficult walks within the area, this particular walk is perfect for all mobility levels and is wheelchair accessible. It has handrails almost the entire length and seats near the lookout. 

You’ll find BBQs and a fancy shelter just a short distance from the car park, along with clean, wheelchair-accessible unisex toilet facilities. Toilet paper is generally reliable here and water is provided from a seasonal rainwater tank.

It’s rare to see trails that are 100% wheelchair accessible – this is great!

Essential Gear for Mount Frankland Wilderness Lookout

• Hat and sunscreen
• Water bottle 
• Picnic food if you choose to utilise the BBQs or handy tables
• First aid kit, including a snake bite kit 
• A good camera!

Don’t forget the rest of your crew!

What it’s Like to Visit Mount Frankland Wilderness Lookout

As we set off from the car park at Mount Frankland Wilderness Lookout not knowing what to expect, we were really surprised to find a lovely stone shelter with seats and interesting facts about the walk just metres along the car – and we weren’t even on the trail yet! 

We set off with our backpack filled with snacks for the kids, expecting to need some ‘bribery’ treats to encourage them along. But the snacks didn’t come out the whole walk. Along the path were signs with interesting information and bright pictures of flora and fauna to watch out for. My five-year-old loved it as the easy-to-read information contained many of his sight words from school. 

Plenty of information to absorb, when and if you want to

As we dawdled along the wide path, I found it refreshing to walk without having to remind the kids of uneven ground. The gravel path transitioned to a steel structure with extra grip that led us to the lookout. With handrails almost the entire length of the path and an enclosed fence-like boundary, I didn’t need to be eagle-eyed with quick reflexes to keep the little ones safe. 

The forest floor started to drop away under see-through boardwalks, and we found ourselves immersed in the forest as the path hugged the side of the hill. Standing at the end of the lookout, we could see the top of the canopy in the valley below. 

Lost in their own world

We sat watching the kids playing on the gangway to the lookout, dropping leaves through the gaps in the path to watch them flutter to the ground below. This is a walk that we will definitely complete again when we’re next in the area. 

As a mother of two young kids, one with mobility struggles, it’s wonderful to see walks we can easily complete as a family. This one at Mount Frankland even rewards you with an awesome view at the end. 

Don’t worry, we don’t come with the view!

Tips For Visiting Mount Frankland Wilderness Lookout

• Plan to spend more time here than you think you’ll need. There are informative signs along the walking trail, which make for a slow-paced walk
• Once you find yourself immersed in the view, time will get away from you. Make sure you bring snacks or food for lunch
• Stop, slow down, and enjoy this beautiful area, you won’t regret it

Views that are shared always look nicer, bring company if you can!

FAQs Mount Frankland Wilderness Lookout

What can you do at Mount Frankland Wilderness Lookout?

There’s something for everyone here. BBQ areas for a lazy lunch, an easy short walk with amazing views, and plenty of slightly more challenging trail options like the summit walk. 

How far away from the Giant Tingle Tree is the Mount Frankland Wilderness Lookout?

This lookout is about a 40-minute drive from the Giant Tingle Tree walk. 

What other walks can I do near the Mount Frankland Wilderness Lookout?

We’ve heard great things about the Caldyanup Trail and there are some gorgeous waterfalls to check out nearby too. Lucky for you Explorer Jono put together this list of great day hikes in WA’s south west.