Mount Bruce, Western Australia: Location, height & summit walk

Mount Bruce in Karijini National Park is the second highest mountain in Western Australia. The 9km Mount Bruce Summit Trail takes about three hours and offers superlative views over the Hamersley Range.

Where is Mount Bruce?

Mount Bruce is in Karijini National Park, part of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The mountain lies around an hour’s drive east from the town of Tom Price and is next to the Marandoo iron ore mine.

How tall is Mount Bruce, Western Australia?

Mount Bruce is 1,234 metres high. This makes it the second tallest mountain in Western Australia, after near neighbour Mount Meharry, which is just 15 metres taller.

How long does it take to climb Mount Bruce?

It takes about three hours to complete the 9km return Mount Bruce Summit Trail. This grade five hike is one of the most challenging walks in Karijini National Park, although in truth it’s just a couple of tricky rocky climbing sections that pose most people difficulties. The rest of the walk is moderately steep, but manageable.

Mount Bruce Summit Trail walk tips

It’s best to start the Mount Bruce Summit Trail fairly early in the morning, before the Pilbara heat gets into full roasting mode. Apply plenty of sunscreen and bring plenty of water with you.

Once at the top of Mount Bruce, you’ll be treated to magnificent views of the Hamersley Range and, less excitingly, the Marandoo mine.

If it’s just a good view of the Marandoo mine you want, then you don’t need to walk as far. There’s a lookout just a 500 metre walk from the Mount Bruce parking area.

Other Karijini National Park attractions

Karijini National Park is enormous, and the key attractions are scattered around it. Hamersley Gorge, with its stunning swimming hole, is in the north-west of the park, fairly near Wittenoom.

Several sights cluster around the Weano Recreation Area. Here, you can check out the Oxer Lookout over Hancock Gorge (home of Kermits Pool), Weano Gorge and Joffre Gorge, home of Joffre Falls

The Dales Recreation Area, however, is in the east, closer to the Great Northern Highway. This is where you can do the Gorge Rim Walk from Fortescue Falls to the Circular Pool Lookout, and go swimming in Fern Pool. The latter section is best seen on the drive from Port Hedland to Newman.