An exploratory trip with the VMTC into the Ragged Range.
For a video of the trip on YouTube – Ragged Range VMTC June 2026
Day 1 – 22 Jun
After a lot of packing and repacking searching for a missing power pack we got underway. A long taxi ride to Doon Doon later we arrived at the drop off.
The track in to the first camp was an easy stroll along a 4×4 track. Nice big water hole between two cliffs. Everyone has a swim despite the three freshwater crocs at the far end of the pool.
It is the shortest day of the year. Sundown was at about 5pm. We were all in bed by 6pm ready for the 5am start tomorrow.
Day 2 – 23 Jun
5am breakfast and headed off by 7am. We followed the creek system up and over the range eventually arriving at a road. We followed this south for about a km. Then headed due east through a burnt section. Following the creek upstream where we hoped to find a good campsite and a water hole. It was not to be. The small stream was running but no big holes. A lot of landscaping had to be done to find campsites. At sundown we could hear Dingoes howling in the distance .
Day 3 – 24 Jun
Today was a day walk up to the towers to the south of our campsite. Spectacular views of the towers in the early morning sun. It highlighted the red rock against the deep blue sky.
We followed a creek bed up to the base of the towers. Then traversed around to a ridge at the end. This was followed by a steep scramble up the ridge which was covered in loose rocks. We made it to the top of the first tower where everyone admired the views.
Getting down and back to camp was much harder as all the rocks were round and loose. It was like descending on ball bearings.
Day 4 – 25 Jun
Off to the usual early start before the day heats up. We followed a small creek bed upstream between towering red cliffs. When the head of the stream split it was up a steep ridge to a small saddle.
At the saddle we crossed over into the headwaters of Pack Saddle Creek. Very rocky going. Lots of small to medium rocks. All from an old river bed so round and unstable.
As we headed downstream the river became more braided. The braids were interspersed with sandy flats covered in young Grevillea.
We made good time by following a lot of cattle tracks. The river didn’t have many water holes and they were shallow. It wasn’t until after lunch that we arrived at a good swimming hole and set up camp after a short swim.
Day 5 – 26 Jun
The gorge narrowed as we went downstream. Lots of water holes. Most were deep enough for a swim.
1.5 km downstream from our camp the gorge opened up a little. From here we climbed up a ragged ridge of weathered sandstone. Pretty straight forward climb. We only had to back track once. Great views of the Ragged Range from the top.
The hard part is finding a route down. It took a bit of scrambling and traversing to finally get to the next river system.
After lunch we headed downstream for a few km. Camp was set up under some huge paperbarks next to a flowing stream.
Day 6 – 27 Jun
A pleasant night at a very picturesque campsite.
Today we were heading to the White Sands campsite. The concern was lack of water. We skirted the west of the range till we arrived at the sands. Lots of scrambling around the edge of the waterhole to find shade and a good campsite.
A few of us scaled the dunes to the top to admire the view and capture the sunset across the sands.
The highlight of the day was Murray cooking us all a rhubarb crumble with custard 🙂
Day 7 – 28 Jun
Today we all set up to swim with packs. The route was up a narrow gorge with many water holes.
The approach was great with open river flats and lots of Paperbark trees. The gorge narrowed to a slot with a large waterhole. Everyone stripped off and swam the gorge. At the far end was a fantastic waterfall. Unfortunately there was also a high cliff with no way around. We had no choice but retreat. Plan B which didn’t exist till now was put into action. We headed further north to the next water hole. After a very cool swim most of us camped in the 4×4 “Car Park” camp as there were no other suitable spots.
Day 8 – 29 Jun
Plan B worked out ok. We scaled the ridge to the north of the waterfall and traversed to the feeder creek above the falls.
The feeder was followed upstream until we met up with the original route.
A steep climb from the headwaters of the creek system took us up and over a saddle and into the next creek system.
This was a much steeper valley with huge cliffs on either side.
The ridge we followed down had no cliffs at the bottom so we were able to get into the gorge ok. As we descended the gorge became a narrow slot. In places it had to be waded then the water got deeper which required pack swims.
One of the slots began with a long water slide into a large pool. It looked ok to slide in but we couldn’t tell if there was a way out. Climbing back up the slide would have been impossible.
A steep route up and around the pool was challenging with lots of loose and weathered rocks. A short ridge descent gave us access to the gorge again right at the planned campsite. There were no rock shelves or campsites here.
Damien, Jacque and Colin did a reconnaissance downstream through multiple slot canyons and swims to find a suitable place to camp.
Day 9 – 30 Jun
An uncomfortable night for Geoff and Damien who camped in the creek bed. The rest of us had to do some gardening to set up camp.
The first few hundred metres were a rock scramble. Then it was a chest deep wade followed by a couple more pack swims. We were concerned that there was a waterfall downstream. The map wasn’t clear as it had some odd markings and the contours were close together.
It turned out to be just more rock scrambling.
We followed the creek down till it met another branch. Then it was upstream through rocks and bamboo grass looking for a campsite. The map showed a large pool. It wasn’t large and had no suitable camping. By lunchtime we found two old camp pads. Everyone else had to do a lot of landscaping to set up camp.
Day 10 – 1 Jul
Today was going to be a simple climb up a wide gorge,. The contours were well spaced with cliffs only on one sided so we didn’t expect too many difficulties. The rough and rocky going continued as we climbed.
There were some outstanding pools with rock slabs above but no water where the campsites were. The route between the slabs and the rock pool was low grade rock climbing so it wasn’t going to work as a campsite.
The climb continued up and over a saddle where we decided to cut the trip short by a day. Everyone was pretty tired and the campsites were very limited. Damien and Murray managed to book earlier accommodation and taxi so we were set to get out a day earlier.
Plan C was to camp at the bottom of the next valley. The map didn’t show any cliffs, water falls or waterholes. All looked good until we arrived at a huge waterfall and couldn’t get below it. After a long look at the map Damien decided the best option was to avoid the whole valley and head out along a ridge to the west.
Plan D proved more difficult than anticipated. More cliffs that weren’t on the map. A lot of scrambling and traversing later we descended on to the plains to the west of the range.
By now it was mid afternoon. A hot slow trudge across the Spinifex for 4 km. We were all very glad to get back to our now beloved “Car Park” camp. Murray has collapsed onto a Spinifex and commented just how comfortable it seemed. I just lay flat on the road. Jacque had dropped everything and headed for the pool under the waterfall. We were all very glad to rest for the night.
Day 11 – 2 Jul
Everyone elected to still get up at 5am to avoid the heat. Today was only a 5km wander from the “Car Park” camp to the next camp on a tributary of Cabbage Tree Creek. Gina had a good morning spotting lots of birds.
Day 12 – 3 Jul
Up bright and early today. 4.30am start with no breakfast. We had to walk out the 8.5 km to the Great Northern Highway and along to the Dunham River rest area for the ride back to Kununurra. This was the most dangerous part of the walk with a long narrow bridge to cross with Road Trains thundering along.
After the hour long taxi ride we all dumped our packs at the caravan park and headed off to the Kimberly Café for a well earned “Heart Attack” breakfast.