Thursday, 26 March, 2026 / Edition 103

Just an hour North of Western Australia’s coastal town of Albany stand the Stirling Ranges, suddenly towering over the flat farmland. These mountains create spectacular views and bring a Paleoproterozoic Ocean floor up to 1,099 meters in the sky.

Christin Schulz

Exploration Geologist

@the.happy.geo

Ocean Geology in the Sky

Metasediments on Bluff Knoll in the Stirling Ranges/Courtesy of Christin Schulz

Area geology:

• The Stirling Range Formation consists of quartzite, shale, slate, and phyllite, deposited between 1.8 and 2.0 billion years ago.
• The formation was thrust onto the roughly 500 Ma-old Yilgarn Craton and is in the northern part of the Albany-Fraser Orogen, which records the collision of two continental plates between 1.3 and 1.1 billion years ago.
• The metasediments not only contain wave ripples, but also contain discoidal impressions, which have been linked to Ediacaran fauna and trace-like fossils interpreted to stem from vermiform organisms. These are very early forms of life.

How to Hike the Peaks

View from the peaks of the Stirling Mountains/Courtesy of Christin Schulz

There is so much to see near these mountains! Here are some of my recommendations to maximize your time while hiking the peaks.

Where to stay: For easy access in the National Park, stay at Stirling Range Retreat or Mount Trio Bush Camp & Caravan Park.

Trip tips:

• The most popular peak is Bluff Knoll with its stunning ridge.

• At 1,099 meters, it is the highest elevation in Southwestern Australia.

• It can be explored on a 6.8-kilometer return hike or the 25-kilometer unmarked Ridge Walk.

• My personal favorite hike is up the Toolbrunup Peak. While the trail is only four kilometers long, it comes with more challenging terrain, equally stunning views, and lovely wave ripples on the top.
• All tracks require at least a moderate level of fitness, with the first parts of the ascents being quite steep.
• If you are up for an early or late start, hikes in the light of sunrise and sunset are especially magical.
• Bring hiking boots, headlamps, water, a snack, and a clear navigation plan. Be smarter than me and don’t use sandals! These trails are not Teva-friendly.

If hiking is not for you:

Enjoy the mountains from the Central or Western Lookouts. 

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