Gibb River Road — Mount House Station to Silent Grove via the Kimberley Ranges Central Heart
Kimberley gorge country without the crowd.
The stretch of the Gibb River Road between Mount House Station and Silent Grove cuts through the limestone and sandstone heart of the Kimberley, where the King Leopold Ranges scrape the sky and the Lennard River drains through razor-edged gorges nobody much visits. You’ll crawl through the Inglis Gap crossing — a rocky creek bed that chews tyres when the water’s up — and pick your line carefully on the corrugated pindan red dirt that shakes bolts loose on a good day. Adcock Gorge sits just east, and it’s worth the short detour for a cold swim under the fig-draped escarpment. This section sees fewer vehicles than the gorge-hopping tourist runs further east, which means less grading, fewer pull-offs for road trains, and a lot more silence.
Moderate to difficult, depending on the season’s wash-outs. A capable high-clearance 4WD with a snorkel and dual spares is the minimum — recovery gear and a satellite communicator are non-negotiable this far from a phone signal. Fuel at Mount House is unreliable; top up in Derby or Fitzroy Crossing. Dry season only: May through September. Water is scarce between stations; carry a minimum of 20 litres per person. What you get out of it is gorge country without the crowds and a Kimberley crossing that still feels like an expedition.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Rock |
| Features | Camping, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 87 mi / 140 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 1640 ft |
| Best season | May-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD with snorkel and dual spares |
| Nearest town | Derby, Western Australia |
| Land manager | Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | Tourism WA Gibb River Road guide DBCA Parks and Wildlife WA |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a standard GXL LandCruiser 200 Series handle this section without a lift?
A stock 200 Series GXL will get through, but you need a snorkel — the river crossings are real and water can sit at bonnet height after wet season runoff lingers into May. Two spare tyres are non-negotiable; corrugations and sharp ironstone rock on the Kimberley Range climbs destroy sidewalls. A lift helps but isn't the deal-breaker — ground clearance on a stock 200 is adequate.
When does this section of Gibb River Road actually open and close each year?
May through September is the reliable window — the wet season (November to April) closes most of the Gibb and its station tracks completely, and the Lennard River and May River crossings in this stretch become impassable or outright dangerous. Check current road conditions with the Shire of Derby-West Kimberley before you leave Derby; conditions in May and October are highly variable year to year.
Do you need permits to drive through Mount House Station or camp at Silent Grove?
Silent Grove campground sits inside Windjana Gorge National Park and requires a paid campsite booking through the DBCA — book well ahead during peak season (June–August) as sites fill fast. The Mount House Station section crosses private pastoral land; a station fee or prior permission may apply, so contact Mount House Station directly before you depart. No national park entry fee is charged for simply driving through, but camping fees are separate.
What's the hardest part of this 140km stretch and what should I actually expect?
The corrugated pindan pinches down and the rocky range crossings near the Kimberley Range climb are where most mechanical damage happens — sustained washboard at that point will shake loose anything not properly secured or recently checked. River crossings including the Lennard River require a proper walk before you drive; the bed is rocky and uneven, not sandy and forgiving. Budget extra time — 87 miles looks manageable until you're nursing a corrugated track at 40km/h.
How much fuel do I need to carry, and is there any resupply between Mount House and Silent Grove?
There is no fuel between Mount House Station and Derby — carry enough to cover the full 140km segment plus a buffer for detours and river crossing recon time. Mount House Station occasionally sells fuel but do not count on it; call ahead before you leave Derby. Derby is your last guaranteed fuel and resupply point, so fill everything including jerrycans there.
Trail track
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