Gibb River Road — Bell Gorge to Adcock Gorge via Silent Grove and King Leopold Ranges (Dry Season Interior Traverse)
King Leopolds, corrugations, and cold plunge pools.
This is the stretch most Kimberley travelers remember longest. Leaving Bell Gorge Station Road and pushing east through Silent Grove campground — one of the finest free camps in the Kimberley, set under paperbarks beside a permanent waterhole — you climb into the King Leopold Ranges proper. The ranges aren’t tall but they’re brutally rugged: Devonian-age sandstone folded and fractured into sharp ridges that funnel the Gibb’s worst corrugations. Adcock Gorge, the segment’s eastern anchor, sits quiet compared to Bell, sees far fewer visitors, and rewards those who make the scramble down with a cold, gin-clear plunge pool under a red rock overhang. The drive between is genuinely beautiful and genuinely harsh — bulldust patches hide rock shelves, shade is scarce, and the track demands full attention.
High-clearance 4WD is mandatory; a locker helps on the rocky pinches. Tyres take a beating on the corrugations — run them aired down to around 28 psi and slow down or you’ll crack a bead. Fuel up in Derby before departure; no services exist between Derby and Mount Barnett Station. Dry season only: May through October. The King Leopold Ranges Conservation Park requires a DBCA park pass (purchase online or at Derby). Cell service is zero throughout. Satellite communicator is non-negotiable. What you get is a slice of one of Australia’s most remote road corridors with waterholes to yourself.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed, Rock |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 87 mi / 140 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 1640 ft |
| Best season | May-October |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD, aired-down tyres |
| Nearest town | Derby, Western Australia |
| Land manager | WA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) — King Leopold Ranges Conservation Park |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | DBCA King Leopold Ranges Park Page Tourism WA Gibb River Road Guide |
| Verified | |
| 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 stock Hilux or Prado handle this section of the Gibb without a lift?
A stock high-clearance 4WD like a 79-series, Hilux, or Prado can do it, but you must air down to around 20 PSI for the corrugations and rocky creek crossings — skipping this wrecks tyres fast. A suspension lift helps on the bigger rock steps near the King Leopold Ranges but isn't mandatory if your approach and departure angles are factory-decent.
When does this section of the Gibb open and close each year?
The trail is typically accessible May through October during the dry season — the Kimberley wet season (November–April) closes most of the Gibb and surrounding station tracks due to flooding, impassable creek crossings, and road damage. Always check current conditions with DBCA and Main Roads WA before departing, as opening dates shift year to year depending on wet season severity.
Do I need a permit to camp at Silent Grove or Bell Gorge?
Yes — Bell Gorge and Silent Grove campgrounds sit inside King Leopold Ranges Conservation Park and require a paid camping permit booked through the DBCA Parks and Wildlife online system before you arrive. Don't count on sorting it roadside; spots fill weeks out during peak dry season (June–August).
What's the worst section of this traverse and what should I actually expect?
The King Leopold Ranges crossing is the roughest part — sustained corrugations, loose rock, and narrow ledge sections where speed means tyre damage and slow means patience. Creek crossings between Silent Grove and Adcock Gorge can be rocky-bottomed and axle-deep after recent upstream rain even mid-dry-season, so walk them before you drive them.
How far is the nearest fuel from the trail and is 87 miles between bowsers realistic on one tank?
Derby is the closest reliable fuel town, roughly 200km from Bell Gorge — carry extra fuel in a rated jerry can because there are no bowsers along this interior traverse. A standard dual-cab with a 80L tank can cover the 140km segment, but factor in the full return or onward distance to Fitzroy Crossing or Kununurra and plan accordingly.
Trail track
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