Canning Stock Route — Well 23 to Well 36 via the Great Sandy Desert Core
Fifty wells. Infinite dunes. No rescue.
Alfred Canning surveyed this route in 1906 to move cattle from the Kimberley to Wiluna, sinking 51 wells across 1,850 kilometres of desert. The stretch between Well 23 and Well 36 is the Great Sandy Desert proper — where the dunes stack up to 20 metres high in parallel ridges running northwest to southeast, and you crest and descend each one in low range, reading the sand for wet or dry, firm or bottomless. Well 33 sits near the Durba Hills, the only topographic relief in a long while, with rock art panels in the sheltered gorges that pre-date European contact by thousands of years. The wells themselves are a mix of restored and derelict — check each one before trusting it for water.
Rated Expert to Extreme. The CSR is not an overland route you build up to — it’s the one you spend years getting ready for. You need at minimum two capable, heavily modified 4WDs travelling together, enough fuel for 1,000 kilometres between reliable top-ups, comprehensive water capacity, satellite communications, and tyre repair for repeated punctures. DBCA requires a self-registration and the route passes through Aboriginal land requiring the Birriliburu and Martu country permits. June through August is the window. The reward is the most remote overland crossing in Australia — and arguably one of the most demanding in the world.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Extreme |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, Overland Route, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Mixed, Sand |
| Features | Camping, High Clearance, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 248 mi / 399 km |
| Duration | 7-12 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 1640 ft |
| Best season | June-August |
| Minimum vehicle | Two expedition-spec 4WDs minimum, fully modified with max fuel and water capacity |
| Nearest town | Wiluna, Western Australia |
| Land manager | Western Australia DBCA / Birriliburu and Martu Aboriginal Land Councils |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | DBCA Canning Stock Route official page ExplorOz CSR track notes |
| 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 I run this section in a single lifted Land Cruiser with a rooftop tent?
No. A solo vehicle here is a death sentence — mechanical failure or medical emergency with no comms means no rescue. Minimum is two fully expedition-built 4WDs, each carrying enough fuel for 800+ km range and water for at least 5 days independent of wells, which are unreliable and often contaminated.
When does this section of the CSR actually become passable?
June through August is the only realistic window — cooler temps reduce heat stroke risk and keep sand conditions more manageable. Outside that window, summer heat regularly exceeds 50°C (122°F), which kills vehicles, humans, and any margin for error.
Do I need a permit to drive through this section?
Yes. The route crosses Birriliburu and Martu Aboriginal Lands, and you need a Native Title Access Permit before entering — apply through the relevant Land Councils well in advance, as approval is not guaranteed or instant. DBCA registration and a current trip plan lodged with a responsible person are also mandatory, not optional.
What's the hardest section between Well 23 and Well 36?
The high parallel dune crossings through the Great Sandy Desert core are relentless — dunes run 15 to 25 metres tall with steep, loose faces and no established lines, so every crossing is read on the fly. Tyre pressures need to be dialled to 12–16 PSI, momentum management is critical, and a single rollback on a dune face with a heavily loaded vehicle can end the trip permanently.
Are the wells between 23 and 36 a reliable water source?
Treat them as a bonus, not a supply — many wells in this section are collapsed, dry, or producing brackish undrinkable water. Carry all water independently for the full 7–12 day duration, minimum 10 litres per person per day plus vehicle cooling reserves.
Trail track
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