Canning Stock Route — Well 9 to Well 23 via Gibson Desert Core
The world's loneliest desert stock route.
The Canning Stock Route is not a trail you take lightly. Drovers pushed cattle through this corridor from Wiluna to Halls Creek starting in 1910, and the hand-dug wells they left behind are the only reason you survive out here. The section between Well 9 and Well 23 cuts through the heart of the Gibson Desert, crossing the Durba Hills near Well 17 — one of the most photogenic and brutally corrugated sections on the entire route. Expect to climb over razor-edged sandstone breakaways, punch through red sand dunes that run east-west and will not negotiate with underpowered vehicles, and navigate between wells using paper maps and a GPS because signage is nonexistent.
This is Extreme-rated territory. You need two well-prepped 4WDs minimum — solo travel is reckless and widely condemned by everyone who has done it and survived. Air-down to 18-20 psi for the dunes. Carry a minimum of 250 litres of water and fuel for 800 km between reliable resupply. The wells are not drinking water — treat everything. Best season is May through August; summer temperatures kill. No permit required through most sections, but notify police at Wiluna before departure. The reward is true wilderness silence, Aboriginal rock art at Durba Springs, and bragging rights that actually mean something.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Extreme |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route, Remote |
| Surface | Dirt, Mixed, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 280 mi / 450 km |
| Duration | 7-10 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 1640 ft |
| Best season | May-August |
| Minimum vehicle | Expedition-built 4WD, dual vehicles mandatory |
| Nearest town | Wiluna, Western Australia |
| Land manager | Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), Western Australia |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | DBCA Canning Stock Route page ExplorOz route info |
| 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 do this in a single expedition-built 4WD, or is a convoy actually required?
A solo vehicle is not just discouraged — DBCA and experienced CSR veterans treat dual vehicles as mandatory on this section. If your rig goes down between Well 9 and Well 23, you are 450 km deep in the Gibson Desert with no cell service and potentially no other traffic for days or weeks. Two vehicles minimum, both expedition-built with full recovery gear, long-range fuel, and water for the worst-case scenario.
When does this section of the CSR become impassable, and what closes it?
May through August is the only realistic window — temperatures are survivable and the tracks are at their most stable. Summer (November–March) brings extreme heat that kills vehicles and people, and cyclone-driven rain can make claypans and sandy sections completely impassable for weeks. Outside the May–August window, do not go.
Do I need a permit to drive through the Gibson Desert Core on this route?
Yes. The route passes through Aboriginal land (Martu country) and you must hold a valid Aboriginal Land Access Permit from the Martu native title holders before entering. Apply through the relevant land council well in advance — permits are not issued at the gate. Check current requirements with DBCA before your trip as conditions and contacts change.
What's the hardest section between Well 9 and Well 23, and what should I expect?
The dunefield crossings are the technical crux — you'll be climbing and descending steep, loose red sand dunes repeatedly, often with soft blow-outs on the faces that will swallow an under-aired tyre. Tyre pressures dropped to 15–18 PSI and momentum management are non-negotiable. The psychological grind of 450 km with no bailout and no communication is its own kind of hard.
How much fuel and water do I actually need to carry for this stretch?
Plan for a minimum of 800 km of fuel range per vehicle — there is no resupply between Well 9 and Well 23, and soft sand destroys your consumption figures. Water minimum is 20 litres per person per day for 10 days, plus emergency reserve; the wells on the CSR are historic, unreliable, and some are dry or contaminated — never depend on them as your primary source.
Trail track
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