Gibb River Road — Bell Gorge to Beverley Springs via King Edward River and Barnett River Crossing
The Kimberley's loneliest corrugated stretch.
This segment of the Gibb River Road runs through the least-serviced stretch of the entire Kimberley traverse. Leaving Bell Gorge, you push northeast across the King Leopold Ranges, dropping into the King Edward River crossing — a sandy, rock-strewn ford that can hold knee-depth water well into June — before climbing back onto the plateau through bulldust and corrugations that will rattle bolts loose if you haven’t checked them in Darwin. Beverley Springs Station sits roughly 180 kilometres from Bell Gorge as the crow flies, but the road adds another 40 kilometres of meaningless detours around creek systems that only locals name correctly. The country is beautiful and completely indifferent to your schedule.
This is not the hardest bit of the Gibb, but it’s the loneliest. Two spare tyres minimum. Fuel at Imintji or Mount Barnett before you commit — there is nothing at Beverley Springs you can count on for diesel. Dry season only: May through September. A lifted, body-armoured 4WD with a snorkel is the responsible choice. Cell service disappears completely west of Mount Barnett Station. Reward is a camp on the King Edward River under paperbarks, no one within 60 kilometres of you, and the kind of silence that makes city people nervous.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 136 mi / 219 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 1640 ft |
| Best season | May-September |
| Minimum vehicle | Lifted 4WD with snorkel and high clearance |
| Nearest town | Derby, Western Australia |
| Land manager | Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | DBCA Gibb River Road info Tourism WA route overview |
| 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 stretch, or do I need a lift and snorkel?
A stock Hilux or 200 Series Prado will struggle — the King Edward River and Barnett River crossings can run thigh-deep in the wet season shoulder months, and the corrugations will bottom out a soft suspension fast. A 2-inch lift minimum and a snorkel are the real floor here, not optional upgrades.
When does this section of Gibb River Road actually close, and can I drive it in October?
The road typically closes June through to April wet season, with the official window being May to September — October is risky and increasingly so as build-up storms roll in. River levels can rise fast and without warning; DBCA often gates sections without much notice once the wet kicks off.
Do I need a permit to drive through or camp along this stretch?
No permit is needed for the road itself, but Bell Gorge sits inside Windjana Gorge National Park and requires a standard WA national parks pass. Beverley Springs is a working station — respect boundary signage and stick to designated camp areas near the gorges.
What's the hardest section between Bell Gorge and Beverley Springs and what makes it serious?
The King Edward River crossing is the crux — it's a wide, rocky-bottomed ford with no bridge, and the approach track on the far bank is a steep, rutted climb that'll punish anyone without lockers or momentum. Get the crossing wrong and you're winching in moving water with nobody coming past for hours.
There's zero cell service out here — how far is the nearest fuel, and is the range a real problem?
Derby is your last guaranteed fuel before you head into this stretch, and the round-trip exposure from Bell Gorge to Beverley Springs and back out is well over 400km of hard corrugated driving that hammers fuel economy. Carry a minimum 40-litre auxiliary supply and a PLB — a satellite communicator isn't a luxury out here, it's your only lifeline.
Trail track
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