Jim Jim Falls Road — Kakadu Highway to Jim Jim Falls and Twin Falls Gorge
Corrugated red dirt to a Kakadu waterfall gorge.
Jim Jim Falls Road peels off the Kakadu Highway and runs south through woodland, sandstone outliers and corrugated red dirt. You’ll slog across creek beds with names like Jim Jim Creek, and the terrain gets rougher the deeper you go into the Stone Country. The track is about 60 kilometres of bone-rattling, sandy washboard that eats suspension and tests patience. At the end there’s a short walk over boulders to the plunge pool at the base of Jim Jim Falls, a sheer gorge wall that thunders early in the dry season and trickles by the end of it.
This is 4WD-only country, and Parks Australia closes the road in the wet season, so check conditions before you go. It’s usually open from roughly May to October. Fit good tyres, carry recovery gear and plenty of water, and let air out for the corrugations. Creek crossings can be deep early in the season, so walk them first. Saltwater crocodiles live in these waters, so respect the signs and stay out of the water where it’s posted. A park entry pass is required, and Garnamarr campground at the end of the road is the place to camp. You get a classic Top End gorge without a tour bus in sight. Have a dirty day.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance |
| Surface | Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 37 mi / 60 km |
| Duration | Half day to 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 700 ft |
| Best season | May-October |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Jabiru, Northern Territory |
| Land manager | Parks Australia / Kakadu National Park |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Official sources | Kakadu National Park |
| Verified | |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
No recent condition reports. Be the first to post one.
Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4Runner or similar 4WD do Jim Jim Falls Road?
Yes. A stock 4WD with decent clearance handles it fine, and the road is signed 4WD-only, so 2WD and AWD crossovers aren't allowed. The challenge is 60 km of heavy corrugations, soft sand, and a creek crossing, not technical rock. Drop your tyre pressures for the corrugations and carry a full-size spare.
Is Jim Jim Falls Road open in the wet season?
No. The road floods and closes in the wet, usually from around November, and often doesn't reopen until May or June once the creeks drop and Parks has graded it. Check Kakadu's road status page before you leave Jabiru, because opening dates shift every year.
Do I need a permit to drive Jim Jim Falls Road?
Yes. You need a Kakadu National Park pass, which you can buy online, and you should do it before you go because there's no cell service on the road. Parks-run campgrounds charge separate fees, and some require booking ahead.
What's the hardest part of the drive?
The corrugations wear you down more than anything else, and they get worse the later in the season you go. The toughest obstacles are the sandy, rutted stretches near the end and the Jim Jim Creek crossing, which can be deep and soft depending on the month. Walk the crossing first if you're unsure, and expect 1.5 to 2 hours each way.
Is there fuel, cell service, or camping along the road?
There's no fuel and no cell service past the highway turnoff, so fill up in Jabiru or Cooinda and carry a satellite messenger or UHF radio. Parks-run campgrounds are along the road and near the falls car park, and you can't camp freely outside them. Carry all your own water, and don't swim anywhere unless Parks has signed it safe, since saltwater crocs live in Kakadu's gorges and waterholes.
Trail track
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