Skip to Content Skip to Navigation Show Trail Map Show About the Trail Show Important Trail Details Read Trail Reviews
Add Favourites
Support Our Trails

Coastal Trail, Cape Le Grand NP Coastal Trail, Cape Le Grand NP

Bush Walk  in Golden Outback

  • Multiple day
  • 20 km
    • Bush Walk Grade 5

      Very experienced bushwalkers with specialised skills, including navigation and emergency first aid. Tracks are likely to be very rough, very steep and unmarked. Walks may be more than 20km.

The Coastal Trail is a spectacular, but challenging 20 kilometre walk trail in Cape Le Grand National Park, 30 minutes drive from Esperance. The experienced walker can hike from bay to bay, enjoying some of the best scenery in Australia; kangaroos basking on pristine white beaches, dolphins surfing the aqua waters and amazing views.

Earn 3 Points Overnight Hike
Donate to support this trail
Logo for Leave no Trace Initiative

Trails WA supports the seven principles recommended by Leave No Trace Australia for minimising your impacts when using the trails.

Learn more

This is ideally a multiple day walk, taking 2 or more days to complete, however it can be done in a single day with approximately 8 hours walking.  You can start from either end; at Rossiter Bay or Le Grand Beach.  The walk can also be tackled in shorter sections with vehicle access points at Lucky Bay, Thistle Cove and Hellfire Bay. The access road from Lucky Bay to Rossiter Bay is unsealed.

Rossiter Bay to Lucky Bay – Class 4, 6.6km allow 2-3 hours, medium walking.

Rossiter Bay, a long beach, is one end of the walk. Up and over the first ridge, the vast expanses of Lucky Bay fold out below. The bright white sand is so fine that it squeaks when you walk.

Lucky Bay to Thistle Cove – Class 3, 2.5km allow 1 hour, easy walking.

The easiest part of the walk, with spectacular views in every direction, even out to sea to the Recherche Archipelago. 

Thistle Cove to Hellfire Bay – Class 5, 4.7km allow 2 to 3 hours, hard walking.

From Thistle Cove the trail is mostly granite which becomes dangerously slippery when wet. On approach to the isolated beach of Little Hellfire Bay, you are beckoned for a swim by this extraordinary panorama.

Hellfire Bay to Le Grand Beach – Class 5, 6.2km allow 3 hours, hard walking.

The walk to Le Grand Beach is the most difficult with the trail taking walkers up and downhill - often at awkward angles.

Camping is available at Lucky Bay and Cape Le Grande. Book through Park Stay

Esperance Parks and Wildlife Office

(08) 9083 2100

Esperance Visitor Centre

(08) 9038 1555

National Parks

Other Links

  • Australia’s Golden Outback

    Comprehensive information on the Golden Outback region including destinations, things to see and do, accommodation and tours.


Downloads

Be trail ready for Coastal Trail, Cape Le Grand NP

Here is everything you need to know before visiting this trail.

Time / Duration

1 hour to 2 days depending on section chosen.

Length

Up to 20km

What To Pack

Group B (Bushwalks and/or longer trails) required.

Trail Start

Rossiter Beach, Cape Le Grand National Park. Approximately 50km south east of Esperance, or a 30 minute drive.

Get directions

Trail End

Le Grand Beach, Cape Le Grand National Park

Get directions

Bush Walk

Grade 5

Very experienced bushwalkers with specialised skills, including navigation and emergency first aid. Tracks are likely to be very rough, very steep and unmarked. Walks may be more than 20km.

Visit Trail Tips for further information.

Difficulty Notes

Hellfire Bay to Le Grand Beach is the hardest section. For an easy option walk from Lucky Bay to Thistle Cove.

Hazards & Warnings

The trail surface comprises granite rock, sand, gravel and boardwalk, with the steep slopes of granite becoming slippery when wet. From Thistle Cove the trail is mostly granite which becomes dangerously slippery when wet, so caution is required. Ring DPAW for current track conditions.

Facilities

Free gas BBQs located at Lucky Bay, Hellfire Bay and Le Grand Beach. Camping grounds at Lucky Bay and Le Grand Beach. Fees apply.
  • BBQ Facilities
  • Camping
  • Car Park
  • Picnic Area
  • Public Toilet
  • View Platform

Best time of year

September to January, March to May

Fees

National Park fees apply

Trail Access

Road, air or bus to Esperance. Road to trail.

Prohibited Items

No pets are not allowed. Open fires not permitted.
More tips for being Trail Ready
Edge shaped like mountain horizon
topography pattern

Complete Coastal Trail, Cape Le Grand NP to earn badges and points!

Earn points and badges and become a "TrailsWA Expert" by completing trails and leaving reviews.

Earn 3 Points

Earn 3 points towards
your TrailsWA level

Overnight Hike

Earn the Overnight Hike badge when you complete this trail.

Edge shaped like mountain horizon
Alt text

4 trail goers have rated Coastal Trail, Cape Le Grand NP as 4.75 out of 5!

We love to hear from people who've been on our Western Australian trails, so it would be most appreciated it if you wanted to leave a review.

Drew Graham

Reviewed 17 Dec 2020, 12:05pm

Interesting, varied, and challenging trail conditions and stunningly beautiful coastal scenery. It's destined to remain a favourite of mine.
Fayley Arthur

Reviewed 27 Dec 2019, 7:40pm

I walked 3 of the 4 sections (1 Rossiter Bay to Lucky Bay 2 to Thistle Cove 3 to Hellfire Bay), and it was the second best hike I've ever done. The granite outcrops are beautiful then the high views of glorious beaches, which I then got to come down to and swim at. The uphill section between Thistle Cove and Hellfire Bay was a challenge to the legs and heart, but the varied beauty was worth the effort.
Claire Hearn

Reviewed 22 Apr 2015, 8:30am

I loved this trail and walked from Le grand to luck bay. You can read about the trail on area on https://journeysclaire.wordpress.com/2015/02/01/beach-combing-like-the-shell-people/
Emily Pinkus

Reviewed 13 Mar 2015, 11:39am

I walked in the direction Cape Le Grande to Lucky Bay, then got a lift out to Rossiter Bay and walked back to Lucky Bay.

This walk certainly has it's difficulties - mostly in the form of steep ups and downs on granite outcrops, which are sometimes at awkward angles. You wouldn't want to do the sections between Cape Le Grande Beach and Thistle Cove in the wet. In fine weather though, the views are sensational - especially in the sections between Hellfire Bay and Lucky Bay.

I took all day to do all four sections, with a few nice breaks along the way. It was a pretty tiring day but I still smile thinking about how good it was.

My favourite section was Hellfire Bay to Thistle Cove, which took 2 hours. There were some very steep hills (up and down) but the views out to the Researche Archipelago and into the bays were incredible!

My second favourite section was Thistle Cove to Lucky Bay - this was easy and the views were very good. It took just under an hour and the path was formed for a lot of it.

The section from Rossiter Bay to Lucky Bay would be best in the morning with the sun behind you (I did it in the late afternoon and it was nice but you miss out on that incredible aqua colour with the sun in your eyes). There are some frustrating times where the trail doesn't quite go close enough to the edge of the cliffs to see the ocean but coming down into Lucky Bay is very nice. Thankfully the sand is pretty firm as there is about 2.5km of beach to walk into Lucky Bay.

I didn't love the section from Cape Le Grande Beach to Hellfire Bay, but my husband did. There were many awkward sideways angles that my hips and feet didn't like much. Plus the trail was mainly far from the coast so the views weren't as speccy. There were lots of great granite formations and lizards to keep us interested though and maybe I was just in a bad mood that morning (I'll be doing it again soon so I'll let you know if my opinion changes).

All in all the coastal trail is an excellent walk which I would highly recommend if visiting Cape Le Grande National Park. Bring your walking poles to help your knees on the downhill slopes and take your time - perhaps break it up over 2 days.

Like this trail? Explore others nearby

More around Golden Outback

Supported by great organisations

Trails are free and bring so many benefits to our community by providing opportunities to have fun, get fit, socialise, explore and challenge yourself. But they also have to be managed and maintained which only is made possible through terrific sponsors, donations and/or volunteering.

topography pattern