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Deep River Loop Walk, Walpole-Nornalup NP

Menang Noongar Country

Deep River Loop Walk T Johnson 1 +6 Gallery
Bush Walk
Trail difficulty
This walk has limited directional signage and a good level of fitness is required.
Trail difficulty

Difficult trail with rough surface that may have very steep hills or extensive rock hopping. Directional signage may be limited. Bushwalking experience, navigation and emergency first aid skills, and good fitness required.

  • Length 4.2km
  • Est. time 1-3 hours
  • Circuit / loop
Today

15°C

15°

12°

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This trail goes through beautiful tingle and karri forest, descending down to the Deep River. Take the side trip to the summit of Mt Clare, where there are scenic views of the Walpole Wilderness. The trail then follows the Bibbulmun Track as it steeply winds it way down to Deep River. River reflections can be admired from the suspension bridge. After returning to Tinglewood Drive, this gravel road follows along the river before heading back uphill to the Mount Clare picnic area.

The Deep River suspension bridge is the entrance to the Walpole Wilderness area. The Walpole Wilderness area embraces seven National Parks, Forest Conservation Areas and Nature Reserves, totaling 363,000 hectares, including areas of classified wilderness.  About 20,000 hectares within the Walpole Wilderness area are classified as 'wilderness'.

Walpole Parks and Wildlife Office

(08) 9840 0400

Walpole-Nornalup Visitor Centre

(08) 9840 1111

National Parks

Other Links

Downloads

Statistics - Flora and Fauna

1100+
Plant species
20+
Mammal species
200+
Bird species

The Walpole Wilderness is an important international biodiversity hotspot, which recognises the incredible flora and fauna biodiversity of the area. Here you will find giant tingle and karri forest. The area also adjoins the Walpole and Nornalup Inlets, supproting a rich crossover of land, river, wetlands, and inlets. There are over 1100 species of plants and over 800 species of animals, some endemic to the area.

The park encompasses diverse ecosystems ranging from dense, towering wet sclerophyll forests to fragile coastal heathlands. The park is the only place on Earth where you can find Red Tingle, the largest-girthed eucalypt in the world. Yellow Tingle and Rate's Tingle also thrive here. Massive Karri, Jarrah and Marri trees dominate the high-canopy forest sections. Dense pockets of Bull Banksia, Karri Sheoak, tassel bush, and bracken fern carpet the forest floor. During spring the landscape erupts with colourful native blooms like the Holly Flame Pea, tree hovea, coral vine, and unique native orchids (including the Pink Fairy, Cowslip, Flying Duck, and Hammer orchids). The damp forest floor is home to over 90 types of Bryophytes (mosses).

Over 200 bird species inhabit the area. Look for the brilliant blue of Splendid Fairy-wrens, New Holland Honeyeaters, and western rosellas. Endangered species like Carnaby’s and Red-tailed Black-cockatoes, the Western Bristlebird, and the crested shrike-tit also take refuge here. The area is home to mainland quokkas, which are much more nocturnal and reclusive than their Rottnest Island counterparts. You can also spot western grey kangaroos, quendas (southern brown bandicoots), western ringtail possums, and southern forest bats. 


Keep an eye out for these species:

New Holland Honeyeater

Phylidonyris (Meliornis) novaehollandiae

Animalia: Aves

Australian Pelican

Pelecanus conspicillatus

Animalia: Aves

Splendid Fairy-wren

Malurus (Malurus) splendens

Animalia: Aves

Western Spinebill

Acanthorhynchus superciliosus

Animalia: Aves

Red Tingle

Eucalyptus jacksonii

Plantae: Equisetopsida

Tassel Flower

Leucopogon verticillatus

Plantae: Equisetopsida

Karri

Eucalyptus diversicolor

Plantae: Equisetopsida

Hare Orchid

Leptoceras menziesii

Plantae: Equisetopsida

Karri Spider Orchid

Caladenia brownii

Plantae: Equisetopsida

Holly-leaved Hovea

Hovea chorizemifolia

Plantae: Equisetopsida

Purple Enamel Orchid

Elythranthera brunonis

Plantae: Equisetopsida

Karri Oak

Allocasuarina decussata

Plantae: Equisetopsida

Yellow Tingle

Eucalyptus guilfoylei

Plantae: Equisetopsida

Hammer Orchids

Drakaea

Plantae: Equisetopsida

Diaphanous Fork-moss

Dicranoloma diaphanoneuron

Plantae: Bryopsida

Coral Vine

Kennedia coccinea

Plantae: Equisetopsida

Drumsticks

Kingia australis

Plantae: Equisetopsida

Common Maidenhair

Adiantum aethiopicum

Plantae: Equisetopsida

South-west Western Rosella

Platycercus (Violania) icterotis icterotis

Animalia: Aves

Holly Flame Pea

Chorizema ilicifolium

Plantae: Equisetopsida

Dusky Beard-moss

Pseudocrossidium crinitum

Plantae: Bryopsida

Be trail ready

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

Time / Duration

Up to 2 hours

Length

4.2km loop

Elevation

Steep descent down to river and ascent back up to carpark

Fees

National Park Fees

Trail Access

Road 2WD

Trail Start

Mount Clare car park, Tinglewood Drive. Walpole-Nornalup National Park, 400km (5hours) south of Perth

Get directions

Trail End

Get directions

When to go

March to November

What’s the weather like?

Bush Walk

Class 4

Difficult trail with rough surface that may have very steep hills or extensive rock hopping. Directional signage may be limited. Bushwalking experience, navigation and emergency first aid skills, and good fitness required.

Additional information

This walk has limited directional signage and a good level of fitness is required.

What To Pack

Prohibited items

No pets or fires

Facilities

There is a Bibbulmun Track campsite on Mt Clare, accessible only by foot.

  • Car Park
  • Picnic Area
  • Public Toilet
More tips for being Trail Ready

Trail information updated
17th July 2026

Today Jul 18, 2:20pm

15°C

Feels like 14°C

Max 15°

Min 12°

Precipitation: 100%

Visibility: 10km

Wind: 4.19km/h W

8-day forecast

Sat

15°

12°

Sun

15°

7°

Mon

15°

6°

Tue

15°

8°

Wed

16°

9°

Thu

15°

7°

Fri

17°

8°

Sat

16°

10°

Weather data provided by:

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Bibbulmun Track

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3 trail goers have rated this trail as 3.33 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.

Claire Sullivan

Reviewed 14 Jul 2026, 12:51pm

Nice walk, especially the bib track section and the suspension bridge. Pretty steep, got the heart rate up!
Chelle Fisher

Reviewed 6 Jun 2022, 6:59pm

A beautiful walk through the Karri & Tingles. Mount Clare Summit has no views so a bit of a let down but was nice to visit another Bibbulmun Track Hut. The trail down to the suspension bridge is steep and when wet pretty slippery so some care is needed. Of course what goes down must come up, after a nice flat walk across the bottom it's back up a steep 4wd track back to the picnic area.
Drew Graham

Reviewed 17 Dec 2020, 10:42am

There are no views from this trail other than a glimpse through the trees of the ocean and the surrounding wilderness if the short spur trail is taken to the summit of Mt Clare.

Walking anti-clockwise, the section of the Bibbulmun Track down hill from the Mt Clare hut to Deep River is steep, narrow and winding through dense forest undergrowth. I expect it would be slippery when wet. The small suspension bridge over Deep River at the bottom of the descent is a nice attraction and marks the half way point of the loop.

The third quarter of the walk is along a flat, unsealed road which affords a more open view of the Karri forest than the enclosed Bibbulmun section.

The final quarter of the loop through the forest back to the carpark is up a steep, unsealed road.

I enjoyed this walk. It's a loop with a variety of trail conditions and forest experiences. Walk it clockwise instead if you wish to experience the ascent on Mt Clare.

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