Mount Trio
Stirling Range National Park
Directions - Located in Stirling Range National Park, about an hours drive north of Albany, from the Bluff Knoll Cafe, head south along Chester Pass Road until you reach Formby Road South. Turn right and keep driving until you see the sign for Mount Trio. Turn left onto the unsealed road (2WD accessible) and follow this all the way to the small car park. The trail head is located on the southern side of the car park.
The Hike - Mount Trio is one of the smallest mountains in the Stirling Range that you can hike, but one that packs a punch. This was my first non-Bluff Knoll hike in the Stirling Range way back in 2016, and was the first hike I did on a fun road trip that saw me discover many new trails. Back in the Stirling Range to hike all the trails for my recent guidebook, this would be one of the more physically challenging sections of the three week trip, with lots of vertical metres to climb.
This would be my final hurrah in the Stirling Range, having done nothing but hike the lovely trails in the area for the last two days, including the Ongarup Creek Walk that explores the flatter area near the Bluff Knoll Cafe. With a brief break from the quad burning climbing, it was nice to slow down and appreciate the distant peaks from ground level. Fueling up at my cabin at the Stirling Range Retreat, I wanted to hike Mount Trio in the late afternoon to get the lighting closer to golden hour but also realising that I didn't want to be climbing up the main part in the shadows. Enjoying a short rest and a late lunch, I was soon back in the car and driving the short distance to reach the Mount Trio car park. With beautiful sunshine, and the thought of one last climb to go, I was excited to start what had been an enjoyable hike on my previous visit. There is no mucking about with the gradients on this one, as it doesn't take long before you are short of breath and feel the legs starting to really work.
The trail has you follow the eastern edge of a valley that has been carved by water flowing off the side of the mountain, and although you don't get up close to the creek, you can hear it at times after bouts of rain. This early part was full of different wildflowers, with one of my favourites from the Stirling Range, the Pink Bottlebrush. I've since located a couple of examples from native nurseries, and they are going quite well in my garden at home. The climb up to the saddle is the hardest part, with an average gradient of 37% for the 850m ascent, so it's best to get into a rhythm and not push yourself too hard. You are exposed to the sun, and being a warm day, I took my time, stopping to photograph the bounty of wildflowers, along with the impressive walls of red rock that you come across. Reminding me of something closer to Karijini National Park than Stirling Range National Park, they are a good opportunity to stop and admire the layering of the exposed rock that would have taken millions of years to form.
There are a couple of these little rock walls along the first part of the climb, and along with the bulky mass of rock on the the other side of the creek, they provide a scenic distraction. The climb starts to feel more exposed as you get higher, with lots of steps in place to negotiate. Knowing that once I reached the saddle it would get easier, I powered on, crossing paths with a young girl who's mother I had seen in the car park waiting for her. After much huffing and puffing, I reached the saddle and breathed a sigh of relief. The views from up here were amazing, and my favourite photo from my previous visit was the sea of Grass Trees dotted along here, with distant views looking towards the foothills of Bluff Knoll. Taking a right turn, this path leads up to the summit, and while it's not as steep as the section you've just hiked, you still have another 75m of vertical climbing to go. Enjoying the changing views as I got higher, my gaze was mostly looking south, as the view straight along the trail was looking directly into the sun.
Lots of new wildflower finds along here kept my pace down, along with stopping to photograph the views looking towards Bluff Knoll that was now visible behind one of the rocky spires to the east. The afternoon light was looking a treat as I continued on towards the summit, eventually reaching an open area of rock where a medium sized cairn is located. It would be a fantastic spot to take in the sunset, with the western peaks of the Stirling Range extending off into the distance, and the bigger Mount Hassell and Toolbrunup Peak visible to the south west. I sat here for a while, soaking in the views and reflecting back on what had been a whirlwind visit to the Stirling Range, and thinking ahead to the final week of my trip. I did have one more mission in the Stirling Range, a spot of orchid finding after speaking with one of the ladies from the Stirling Range Retreat. She had pointed me towards a couple of areas where there might be some orchids still in bloom, and in the fading light I managed to see a few that I've placed in the gallery below.
Final Thoughts - Often overlooked due to the smaller summit than the rest of the Stirling Range day hikes, Mount Trio has its own character that provides a rewarding experience.
I'm glad to have finally returned, and visiting during peak wildflower season provided a good opportunity to slow down and appreciate what makes the Stirling Range a fantastic place to be in spring.
This hike was the perfect way to end a fleeting visit to the Stirling Range, and one that I always enjoy doing, even if that first climb is a killer.
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