Australia's MOST SECRET Hiking Trail - Aussie Bushwalking for Two Nights (LEGALLY) through a Gorge

Backpacking & hiking the Murchison River Gorge in Kalbarri National Park (Western Australia) was one of the best camping trips that I’ve done in recent times. We spent two nights & three days hiking through the incredible sandstone landscape in outback Australia. Totalling ~48km, the The Murchison River Gorge Walk is truly something special and it’s hard to believe that the world class hike is not heavily advertised. Aside from the main look outs in Kalbarri National Park (Nature’s Window & Z-Bend), we didn’t see a single soul along the trail and felt truly isolated within the Australian Outback. Drinking water proved to be somewhat difficult to locate as the Murchison River is too saline to drink. Fortunately there were various fresh pools and streams scattered along the trail where we could filter the water and use as a drinking source.
See the exact path I took;
www.alltrails....
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Contents of this video ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
0:00 - Ross Graham to Z-Bend
11:05 - Four Ways to Nature's Window
16:10 - Hike Overview
17:00 - Permits and Planning
18:00 - Getting to the Trail Head
18:20 - Entry Fees
19:00 - Weather Conditions
20:15 - Drinking Water
21:54 - Food & Snacks
24:00 - Waterproofing your Bag
25:08 - Footwear
25:40 - Precautions & Safety
26:40 - Hike Length & AllTrails
27:37 - Wrap up
Hiking Gear
Backpack - geni.us/9fUFSNe
Mattress - geni.us/QhvFEM3
Tent - geni.us/PAhP
Sleeping Bag - geni.us/IhbeWeA
Compression Sack - geni.us/JQNxM
90L Dry Sack - geni.us/KvW6T
Sleeping Bag Liner - geni.us/BYxnB
Jetboil - geni.us/eQkl
Gas cannister - geni.us/45PZ6v
Water Bladder - geni.us/7Is1
Water Bottle - geni.us/fLCJCDD
Personal Locator Beacon - geni.us/iMXwCq
Spoon - geni.us/irWK6
Swiss army knife - geni.us/KEcfc1k
Clothing
Footwear - geni.us/B3wPfxl
Socks - geni.us/9xXMO4d
Underwear - geni.us/JYj1KAI
Pants - geni.us/4SmN
Long sleeved shirt - geni.us/KRiUJtM
Camera Gear
Camera - geni.us/kwgEu
Camera batteries - geni.us/xWl9vhy
Lens - geni.us/xde22
Microphone - geni.us/jfKqiit
DeadCat - geni.us/MhN7
Tripod - geni.us/vBjIfF0
SD card - geni.us/sZB0r
Drone - geni.us/ZItv
Drone Batteries - geni.us/ihs9Yp
Peak Design Capture Clip - geni.us/X7XAHj
GoPro - geni.us/6R8AMM
Charging cable (USB-C) - geni.us/9EcGfz6
Charging cable - geni.us/kvK8

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Thanks for all the love everyone! Feel free to skip around to 16:10 if you're after the logistics side of things including how to get there, water, registration, weather, clothing etc

[@ColCastree]

Excellent video. Picturesque, great photography. Well done Josh.

[@louisaklimentos7583]

So gorgeous and so remote .

[@janilacrouch2015]

Thanks for the video Josh. Hiked this trail the weekend just past (Sept 2022). Water level was much higher after rain the weekend before and crossings much more challenging. There was thin trickle of fresh water at numerous points, but it was disappearing quickly. Recommend carrying all your water for 2 nights and restocking by dropping a top up supply at Z-bend. Definitely wouldn't plan to do this overnight! The Ranger recommendations for allowed time were about right. We took 4 nights after arriving out from Perth and setting out at 4pm.In two hours we managed two river crossings in the first 2.5km and then found somewhere to camp for the night. Made it to little Z-bend the next night--tough, and slow going. We are all fit, experienced multiday hikers. But a great hike and thoroughly recommended if you are well prepared.

[@jefft79]

Great photography and storytelling, Josh. Less is more, and you've let the pictures tell the story. Cheers for the effort 👍

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Thanks Jeff, means a lot!

[@goinferal5815]

Hey Josh, as someone who publishes and 'old school' walking and travel blog I appreciate the effort that you must put in doing these vlogs.I'm slowly working my way through all your videos at the moment searching for more inspiration while I'm in lockdown here in Melbourne. I've always fancied the Murchison Gorge Walk so thanks for sharing this one and I'm looking forward to many more. Cheers

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Thanks Kevin, really appreciated! As you’d probably know it takes a lot of time to go out & do these walks and near on as long to create the videos so I’m glad it doesn’t go unnoticed haha. Would love to have a read of that blog if you’ve got a link

[@laurenfuller5183]

Absolutely incredible ❤. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful adventure.

[@daveosborne610]

Great video of a great walk for adventurous walkers. And HikeWest very grateful for the visual plug too for our short website article about the walk! - thanks Josh. Had been wondering why we've had such an increase in visitors to that page since August :-) Have now added a link to your video as a PS to our article.

[@mcake1234]

Great watching this stuff. Thanks for sharing.

[@mohanpremarathna559]

Inspiring Seriously great hike and captute

[@ryanegglestone]

New subscriber here! Epic video mate. I love the barefoot with hiking poles, doesnt get much more Aussie than that!

[@ScottysGoneWalkabout]

Awesome vid mate. What a stunning place. You did a great job capturing it, particularly with those drone shots. Well done. This place is definitely on the list now 👍

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Cheers Scotty, means a lot coming from yourself. Loving that lyrebird footage in the last vid 👌

[@huntercarneystandup]

Loving the videos! We need more like this. Sending good vibes your way!

[@outdoorswaoffice9053]

Great shots Josh, thanks for sharing the information. That hike is certainly a highlight for well prepared groups. Hikewest is a wonderful site for bushwalking adventurers in WA.

[@rlands5134fd]

Brilliant video👌👍

[@AndyJarman]

Depends which part of the river you drink from. Worth sampling as you go, some sections are fresh, underwater springs. Floods in July rain a long way of can surprise you. Best to go August before it heats up and there are rain shower puddles to drink from.

[@robhenzen3045]

HeY Josh! Thank you so much for what is probably one of the most beautiful hiking videos I've even seen up to now (and believe me; I've seen a lot of them :-)). Just hope that you keep up the good work, and continue to inspire me and many others when it comes to hiking and wandering!

[@jessicacummins9897]

Incredible that this hike has gone under the radar, stunning country. Beautifully shot and produced x

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Thanks Jessica, still hard for me to believe as well. I guess the potential dangers of it means that it doesn’t get much advertising

[@LilyKumpe]

Best commercial for a snickers bar I’ve seen

[@Gullyrats]

Neat, was there in bout 83. Tho didn’t hike gorge. Thanks for Memories

[@JoshCarrHikes]

My old folks were teenagers then haha. You’ll have to revisit sometime, they’ve done a great job with the Skywalk

[@ChrisandDanya]

Damn dude, well done! Can't wait to do this in 3 weeks time. Not even sure I should make a video now since this one is so good haha

[@JoshCarrHikes]

You guys will love it hey such an awesome hike. Haha no way, two videos is better than one. Would be awesome to see what you create and relive it again!

[@MatMcCrudden]

Love !the Snickers and Mars bars for a bit of a treat! What Beautifull area.

[@JoshCarrHikes]

😅 Can’t beat a snickers!

[@secondhanddog3]

Awesome video! Comic sans.. aggghh my eyes!

[@CraigHenneberry]

Epic! And that outro... 🔥 🙌

[@ciskyfavero]

Stunning video. Really good place! I love your explanation about this hike and all the info related. Gold!

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Thanks mate, appreciated!

[@delphinelesterlost3285]

Kalbarri national Park is stunning! I visited in January a couple of years ago and it was really hot but the colours were incredible

[@AmyOutdoors]

That was beautifully shot and produced Josh! So calm, and you've really captured the environment you're travelling through so well... feels like I'm walking alongside you, seeing, hearing, feeling - really gorgeous part of the world too! I've just found your channel and I'm stoked to find another Aussie adventurer - the cohort is growing! subscribed, of course :) Thanks for the logistics end to the video too - a video of 2 parts!

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Thanks Amy, really appreciated. We’re definitely dime a dozen! If you know of any other Aussie Outdoor Tubers out there I’d love to know. Always keen to support local talent

[@AmyOutdoors]

Check out Aussie Hiker's 'Short Thanks' 1000 Subscribers video a few montha ago, he mentions a few of us and quite a few others are named in the comments of that vid... some great Aussie channels out there for sure 🦘

[@simonef8945]

Another amazing video. I am loving each and every hike you’ve vlogged. I do have to ask if Hayden actually wore those hiking boots that dangled off his pack the entire video? 😆

[@simonef8945]

Lol commented too soon before the end. Can’t believe he hiked in crocs the whole walk. Amazing 😀

[@JoshCarrHikes]

@@simonef8945 Haha I recently did the Stirling Ridge Walk with him and he did it in crocs too. Absolute madman

[@CamBostock]

Awesome video bro. Hiked 40ish kms of the gorge over the week I was there recently and can attest to the beauty of it. Great information.

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Cheers Cam. Truly is a spectacular place!

[@AndyJarman]

Chuck a big roll loose in your dry bag it soaks up water from leaks stops your gear soaking it up instead!

[@nathanixl_]

Hey dude, I’ve just recently started to get into hiking myself, Am absolutely loving these videos!

[@johndelaney2957]

Stunning.

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Thanks John

[@JamesRobertSmith]

That's a great route!

[@Kevfun07]

Wow this looks incredible. Great video !!

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Cheers!

[@namastefarm5184]

Love your videos!! Amazing footage, thank you 🙏

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Thanks for watching!

[@inourtracks8357]

Great video, super nice part of Aus

[@bush2coast801]

ISO at its best Josh...awesome job M8 !

[@JoshCarrHikes]

For sure! Thanks Craig

[@anthonytascone3632]

Wow, another great video

[@outdoorsweetheart]

Great vid. Just discovered ur channel. Also learned hiking in naked feet and crocs works too :)

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Haha I’ll be sure to let Hayden know his efforts didn’t go unnoticed. Might be a while before I ever try that combo though!

[@nathanixl_]

You should think about hiking Heysen trail here in SA, 60Days 1200km

[@k.whiking4372]

spectacular.

[@iandekam7310]

Very beautiful and unspoilt land like so much of WA compared to too many tourists and travellers in Eastern Australia. I loved exploring remote sections of Pilbara. But problem is water and heat. If you can organise those eg right weather and after rainfall, walking or cycling is sweet.

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Definitely have to do it in the right season otherwise it can be dangerous with the heat. But yep totally worth it with the isolation you can get!

[@carlreid4161]

Beautifully filmed Josh what a stunning gorge, and I thought the logistics part was very informative and that dry sack is obviously a must, how long was the swim was it just to cross to the other side of the river?

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Cheers Carl. The longest swim would have only ever been ~20-30 meters and yeah was just to cross to the other side of the river. The walls would start getting too steep and dangerous to climb so generally had to swap sides at every bend in the river with some crossings being a lot easier than others

[@carlreid4161]

Josh Carr cheers Josh👍

[@roguespanner]

Awesome and a great video mate, enjoyed the surprise right at the end too! What camera equipment do you shoot these hikes on?

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Cheers! Main camera is a Sony a7iii, drone is a Mavic Pro 2 and a couple shots with the gopro hero 7. Got links to pretty much everything I use in the description if you’re interested in seeing all of that

[@erichuo3843]

Great video, what is the brand of your hiking shoes?

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Merrell Moabs

[@Jytsrik]

Hi Josh, this is a wonderful help! Would you be able to let me have your avenza map with details of where ypu camped?

[@JoshCarrHikes]

I use Alltrails to track the App. The link is in the description where you can download the gpx file

[@anygivenweekend1193]

Looks like a great walk - nice job on the video - inspired a little by Kraig Adams?

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Cheers, and absolutely. Huge inspiration of mine and if my videos turn out half as good as his I’ll be wrapped

[@anygivenweekend1193]

@@JoshCarrHikes you did well. I'm a big fan of Kraig and love the simplistic style of telling a story. I would say though to make sure you keep developing your own style. Good to emulate people you look up to but don't undersell your own skills & experiences. Keep adding your own unique flavour.

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Thanks Mandy and that’s definitely something I’m striving towards. Still trying to carve out the best way of putting these videos together but I’m sure it will come with time.

[@marcozecca4306]

Great video, really inspiring. One question about your actual path you linked in the description: why did you jumped out the gorge at the Z-Bend and re-joined it at 4 ways? I am actually planning to do that loop going through the gorge, hence the question :-) Cheers and keep up the great work!

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Cheers Marco. We did this route based purely on what the ranger told us. He said unless we wanted to swim for 5 hours we’re much better skipping that section, and after doing a few pack swims I’m pretty glad we did. I don’t reckon I could have swam for more than half hour given how cold the water was

[@marcozecca4306]

@@JoshCarrHikes Thanks Josh for the reply and the info - definitely something to keep in mind in my planning. Cheers!

[@alastairmackenzie7680]

Awesome mate. Planning this in August with my fiancée. Thoughts on utilising a pack raft or not needed for the limited amount of water crossing?

[@JoshCarrHikes]

The latter half of the hike it’d definitely come handy. I reckon you’d have a good chance of paddling the whole way from Four Ways to Nature’s Window. Prior to that though it might be a bit cumbersome, plus with all the sticks and shallow rapids you’d run the chance of getting a leak. Ripper idea 👍

[@AndyJarman]

Leave your car at the start and phone for a taxi to take you back to your car at the end.

[@silentdogfart4892]

Well goddamn...

[@zahidkhan04]

❤

[@kimgee4821]

Not a secret now haha

[@JoshCarrHikes]

😉

[@JJO117]

Would like to know free good camping spots legally and Illegal. As I find it ridiculous you can't just live in nature in Australia.

[@natalieduncan3791]

It's a shame you don't ingauge with your audience. Much more interesting

[@JoshCarrHikes]

Responding to your comment is a form of engagement. I personally enjoy watching many KZbin channels that follow a similar format to mine as it’s refreshing and relaxing to an extent. Each to their though and I understand the silent aspect won’t be everyone’s cup of tea