Glen Helen Gorge

Glen Helen Gorge sits at the western end of the sealed Namatjira Drive, roughly 130 kilometres west of Alice Springs. The gorge marks the point where the Finke River, one of the oldest river systems on earth, cuts through the West MacDonnell Ranges through a narrow gap in the quartzite ridge. A large permanent waterhole fills the gorge floor and holds water year-round even in the driest conditions, making it a vital resource for wildlife and a beautiful swimming spot for visitors willing to brave the cold water.

The gorge walls rise steeply on both sides, banded in layers of red, orange and purple quartzite that are roughly 350 million years old. The colours intensify in the early morning and late afternoon when the low sun hits the eastern or western wall respectively. The reflection of the rock walls in the still waterhole is the classic photograph of Glen Helen and is one of the signature images of the West MacDonnell Ranges.

The Glen Helen Homestead Lodge sits just outside the gorge entrance and is the only accommodation in the western MacDonnells. The lodge has basic rooms, a campground, a bar and a restaurant, and serves as the social hub for hikers on the Larapinta Trail. Section 10 of the Larapinta, from Ormiston Gorge to Glen Helen, is considered one of the finest day walks on the entire trail, following the ridgeline with views in every direction before descending to the gorge.

A short walk from the lodge leads to the Organ Pipes, a section of cliff face where vertical columns of dolerite have weathered into a formation that resembles the pipes of a church organ. The formation is best seen in the afternoon light when the shadows between the columns deepen. A longer half-day walk follows the Finke River upstream through several smaller gorges and pools.

Glen Helen is the natural turnaround point for the standard West MacDonnell Ranges day drive from Alice Springs. Most visitors make a full day of it, stopping at Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm, Ellery Creek Big Hole and Ormiston Gorge on the way out and arriving at Glen Helen for a late afternoon swim or a drink at the lodge bar before driving back. The gorge is accessible year-round but the best visiting months are April to September.