Standley Chasm

Standley Chasm, known as Angkerle Atwatye in the Western Arrernte language, is a narrow slot canyon cut through the quartzite ridgeline of the West MacDonnell Ranges. The chasm is about 50 kilometres west of Alice Springs on Larapinta Drive and is one of the most visited natural features in central Australia.

The walk from the car park to the chasm follows a shaded creek bed through a grove of river red gums and cycads for about 1.5 kilometres. The trail is relatively flat and well maintained. As you approach the chasm the walls close in and the canyon narrows to about nine metres wide with near-vertical walls rising roughly 80 metres on both sides.

The famous midday light show is the reason most visitors time their arrival carefully. For about 15 minutes around solar noon (which varies by season) the sun sits directly above the narrow gap and floods the chasm floor with light. The quartzite walls, which contain iron oxide, glow an intense red-orange in the direct sunlight while the surrounding rock stays in deep shadow. The contrast is extraordinary and it is one of the most photographed natural light effects in the country.

Standley Chasm is owned by the Iwupataka Aboriginal Land Trust and operated as a cultural and tourism enterprise by the local Arrernte community. The entry fee supports the community directly. A kiosk at the car park serves food and drinks, and cultural tours with Arrernte guides are available by arrangement.

The chasm is a popular stop on the West MacDonnell Ranges day drive from Alice Springs. Most visitors combine it with Simpsons Gap to the east and Ellery Creek Big Hole or Ormiston Gorge to the west. The walk is suitable for most fitness levels but the rocky creek bed can be slippery after rain. The site is open daily year-round, with the best visiting months from April to October when the heat is manageable.