Visiting White Mountains safely
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Views of the park from Sawpit Gorge lookout.
Sunsets can fill the sky with a myriad of colours.
Photo credit: Eleanor Collins © Queensland Government
Getting there and getting around
Maps
White Mountains National Park is approximately 80km north-east of Hughenden and 140km south-west of Charters Towers on the Flinders Highway.
Burra Range lookout is located on the Flinders Highway and is accessible to conventional vehicles.
Access to Canns Camp Creek camping area is via Poison Valley Road and suitable for four-wheel drive vehicles only. From the Burra Range lookout travel approximately 11km west on the Flinders Highway to the Flinders Shire Council truck and rest stop. The signed entrance to the national park and access to Poison Valley Road (look for the Telstra tower) is located on the western end of the rest stop.
During the wet season (usually November to April), and occasionally at other times, Poison Valley Road may be boggy and inaccessible.
Check with the Department of Transport and Main Roads for road conditions and the Bureau of Meteorology for updated weather reports.
Wheelchair accessibility
There are no wheelchair accessible tracks or facilities at White Mountains National Park.
Staying safe
White Mountains National Park is remote and rangers may not be onsite to help you. Visitors must be self-sufficient, responsible for your own safety and prepared for all emergencies.
- Keep to designated roads and tracks, and drive with caution as road conditions can change quickly. Watch out for animals, they can appear on roads at any time of day though are generally more active at dusk and dawn.
- Stay with your vehicle if it breaks down. A vehicle is much easier to find than a person.
- Carry drinking water, whether driving or walking. Boil, filter or treat water from streams, rivers or waterholes before drinking.
- Never jump or dive into water. It may be shallow or hide submerged objects.
- Watch your step on escarpments. Edges can be unstable due to natural weathering, so stay away from the edge and take care where you walk. Heed all safety advice and warnings.
- Wear protective clothing. Put on a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and wear sturdy footwear, not thongs.
- Be aware of your surroundings at all times and be on the lookout for animals and insects that could scratch, sting or bite.
- Carry at least one form of communication equipment. Satellite phones and Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) are the most effective in this area. Mobile phone coverage is unreliable in the national park.
- Set up camp well before dark. And carry adequate food, first-aid equipment, fuel and a basic vehicle repair kit in case of unexpected delays or breakdown.
- Beware of other road users—vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians use the access road in this park.
For more information, read the guidelines on safety in parks and forests.
In an emergency
For all emergencies call Triple Zero (000).
We highly recommend you visit the Triple Zero website before visiting a national park or forest. Download the Triple Zero emergency app to help identify your location. Important: if there is no mobile coverage on any network, you will not be able to reach the Emergency Call Service via a mobile phone.
Before you visit
Essentials to bring
To ensure an enjoyable visit bring:
- A first-aid kit.
- Enough potable drinking water for your stay.
- A fuel stove or gas stove for cooking.
- A sealable container for rubbish—bins are not provided. Take your rubbish when you leave.
Opening hours
White Mountains National Park is open 24 hours a day.
The park may be closed at times due to extreme weather or management operations, check park alerts for the latest information on national park access, closures and conditions.
Contact the Department of Transport and Main Roads to find out about road conditions and the Bureau of Meteorology for weather reports and forecasts.
Permits and fees
Camping within the park must be pre-booked. A camping permit is required and fees apply. A tag with your booking number must be displayed at your camp site.
- Book your campsite online.
- If you cannot book online, see camping bookings for other options.
Other permits and fees
Various activities in Queensland parks and forests require a permit. Activities include commercial tours, social events (for example weddings or birthday parties), organised group visits, school excursions, scientific research, professional photography and the sale of photographs or vision of the park. Contact us for further information.
Pets
Domestic animals are not permitted in White Mountains National Park.
Climate and weather
Days can be very hot between October and March, reaching an average temperature of 32–36°C. Hot summer days at times exceed 40°C. The best time to visit is in the cooler months, from April to September, when daily temperatures average a more pleasant 28°C. Weather forecasts are available from the Bureau of Meteorology.
Fuel and supplies
Fuel and basic supplies are available 23km west at Torrens Creek and 27km east at Pentland. Hughenden (80km south-west) and Charters Towers (140km north-east) have a wider range of supplies. For more information see the tourism information links.
- There are currently no park alerts for this park.