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Home > Travelogues > 2010-2017 Travelogues Index > Mount Barker > Castle Rock, Porongurup National Park
Castle Rock – Heading to dizzy heights
In January 2012 the Granite Skywalk was opened. This incorporated a ladder with safety bars around it and a walkway viewing
platform hugging the edge over a huge drop near the pinnacle of this huge rock. Don't look down through the mesh floor
of the platform if you suffer from vertigo or a fear of heights.
Watch videos of the construction of this platform if you dare from the links on Granite Skywalk. These videos are no longer linked. However this Castle Rock Skywalk Construction video shows the logistics of the build.
Watch videos of the construction of this platform if you dare from the links on Granite Skywalk. These videos are no longer linked. However this Castle Rock Skywalk Construction video shows the logistics of the build.
# Stop the video at 3:08 for a glimpse of the old wood viewing frame at the top
of Castle Rock, and the top of the rickety wooden ladder people used to climb. The ladder in the first photo replaces the old
wooden one.
With extensive views to enjoy, it was time to relax after the climb. See also banner photo on the previous page.
A
number of members of our group were near to or over seventy years of age, and those who made the trek all got right to the top.
We
started early in the day while the weather was mild, and took water to sip on the way up.
You can see the shape and height
of Castle Rock with platform from the photos on this page from Department of Park and Wildlife.
Time to head down the ladder again.
Previously there was a wooden ladder, and a frame at the top of the rock. The
present ladder and platform makes the climb safe and relatively easy. # See video linked above for a glimpse of the old wood
viewing frame at the top of Castle Rock, and the top of the rickety wooden ladder people used to climb.
A short walk took us to the Karri Lookout, with views to the Stirling Ranges on the northern horizon, and back to the platform where
we had been. This is another good view and feeling of elevation for those who are unable to climb ladders.
The return downhill was easy, and the shady trees cooling.
With limited time, we only called into the Karri tree shaded parking area (above left) for viewing Tree-in-Rock and starting
the climb to Nancy's Peak and Devil's Slide.
From near here a short unsealed scenic drive follows the edge of
the range. With views across farmlands to the Stirling Ranges to the north, the south side revealed more of the range (above right)
where the central pinnacle in the distance is Angwin Peak.