Canyons, flowers and dinosaurs
Bushwalking, wildflowers, sandstone gorges, dinosaur “footprints,” and starry nights. Explore Canns Canyon, Red Hands Cave, Sunset View, and The Fingers slot canyons on this late winter adventure with stunning scenery and unique geology.
Canyons, flowers and dinosaurs – 16-17 August 2025
With ‘kinda promise’ of spectacular wild flower display and canyons, and easy short bushwalks, a small group of three participated in the Canns Canyon area weekend of adventure and fun. A fourth member was going to come but was ‘told’ by her ‘boss’ that the weekend was good boating weather and she had to go boating instead!
Late winter / early spring is prime time for wildflowers in the Burra Range area.
We assembled at Canns Camp Creek campground on Friday afternoon. The entry to the park was ablaze with colour – mainly grevilleas and wattles.
But that didn’t last long, then just normal bushland with no flowers.
Saturday morning was exploring Canns Camp Creek main gorge area. We drove to the lookout at the main canyon.
Then went for the short walk to Red Hands Cave. We found some nice purple flowers that grow on a vine. Which was good as there were questions starting ‘where are all these wildflowers you promised, as we are not seeing any ?’ ‘ Later, trust me’ our leader said (gulp).
From there we entered the gorge and explored the canyon and grottos.
That was an easy 3 hour 4.1km explore. Back to the cars for lunch. Then we drive up to Sunset View, through an area of grass trees, grevilleas and wattles. Plus scratchy stuff just to mark the cars !
Sunset View was an easy plateau walk of 3 km in 2 hrs. Spectacular scenery of gorges and weathered sandstone bluffs. And a few flowers (thankfully). Some of the rock formations are interesting, and our leader commented that one was old dinosaur skin -wavy and scaly. MP found a dinosaur foot print – well - it could have been – right ? But, the geologist in the group, went onto explain why the rock has the wavy scaly pattern (old sea bed, water and wind movement, ya know, that stuff, not exciting dinosaur stuff), and that was not a foot print but weathering – but then – obviously not wanting to hurt our feelings, stated to waver and said well maybe , just maybe ... you never know, (unconvincly lol). Well, we had our fun dreaming!
Another night watching stars, Milky Way, and meteor shower. Temperatures were chilly, forecast at Hughenden was 5c. And it felt like that at the camp site in the morning!
Sunday was a morning explore at The Fingers slot canyons / chasms. Promising ‘this is easy, not long, and there are flowers there’ we eagerly set off. The roadside near the car park at walk start was colourful, again mainly red, orange, and cream grevilleas and wattles.
The usual entrance / exit we use to get into the gorge, well – it wasn’t good this time due to erosion. It was a tricky (and bit hairy) little descent, not keen on using that again. Think we will find a different way out later. Anyway, we are in the gorge, so easy going now.
Oops. Go five metres, a large tree has fallen blocking the way to first canyon. We could have got through but did not want the hassle, and first canyon is not one of the greater ones. So downstream we go, easy this way. Well, that lasted about 10 metres, then we had a tricky little 50 metre section to get through, more trees down and flood debris. Hmmmm – easy walk uh ! Maybe it is always like this and our leader just can’t remember it all ? Anyway, now the walking in the creek bed was straight forward, and we entered a side gorge and went up to the chasm there. Spectacular ! Narrow sheer sided chasm, amazing. Then we went further downstream to the next gorge and chasm system, another spectacular and unique scene. Naturally, two of us brought up the dinosaur theme again ! (lol). There are several more chasms, but mindful of time and driving home today, we call it quits and turn around. We exited the gorge using a new exit, which was easy, back onto the plateau and short walk back to cars. Along the way we found a colourful area of flowers, including Fringe Myrtle which is a delightful purple flower not often seen (only saw it in two locations this trip). A nice 4.6 km 2hrs 45 minutes explore.
Then we drove to Sawpit Gorge for quick look, past the Pinnacles, to the Sawpit Gorge lookout. The lookout has a blaze of colour – Fringe Myrtle, grevilleas, wattles and other flowers.
Then drive to Pentland for nice coffee at the servo, and drive home to Townsville arriving 5 pm. Another great adventure in White Mountains, a club favourite area.
