Cape Range National Park

Thirty-five kilometres from Exmouth, the Cape Range National Park comprises tranquil beaches, rugged ranges and magnificent canyons and is situated on the western side of the North West Cape. The Cape Range, backbone of the cape, is a huge upward fold of limestone originally formed below the sea. Erosion of the limestone has gouged vast canyons in the sides of the range and subsequent deposition of the eroded material along each side of the range had helped build up coastal plains. These have been modified over the ages by various processes such as wave action at times of higher sea levels and the formation of dunes made from wind-blown sand along the coast.

Two roads run from Learmonth-Exmouth Road into the range from the eastern side. Shothole canyon road winds along the bottom of shothole canyon while Charles Knife Road runs along a razor-back ridge head is at the end of the road. A five kilometre walking trail connects the two canyons. Camping is not permitted in this area.

The road from Exmouth around the end of the cape passes close to naval communication towers and Vlaming Head Lighthouse and continues down the western coast for the full length of the national park. Normally a sand bar covers the entrance to Yardie Creek, which can only be crossed by four-wheel drive vehicles. However, after a cyclone or heavy rains, the creek can sometimes open up to the ocean-making crossing impossible until the sand bar silts over again.