Standley Chasm (Angkerle Atwatye)

The local Arrernte people own and operate Standley Chasm, and there’s a charge to visit the site. The main attraction is the 0.75-mile (1.2-kilometer) self-guided walk that follows the creek bed through the gorge amid ghost gums and cycads. Longer hikes in the area include the 6-mile (9-kilometer) round-trip to Bridle Path Lookout and the 14-mile (23-kilometer) Standley Chasm High Route Loop.

Unless you’re walking the Larapinta Trail, you’ll likely visit Standley Chasm from Alice Springs: it’s a popular stop on West MacDonnell Ranges day or half-day trips. There are also various cultural tour options, including Aboriginal art workshops and cultural awareness training.

• Standley Chasm is a must for photographers and nature lovers.

• The site has camping, barbecues, bathrooms, picnic tables, a gift shop, and a simple café.

• The Red Centre can be extremely hot in summer. Bring sunscreen, a hat, and a full, refillable water bottle.

• The round-trip trail to the Chasm is wheelchair-accessible but has some inclines.

Standley Chasm lies about 30 miles (50 kilometers) west of Alice Springs, off Larapinta Drive. There’s no public transit, so your only options are joining a tour or self-driving: you can access the site in a regular 2WD, and a 4WD is not required.

Standley Chasm is open 8am–5pm Monday through Saturday and 8am–2pm on Sundays: it closes on Dec. 25, Dec. 26, and Jan. 1. In summer (December–February), temperatures can soar as high as 104°F (40°C): visit early in the morning to beat the heat.

Photographers love the West MacDonnell Ranges with red rock gorges and reflecting waterholes. Besides Standley Chasm, other great photo locations include Simpsons Gap, a canyon with pools; Ormiston Gorge, with a magical gum-shaded waterhole; Ellery Creek Big Hole, a large waterhole framed by red rock; and Redbank Gorge, a dramatic chasm accessible only by 4WD.