Starting from the car park at the end of Frenchman Peak Road, Cape Le Grand, this walk leads to the summit of Frenchman Peak and back via the Frenchman Peak Trail. In the southwest corner of Cape Le Grand National Park, massive rocky outcrops of granite and gneiss form an impressive chain of peaks including Mount Le Grand (345m), Frenchman Peak (262m) and Mississippi Hill (180m). From the car park, the trail skirts around Frenchman Peak through the surrounding heathlands, at one point crossing a wooden bridge over an ephemeral creek. After passing a boardwalk section, the trail continues over granite terrain, initially following low outcrops of only gentle steepness. The route is guided by a series of markers bolted into the terrain. Passing through a small pocket of heathlands, the steepness of the trail increases dramatically. However, natural indentations in the rock create an informal series of steps that make it slightly easier to walk up. Just below the summit is an interesting cave. The said cave is remarkably large and features a massive cairn within it, and the coastline views are framed perfectly by the cave roof. After passing the cave, the final stretch up to the summit is a moderate ascent with some easy scrambling. From the summit, walkers are rewarded with spectacular 360° views of the park, the entire coastline from Rossiter Bay to Le Grand Beach, and the islands in the Recherche Archipelago. The return journey follows the same route as it does heading up. Trekking poles may help with balance on the way back down the granite peak. The trail consists of gravel paths, granite and boardwalks. This walk is not recommended in wet or windy weather as the rock can become extremely slippery. Warm clothes are recommended if it's a cold day because the summit can be quite windy, especially during the winter months. The achievable challenge of climbing up the granite slope, the massive cave and the spectacular panoramic views of the Cape to Grand coastline make this an excellent short mountain walk in Cape Le Grand National Park. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

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