There is something wildly refreshing about hiking in the rain. Damp earth rises from the trail, moss turns impossibly green, and water tumbles over granite that was dry days earlier. The forest goes quiet, with only the rain pattering on your hood, and the occasional squeal from a boot finding a deeper-than-expected puddle.
A little rain doesn’t automatically cancel a hike, and sometimes, it creates the adventures we remember most. But wet weather does change the plan.
Wet weather changes the trail surface, water levels, visibility, temperature, access roads, and how fast a small problem can become a serious one. The goal isn’t to fear rain or blindly push through, it’s to understand what’s changed, prepare accordingly, and make a decision that suits the trail, the conditions and the people walking it.
Here’s how we think about hiking in the rain in Western Australia.
A passing shower on a well-maintained forest trail is very different from:
The little rain icon on a weather app doesn’t tell the whole story. Before deciding whether to hike, check the expected rainfall amount, timing, intensity and wind, not just the percentage chance of rain. Recent weather matters too: a light shower after a dry week is unremarkable, but the same shower can push already-saturated ground, high creeks and muddy access roads over the edge.
Granite becomes slippery. Many of WA’s best trails cross granite outcrops, slabs and steps. Wet granite, especially with algae, moss, mud or wet leaves—can be extremely slippery. Shorten your stride, slow down, place each foot deliberately, and never assume a rough-looking surface is grippy.
Creeks can rise quickly.
Winter rain brings waterfalls and creeks to life, but a crossing that was ankle-deep last visit may now be deeper, faster or unsafe. Never enter moving water if you’re unsure of its depth, speed or footing. “We’ve come this far” is not a reason to proceed—turning around is always valid.
Tracks become muddy, eroded or waterlogged.
Mud can hide holes, loose rocks and unstable edges; water can cut new channels through the track. Stay on the formed track rather than walking around mud, which widens the trail and damages vegetation. If the only way forward means trampling bushland, reconsider the route.
Visibility can disappear.
Low cloud, heavy rain and mist can hide markers, junctions and landmarks, making a familiar trail feel unrecognisable. Carry an offline map and know how to use it, don’t rely on reception or memory.
You cool down faster.
“Skin is waterproof” means a little wetness isn’t a disaster, it’s not permission to ignore body temperature. Wet clothing, wind and reduced activity cool the body fast, which matters if someone is injured, tired or resting. Skip cotton; pack quick-drying layers and a dry insulating layer sealed in a waterproof bag.
Access may change before the trail does.
The walk itself might be fine while the road to the trailhead isn’t. Heavy rain can close park roads or make unsealed roads unsuitable for 2WD. Never drive around a road-closed sign or into floodwater.
Checking one weather app is not enough. Use several official sources and consider the entire journey—from home to trailhead and back again.
1. Bureau of Meteorology
Check the Bureau of Meteorology for:
The free BOM Weather app provides forecasts, radar, rain notifications and official warnings. Check again on the morning of the hike because forecasts can change.
2. DBCA Park Alerts
Visit DBCA Park Alerts for park, road, trail and attraction closures or diversions. This includes alerts affecting major routes such as the Bibbulmun Track, Cape to Cape Track and Munda Biddi Trail.
No online alert overrides a sign or direction at the park. If a road, trail or recreation site is closed when you arrive, it is closed.
3. Emergency WA
Check Emergency WA for official warnings and incidents relating to storms, floods, bushfires and other hazards.
The Australian Warning System uses three levels:
Read the action statement attached to the warning and follow official directions.
4. Main Roads Travel Map
If your journey involves regional, remote or potentially flood-affected roads, check the Main Roads WA Travel Map. It provides current information about road conditions, incidents, closures and restrictions.
Local government websites may also publish closures for council-managed roads and reserves.
5. Trail-specific information
Check the relevant listing on Trails WA and information from the trail manager. Look for:
Social media posts and recent trip reports can provide useful observations, but they are not a substitute for official warnings and closures.
At OTBT, this is our risk-assessment routine—ask it before heading out solo or with a friend:
If the answers don’t leave you confident, pick another trail, shorten the route, or save it for another day. That’s not giving up—it’s good judgement.
The goal isn’t staying perfectly dry—on a longer, active hike that’s unrealistic. It’s staying warm, comfortable and able to handle changing conditions. Pack:
Skip the cheap disposable poncho in wind or technical terrain, loose material snags and restricts movement. Waterproof footwear helps, but water can still get in over the top; good tread matters more than staying bone dry.
A pack cover helps but shouldn’t be your only defence. Use dry bags, zip-locks or a pack liner for warm clothing, phone and power bank, first-aid supplies, emergency gear, medication, paper maps and food that must stay dry. Assume water will eventually find its way into anything unprotected.
A raincoat doesn’t make the original plan automatically suitable. In wet weather:
The best wet-weather trail may not be the one you originally planned.
Wet conditions make natural areas more vulnerable. Mud spreads dieback and other pathogens between locations—clean footwear, gaiters, poles, tyres and equipment before and after your hike, and use boot-cleaning stations where provided. Stay on marked trails, don’t cut switchbacks, and avoid walking around puddles through vegetation. If a track is too wet to use without damage, choose somewhere else. Sometimes caring for a trail means not walking it.
There’s no universal rainfall figure that makes every trail unsafe—it depends on location, terrain, recent conditions, forecast and group. Postpone or change plans when:
Or book a Hiking Experience with OTBT, and let us take care of the tough decisions!
Rain can offer some of WA’s most beautiful trail moments: waterfalls roar back to life, creeks chatter, the forest smells richer and familiar landscapes reveal a different personality. You may get damp, muddy, and have unforgettable hair beneath your hood. That’s all part of it.
The trick is knowing the difference between discomfort and danger. A little rain can be embraced. A warning, flooded crossing, closed road or unsafe trail should be respected.
Check the forecast. Check the alerts. Pack properly. Choose the right trail—and give yourself permission to change the plan.
Because skin is waterproof, and good hikers are adaptable.
