The
Yandagooge Gap is a wide, rocky valley that runs through the rugged and remote Throssell Ranges in the
Rudall River National Park of Western Australia. This valley runs for approximately 5 kilometres in a south-westerly direction (roughly 236 degrees from the north eastern side) across the main range. On its south-western side, “
The Gap” is a wide low valley that is very hard to detect. As you move through the valley to the north east, it becomes increasingly narrower until it exits through a narrow, winding
gorge into the plains on the opposite flank of the range. The valley channels rainfall into the Yandagooge creek which flows north east out of the park boundary and into what is now the
Kintore Uranium Lease.
The gorge where the creek exits the range is situated in the shadow of
Darlsen Pinnacle.
The gap is hard to spot on the western side due to low
sandstone ridges largely obscuring the valley. At the north-eastern end,
the gorge supports several large ephemeral water holes. There is evidence of
rock art around these locations. The interior is extremely rugged and largely unexplored at this point. I have attempted Four expeditions into the area on ATV (quads) and foot. The latest in 2013 proved successful managing to negotiate a route through to
Darlsen Pinnacle on the northern side of
the gap. It is indeed spectacular country but its sheer ruggedness provides a barrier to exploration. Many major gorges feed water down from the high plains of the Throssells and into the Yandagooge. Many of these gorges also support seasonal water.
There are no roads into this area, it remains incredibly remote and very difficult to reach.