Best Maps for the Canning Stock Route

by Christopher O'Keeffe July 28, 2026

The Canning Stock Route is not a journey where one map should be expected to do everything. A complete mapping kit should combine a dedicated route map for the track beneath your wheels, a detailed guidebook for wells and camps, 1:250,000 topographic sheets for understanding the surrounding country, broader Western Australian mapping for the approach and return journey, and current digital information for permits, closures and conditions.

The Canning Stock Route crosses some of the most remote country in Australia.

Running for approximately 1,850 kilometres between Wiluna and Billiluna, with Halls Creek providing the northern road connection, it passes through the Gibson Desert, Little Sandy Desert and Great Sandy Desert.

Along the way are:

• more than 900 sand dunes

• the historic wells numbered from 1 to 51

• long sections without conventional services

• desert lakes and claypans

• spinifex plains

• rocky ranges

• isolated communities

• important Aboriginal cultural landscapes

• access tracks linking the route with the Talawana Track, Kidson Track and Tanami Road

This is not simply a long unsealed road.

It is a demanding desert expedition through Country with deep cultural significance, variable access, unreliable communications and few places where a navigational mistake can be corrected easily.

The strongest map kit therefore combines several levels of information:

1. a route-specific map for the Canning Stock Route itself;

2. a detailed guidebook for wells, camps, history and preparation;

3. the fourteen relevant 1:250,000 topographic sheets;

4. a regional desert map showing connecting tracks and alternative routes;

5. a Western Australia road map or atlas for the journey to and from the track;

6. a wall map for planning the complete expedition;

7. offline digital navigation, current permits, road reports and reliable remote communications.

Explore Mapworld’s complete collections of:

• Western Australia maps, atlases and guides

• Australia 1:250,000 Geoscience topographic maps

• Western Australia wall maps

Important access note — checked 28 July 2026: Halls Creek Tourism currently lists the Canning Stock Route as closed until further notice. Conditions and access arrangements can change. Before committing to travel, check the Canning Stock Route Permit System, the Shire of Wiluna, Halls Creek Tourism and the official Canning Stock Route journey-planning portal. A map or guidebook does not constitute permission to enter closed or restricted Country.

The Best Canning Stock Route Maps: Quick Recommendations

Purpose	Best place to begin
Best dedicated route map	Canning Stock Route Map – Westprint
Best detailed field guide	Canning Stock Route Guidebook – Westate
Best guide-and-map combination	Westate guidebook paired with the Westprint route map
Best map of the surrounding deserts	Great Desert Tracks Western Sheet – Hema
Best detailed terrain coverage	The fourteen relevant 1:250,000 topographic sheets
Best WA road and track atlas	Western Australia Road and 4WD Track Atlas – Hema
Best state-wide folded map	Western Australia State Map – Hema
Best physical wall map for planning	West Australia National Geographic Wall Map
Best practical WA road wall map	Western Australia 670 UBD Laminated Wall Map
Best navigation system	Paper maps, offline digital mapping, current official information and satellite communications

For a serious end-to-end expedition, the strongest starting combination is:

• Canning Stock Route Map – Westprint

• Canning Stock Route Guidebook – Westate

• the fourteen route-covering 1:250,000 topographic maps

• Great Desert Tracks Western Sheet – Hema

• Western Australia Road and 4WD Track Atlas – Hema

• downloaded offline mapping

• current permits and official condition reports

• reliable satellite communications

Why the Canning Stock Route Requires More Than One Map

Each type of map answers a different question.

The dedicated Westprint map answers:

• Where does the route go?

• Where are the wells, camps and access tracks?

• How do the main stages fit together?

• Where are the principal fuel and supply points?

The guidebook answers:

• What should travellers expect along each section?

• What is significant about each well?

• Where may suitable camps be found?

• What preparation, recovery and permit issues must be considered?

The topographic maps answer:

• What terrain surrounds the vehicle?

• Where are the dunes, ranges, drainage lines, lakes and rockholes?

• How does the route relate to the wider desert landscape?

• What geographical features may help confirm position?

The Hema desert map answers:

• How does the Canning connect with the Talawana Track, Kidson Track, Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road?

• What wider alternatives or approach routes exist?

• How does the stock route fit into Western Australia’s desert-track network?

The WA map or atlas answers:

• How will the expedition reach Wiluna or Halls Creek?

• Where are the major highways, towns and regional service centres?

• How does the Canning fit into the complete journey from home?

A wall map answers:

• How does the entire expedition fit together?

• Where should fuel, permit and resupply planning be concentrated?

• How does the route cross the state from the northern Goldfields towards the Kimberley?

No single product does all of these jobs equally well.

1. Canning Stock Route Map – Westprint

The Best Dedicated Map for the Canning Stock Route

The Canning Stock Route Map by Westprint is the natural starting point for an end-to-end journey.

Unlike a general Western Australia map, it concentrates on the route itself.

Its coverage includes:

• the full Canning Stock Route from Wiluna towards Billiluna and Halls Creek

• Wells 1–51

• Durba Springs

• Georgia Bore

• Kunawarritji

• minor desert tracks

• access roads

• campsites

• water points

• fuel and supply locations

• latitude and longitude references

• national parks and conservation areas

• practical permit and safety information

• historical and heritage notes

The map is produced at 1:1,000,000, where one centimetre represents approximately ten kilometres.

That scale is broad enough to show a long stage on one sheet while retaining the route-specific information that is usually absent from a conventional state road map.

Why Westprint Is So Useful

Westprint maps are particularly strong when the track itself is the destination.

The Canning Stock Route map does not merely show a line through the desert. It places the road in a practical expedition context, relating the route to wells, camps, communities, connecting tracks and historical sites.

That makes it useful:

• during initial route planning

• when dividing the journey into stages

• when discussing the route within a convoy

• as a quick reference inside the vehicle

• as a backup when electronic mapping becomes unavailable

• when understanding how a side track reconnects with the main route

Best For

Choose the Westprint map when:

• the Canning Stock Route is the centrepiece of the expedition

• the complete track must be visible in one mapping product

• well numbers and route waypoints matter

• camping and access information is required

• historical context adds value

• you want a dedicated paper reference independent of power or reception

2. Canning Stock Route Guidebook – Westate

The Best Detailed Companion Guide

The Canning Stock Route Guidebook by Westate is the ideal companion to the Westprint map.

Written by Canning Stock Route historian and experienced outback traveller Phil Bianchi OAM, the A5 guide contains 144 full-colour pages.

It includes:

• segmented coverage of the complete route

• track notes and route commentary

• information on the wells

• campsite recommendations

• historical background

• preparation checklists

• mechanical and recovery advice

• fuel and supply information

• permit guidance

• navigation and communications advice

The guidebook contains useful mapping, but it should not be treated as a substitute for a full route map.

Its great strength is explanation.

The Westprint map provides the geographical overview. The guidebook adds the practical and historical detail needed to understand what lies along the route.

Best For

Choose the guidebook when:

• you want detailed notes for individual stages

• the condition and significance of wells is important

• camp selection is being considered

• historical interpretation matters

• preparation and recovery advice is required

• the route map needs a detailed written companion

3. The Canning Stock Route 1:250,000 Topographic Maps

The Best Maps for Understanding the Country Around the Track

The complete Canning Stock Route crosses fourteen adjoining 1:250,000 topographic map sheets.

At 1:250,000:

• one centimetre on the map represents 2.5 kilometres on the ground

• each standard sheet covers roughly 150 kilometres east–west by 110 kilometres north–south

• terrain, drainage, tracks, lakes, ranges, vegetation and named features can be viewed across a broad region

These maps do not replace the dedicated Westprint map.

They serve a different purpose.

A route map is designed to follow the stock route. A topographic map reveals the country around it.

That wider terrain context becomes valuable when:

• confirming position against visible landforms

• understanding a major lake, range or drainage system

• studying an access track before departure

• viewing the country beyond the narrow route corridor

• planning fieldwork, research or emergency response

• maintaining an independent paper overview of the surrounding landscape

Browse the complete Australia 1:250,000 Geoscience topographic-map collection.

The Fourteen Relevant Topographic Sheets

The following sheets are arranged from south to north. Route descriptions are approximate planning guides; always confirm coverage against the current map index and your intended itinerary.

Order	Topographic sheet	Approximate role in route coverage
1	Wiluna SG51-09	Wiluna, Well 1 and the southern approach
2	Nabberu SG51-05	Early southern wells and the Nabberu country
3	Stanley SG51-06	A short section along the sheet’s north-western side
4	Trainor SG51-02	Piccaninny Bore and the route towards Well 15
5	Gunanya SF51-14	Well 16 country and the approach to the Talawana Track junction
6	Runton SF51-15	Talawana Track junction towards Well 25
7	Tabletop SF51-11	The central route between approximately Wells 25 and 32
8	Ural SF51-12	Well 32, Kunawarritji and the country towards Wardabunni Rockhole
9	Percival SF51-08	Wardabunni Rockhole, Lake Tobin and northern desert country
10	Dummer SF51-04	A short route section near the Gravity Lakes
11	Cornish SF52-01	Gravity Lakes towards Delivery Camp Waterhole
12	Mount Bannerman SE52-13	The Lake Gregory region and northern approach country
13	Billiluna SE52-14	Billiluna, Mindibungu and the connection with the Tanami Road
14	Gordon Downs SE52-10	The road connection from the Tanami Road towards Halls Creek

Do You Need All Fourteen Sheets?

For complete continuous topographic coverage between Wiluna and Halls Creek, the answer is yes.

Some sheets carry only a short part of the route, but omitting them creates gaps in the terrain record.

Travellers completing only one section can select the sheets relevant to that stage. End-to-end expeditions, professional field teams and anyone building a comprehensive paper backup should consider the full set.

Paper, Waterproof or Laminated?

Mapworld’s 1:250,000 topographic maps are available in practical field formats:

Paper

Paper is the lightest and most economical choice.

It is well suited to:

• pre-trip planning

• filing in route order

• marking notes in pencil

• carrying protected inside a map case

• building a complete fourteen-sheet set at the lowest cost

Waterproof

Waterproof mapping is the strongest field option when maps may be exposed to:

• dust

• damp equipment

• repeated folding

• dirty hands

• open-vehicle use

• difficult camp conditions

Laminated

Laminated sheets provide a durable, wipe-clean planning surface.

They are useful:

• on an expedition-planning wall

• across a large table

• in a support or operations vehicle

• for temporary notes with compatible markers or Map Dots

• for repeated professional reference

Paper and waterproof sheets are supplied folded by default, while laminated maps are normally supplied rolled.

For a full fourteen-map field set, waterproof maps provide the strongest balance of durability, portability and repeated use.

4. Great Desert Tracks Western Sheet – Hema

The Best Map for the Wider Western Desert Network

The Great Desert Tracks Western Sheet by Hema provides the broader regional context that a dedicated Canning map cannot.

Its coverage includes:

• Canning Stock Route

• Gunbarrel Highway

• Talawana Track

• Great Central Road

• Connie Sue Highway

• western Anne Beadell Highway

• David Carnegie Road

• Heather Highway

• surrounding desert regions and connecting tracks

This map becomes particularly valuable when the Canning is only one stage in a longer desert journey.

It helps travellers see how the route connects with:

• Wiluna

• Warburton

• Newman and the Pilbara

• the Great Central Road

• alternative east–west desert tracks

• approach and exit routes beyond the stock route itself

Westprint or Hema?

For the Canning Stock Route, this is not an either-or decision.

Choose the Westprint map for:

• individual wells

• route waypoints

• campsites

• access tracks

• heritage notes

• concentrated Canning information

Choose the Hema Great Desert Tracks Western Sheet for:

• the surrounding desert network

• alternative routes

• regional geography

• connections with other major outback tracks

• a longer multi-route expedition

Mapworld explores this difference in detail in Hema vs Westprint Maps: Which Outback Map Is Best?.

Best For

Choose the Hema Western Sheet when:

• the expedition extends beyond the Canning

• connecting desert tracks matter

• a broad regional view is needed

• the route is being approached from another remote corridor

• Hema and Westprint will be carried together

5. Western Australia Road and 4WD Track Atlas – Hema

The Best Atlas for the Complete Western Australian Journey

The Western Australia Road and 4WD Track Atlas by Hema provides comprehensive state coverage at approximately 1:250,000.

It includes:

• sealed and unsealed roads

• four-wheel-drive tracks

• remote access routes

• track classifications

• national parks

• camping information

• regional services

• fifty featured four-wheel-drive trips

• cross-references between route descriptions and atlas pages

The Canning Stock Route is one of the atlas’s featured four-wheel-drive journeys.

The atlas is not as concentrated as the Westprint route map and does not replace the fourteen full-size topographic sheets.

Its role is integration.

It brings the Canning into the wider Western Australian road and track network, making it especially useful for:

• the drive from Perth to Wiluna

• the return from Halls Creek

• linking the Canning with the Pilbara or Kimberley

• identifying regional service centres

• planning a longer Western Australian expedition

Best For

Choose the Hema WA atlas when:

• the journey begins a long way from Wiluna or Halls Creek

• the Canning forms part of a larger WA itinerary

• state-wide road and track detail is required

• an atlas format is easier to use inside the vehicle

• camping, parks and other four-wheel-drive routes are relevant

6. Western Australia State Map – Hema

The Best Folded State Overview

The Western Australia State Map by Hema is the simplest way to see how the Canning fits into the state as a whole.

It is useful for understanding:

• the distance from Perth to Wiluna

• the Great Northern Highway connection from Halls Creek

• relationships between the Goldfields, Pilbara and Kimberley

• alternative sealed-road return routes

• major towns and service centres

• the enormous scale of the complete journey

A state map is too general for navigating the stock route itself.

Its purpose is strategic planning before and after the desert section.

Best For

Choose the Hema state map when:

• you want one compact map of Western Australia

• approach and return routes are being planned

• the expedition will continue into the Pilbara or Kimberley

• major roads and regional distances matter

• the map kit needs an uncomplicated state-wide overview

Browse additional Western Australia maps, road atlases and regional guides.

7. Western Australia Wall Maps

The Best Maps for Planning the Entire Expedition at Home

A wall map is not carried for turn-by-turn navigation.

Its value appears before the vehicle leaves.

The Canning Stock Route is so long that a wall map helps the entire expedition become visible at once.

It provides space to mark:

• the drive to Wiluna

• the route north

• permit jurisdictions

• intended camps and rest days

• fuel and resupply points

• emergency contacts

• the exit through Billiluna

• the road to Halls Creek

• the return journey

West Australia National Geographic Wall Map

The West Australia National Geographic Wall Map is the strongest choice when physical geography and visual presentation matter.

Its shaded relief helps reveal the relationship between:

• desert regions

• ranges

• rivers and lakes

• the Kimberley

• the Pilbara

• the Goldfields

• the Western Australian coastline

It is available in paper, laminated and canvas editions, with large-format options suitable for planning rooms, offices and homes.

Western Australia 670 UBD Laminated Wall Map

The Western Australia 670 UBD Laminated Wall Map is a more road-focused planning reference.

Its laminated surface is particularly useful for:

• temporary route marking

• removable planning dots

• convoy briefings

• comparing approach and return routes

• repeated use in a four-wheel-drive club or operations room

Browse the complete Western Australia wall-map collection.

For a broader comparison, read Best Wall Maps of Western Australia.

Maps and Digital Navigation Should Work Together

Digital navigation is extremely useful on the Canning Stock Route.

It can provide:

• a moving position

• stored waypoints

• route logs

• offline satellite imagery

• downloadable track files

• recorded camps

• emergency coordinates

• current information obtained before departure

But electronic systems depend on:

• power

• functioning hardware

• intact cables and charging systems

• correctly downloaded offline data

• compatible software

• undamaged screens

• accurate waypoints

A paper map does not show a moving blue dot.

It does show:

• the wider route

• surrounding terrain

• alternative tracks

• relationships between wells and landforms

• the next several stages on one surface

• a permanent reference independent of reception and battery life

The strongest approach is not paper instead of digital.

It is paper and digital together.

Mapworld examines this principle further in GPS vs Paper Maps: Why Paper Maps Still Matter.

Permits, Closures and Respect for Country

The Canning Stock Route crosses Aboriginal homelands and culturally significant places.

Permits are not an administrative afterthought. They are part of travelling legally and respectfully through Country.

Before departure:

• obtain every permit required for the intended route

• check whether additional station, community or access permissions apply

• confirm that the route and all intended entry and exit tracks are open

• check current road and weather conditions

• respect closures and culturally restricted areas

• follow official camping and access directions

• avoid disturbing wells, artefacts, rock art and cultural sites

• do not assume historic wells provide safe or usable drinking water

The Canning Stock Route Permit System provides permit and planning resources.

The Shire of Wiluna directs travellers to current permit and condition information for the southern approach.

The official Canning Stock Route planning portal provides journey-planning information, including seasonal guidance.

For a richer understanding of the Aboriginal history, culture and art of the route, explore the National Museum of Australia’s Kaninjaku: Stories from the Canning Stock Route and Yiwarra Kuju Canning Stock Route collection.

How to Organise Fourteen Topographic Maps in the Vehicle

A full set is most useful when it can be found quickly.

Before departure:

1. arrange the sheets from south to north;

2. number them 1–14 in the order used in this article;

3. mark each sheet’s adjoining maps;

4. identify where the route enters and leaves each sheet;

5. place the active sheet in a waterproof map case;

6. keep the next sheet readily accessible;

7. store completed sheets separately;

8. maintain a second route overview using the Westprint or Hema map.

If travelling north to south, reverse the order.

Do not cut away map margins. Marginal information can contain:

• grid and coordinate information

• datum and projection details

• adjoining-sheet references

• scale information

• legends

• edition and currency notes

For a detailed explanation of scale, indexes and print formats, read How to Choose Topographic Maps for Western Australia.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best map for the Canning Stock Route?

The best dedicated route map is the Canning Stock Route Map by Westprint.

For an end-to-end expedition, pair it with the Westate Canning Stock Route Guidebook, the fourteen relevant 1:250,000 topographic sheets and the Hema Great Desert Tracks Western Sheet.

How many 1:250,000 topographic maps cover the complete route?

Fourteen sheets provide continuous topographic coverage from Wiluna to Halls Creek:

Wiluna, Nabberu, Stanley, Trainor, Gunanya, Runton, Tabletop, Ural, Percival, Dummer, Cornish, Mount Bannerman, Billiluna and Gordon Downs.

Do I need all fourteen topographic sheets?

Carry all fourteen if you want complete topographic coverage of the end-to-end route.

Travellers completing a shorter section may select only the relevant sheets, but should confirm their itinerary against the current topographic index before ordering.

Can the 1:250,000 maps replace the Westprint Canning map?

No.

The topographic sheets provide detailed terrain context, but the Westprint map is designed specifically around the route, wells, camps, access tracks, practical notes and historical information.

The two products complement one another.

Is the Hema Great Desert Tracks Western Sheet enough by itself?

It is an excellent regional overview, particularly when the journey includes other desert tracks.

It is not as concentrated on individual Canning wells, camps and route details as the Westprint map. Carry both when the Canning is the expedition’s principal objective.

Is the Canning Stock Route currently open?

At the time this article was prepared on 28 July 2026, Halls Creek Tourism listed the route as closed until further notice.

The status can change. Always check the Canning Stock Route Permit System, Halls Creek Tourism, the Shire of Wiluna and other relevant authorities before departure.

Do I need a permit?

Yes. Permits are required for parts of the route, and additional access arrangements may apply to particular approaches, communities or adjoining tracks.

Begin with the Canning Stock Route Permit System and confirm every permit required for your exact itinerary.

When is the normal travel season?

The official planning portal generally recommends travel between May and September, when temperatures are lower and wet-season conditions are less likely.

That is seasonal guidance, not confirmation that the route is open. Check current conditions and closures immediately before travel.

Can I rely on a phone or vehicle GPS?

Electronic navigation is valuable, but it should not be the only navigation system carried.

Download all mapping before departure, use equipment capable of operating without mobile reception, carry independent power and communications, and maintain a complete paper-map backup.

Are the historic wells reliable water sources?

Do not assume they are.

Well condition and water quality vary, and many wells are historic structures rather than dependable potable-water supplies. Carry adequate water and use only current, authoritative information when planning resupply.

Which topographic-map finish is best?

Waterproof maps are the strongest option for a complete portable field set.

Paper is economical and easy to annotate. Laminated maps are ideal for a planning wall, operations room or support vehicle where a wipe-clean surface is useful.

Related Mapworld Articles

Continue planning with:

• Best Maps for Remote Outback Travel — how Hema and Westprint complement one another beyond the bitumen;

• Hema vs Westprint Maps: Which Outback Map Is Best? — direct comparisons for the Canning and other major outback routes;

• Hema Maps Explained — an overview of Hema’s maps, atlases and adventure-mapping system;

• How to Choose Topographic Maps for Western Australia — WA scales, map indexes and field formats;

• How to Read a Topographic Map — contours, landforms, drainage and grid references;

• Australian Topographic Map Symbols Explained — how to interpret the features printed on Australian topo maps;

• GPS vs Paper Maps: Why Paper Maps Still Matter — why serious navigation combines paper and electronic systems;

• Best Wall Maps of Western Australia — choosing a WA map for planning, display, education or business;

• The Gibb River Road: A Pilgrimage Through the Kimberley’s Wild Cathedral — further inspiration for remote northern Western Australia.

Why Buy Canning Stock Route Maps from Mapworld?

The Canning Stock Route crosses several mapping categories.

A traveller may need:

• a Westprint route map

• a specialist guidebook

• Hema desert mapping

• fourteen topographic sheets

• a Western Australia road atlas

• a state road map

• a planning wall map

Mapworld brings these products together in one specialist range.

Mapworld can also supply topographic maps in:

• paper

• waterproof

• laminated

Wall maps are available in practical formats including:

• paper

• laminated

• canvas

• selected editions with timber hang rails

If you are unsure which topographic sheets match a partial itinerary, contact Mapworld before ordering.

Browse:

• Western Australia maps, atlases and guides

• Australia 1:250,000 Geoscience topographic maps

• Western Australia wall maps

Complete Canning Stock Route Map Directory

Dedicated Route Mapping

• Canning Stock Route Map – Westprint

• Canning Stock Route Guidebook – Westate

Regional and State Mapping

• Great Desert Tracks Western Sheet – Hema

• Western Australia Road and 4WD Track Atlas – Hema

• Western Australia State Map – Hema

• Western Australia maps, guides and atlases collection

Canning Stock Route 1:250,000 Topographic Maps

1. Wiluna SG51-09

2. Nabberu SG51-05

3. Stanley SG51-06

4. Trainor SG51-02

5. Gunanya SF51-14

6. Runton SF51-15

7. Tabletop SF51-11

8. Ural SF51-12

9. Percival SF51-08

10. Dummer SF51-04

11. Cornish SF52-01

12. Mount Bannerman SE52-13

13. Billiluna SE52-14

14. Gordon Downs SE52-10

Browse the complete Australia 1:250,000 topographic-map collection.

Planning Wall Maps

• West Australia National Geographic Wall Map

• Western Australia 670 UBD Laminated Wall Map

• Western Australia wall-map collection

Final Thoughts

The Canning Stock Route is not a journey where one map should be expected to do everything.

A complete mapping kit may combine:

• the Westprint Canning Stock Route map for the track beneath your wheels;

• the Westate guidebook for wells, camps, history and preparation;

• fourteen 1:250,000 topographic sheets for understanding the surrounding country;

• the Hema Great Desert Tracks Western Sheet for regional connections;

• a WA road atlas or state map for the approach and return journey;

• a Western Australia wall map for planning the entire expedition;

• offline digital navigation, current permits, condition reports and satellite communications.

The route map shows where the journey goes.

The guidebook explains what lies along it.

The topographic sheets reveal the country around it.

The regional map shows how the Canning connects with the wider desert.

The wall map reveals the scale of the undertaking.

Together, they form a navigation system worthy of one of Australia’s most remote and demanding journeys.

Written by Christopher O’Keeffe
Managing Director of Mapworld and specialist in maps, navigation and cartographic products.

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