How long and how hard is the Black Rock Loop?

It is a 7.8 km loop with about 428 m of climbing and a moderate grade, and most people take around two and a half hours. The recorder flags steep climbs, so expect some punchy pitches rather than a flat walk.

Black Rock is a well-known viewpoint on the ridge above Nai Harn, with a big panorama over Nai Harn Beach, the lake and toward Promthep Cape. This loop explores the jungle around and behind it, so it pairs naturally with a stop at the viewpoint.

When is the best time to hike it?

The drier months from November to April are best, when the steep pitches grip well and the overgrown section is easier to get through. Go in the morning for cooler air and the clearest views.

Where does the trail start?

It starts near Nai Harn Lake and the Black Rock area in Nai Harn, southern Phuket. Park near the lake and follow the GPS track, because the jungle junctions are not signposted.

Black Rock Loop: A Nai Harn Jungle Hike & GPS, Phuket

Q: Is the trail easy to follow?

Mostly. Parts follow old ultra-trail markers, but one short stretch around km 4.1 to 4.3, dropping onto the dirt road toward Black Rock, is heavily overgrown. Carry the GPS track: there is a workaround near km 3.9 heading south-west then north-west.

The Black Rock Loop is a scenic jungle hike in the hills above Nai Harn in southern Phuket, exploring the forest to the east and north of the well-known Black Rock viewpoint. It is a real, GPS-recorded 7.8 km loop that climbs from near Nai Harn Lake up through the jungle, following old markers left from an ultra trail race, with around 428 m of climbing and some genuinely steep pitches. If you want a Black Rock hike that goes beyond the standard viewpoint walk and into quiet forest, this is a rewarding half-morning out.

A nature loop for confident navigators. Parts of the route follow old ultra-trail markers, but one stretch (around km 4.1 to 4.3, dropping onto the dirt road toward Black Rock) is heavily overgrown. Carry the GPS track: there is a workaround near km 3.9 heading south-west then north-west if the main line is blocked.

Who the trail suits

The loop is graded moderate, with a "steep climbs" flag from the recorder.

Reasonably fit hikers who are happy to follow a GPS track and push through the odd overgrown patch will get a quiet, green loop with a famous viewpoint on the doorstep.
If you want something gentler nearby, the Hillside North of Nui Beach loop is an easier walk in the same corner of Phuket.

You can log your own time by category and compare on the leaderboard further down the page.

The route and terrain

The circuit starts near Nai Harn Lake and heads up into the hills toward Black Rock. In brief:

Steep climbs. The gain of around 428 m over 7.8 km comes in punchy pitches rather than one long grind, so expect some steep sections.
Jungle with old race markers. Much of the loop follows foot paths and dirt roads through shady forest, with occasional markers left over from a summer ultra-trail route.
One overgrown stretch. The short section around km 4.1 to 4.3, getting onto the dirt road toward Black Rock, is heavily overgrown. Use the GPS track and the km 3.9 workaround if needed.

It is a proper nature walk: quiet, shady and a world away from the busy Nai Harn beachfront just below.

The Black Rock viewpoint

Black Rock is one of the south's best-loved viewpoints, a rocky outcrop on the ridge above Nai Harn with a big panorama over Nai Harn Beach, the lake and out toward Promthep Cape. This loop explores the forest around and behind it, so it pairs naturally with a stop at the viewpoint itself for the classic photo over the bay.

Best time to hike the Black Rock Loop

November to April (drier months): the best window. The ground is firmer, the steep pitches grip better, and the overgrown section is a little easier to push through.
The green season: the jungle grows fast, so the faint and overgrown parts become harder going and the climbs get slippery.

Whenever you go, start early for cooler air and the clearest views, carry plenty of water, and check the live rain radar and forecast further down this page before you set out.

Navigation and safety

Carry the GPS track and an offline map. The forest canopy kills phone signal, and the overgrown stretch means you cannot always rely on a visible path.
Cover up. Long trousers and sleeves help against the overgrowth and mosquitoes on the shadier sections.
Water and sun: carry more than you think, as there is nothing to buy on the loop.
Turnaround plan: if the overgrown section near km 4.2 is impassable, use the km 3.9 workaround rather than forcing through.

How to get to the trailhead

The loop starts near Nai Harn Lake and the Black Rock area in Nai Harn, southern Phuket.

From Nai Harn or Rawai: about 5 to 10 minutes by car or scooter.
From Kata or Karon: roughly 20 to 25 minutes.
From Phuket Town: about 35 to 40 minutes.

Park near Nai Harn Lake and follow the GPS track from the start point on the map, because the jungle junctions are not signposted.

Nearby

This end of Phuket is full of easy add-ons: the Black Rock viewpoint itself, Nai Harn Beach, Nai Harn Lake, Promthep Cape (the island's famous sunset point) and the Windmill Viewpoint are all close by. For an easier walk on another day, the Hillside North of Nui Beach loop is just around the headland.

Riding it: enduro and off-road

The Black Rock hills are part of Phuket's enduro and ultra-trail playground. On a bike the loop is a punchy jungle ride with steep pitches and one heavily overgrown push (around km 4.2), so treat it as an adventurous ride, carry the GPS track, and use the km 3.9 workaround if the overgrown line is blocked.

Route from a GPS track recorded by the Wikiloc member 7/11 and shared on Wikiloc. Trail photos are representative Phuket coast and jungle.