The Lyon River is a major tributary of the Gascoyne River in the Gascoyne Region of Western Australia. These rivers are perennial and are almost dry for much of the year but capable of handling massive flows when in flood. Heavy flooding usually occurs following cyclonic activity arising in the Timor Sea on Western Australia's Kimberly coast. The rock pools were an important water source for animals and people living in this arid area. The river was known as ‘Mithering’ to the local Malgaru aboriginal people. In 1858 explorer Francis Gregory named the river in honour of naval Admiral Sir Edward Lyon.

Explorer Francis Gregory named Mount Augustus after his brother and fellow explorer, Sir Augustus Gregory in 1858. For 20,000 years before that Mount Augustus was known to the local Wadjarri Aboriginal people as Burringurrah.  The Wadjarri people’s occupation of Burringurrah is evident by the engravings found on rock walls at the Mundee, Ooramboo and Beedoboondu sites. Burrigurrah is thought to be the world’s largest solitary monocline (an asymmetrical anticline), spectacularly rising 750metres above the surrounding plains.

Often during the 'cyclone season' in Western Australia, officially November to April, huge destructive electrical storms sweep across the Upper Gascoyne and Northern Goldfields regions of Western Australia. These spectacular storms produce flooding but unreliable rainfall and amazing, sometimes unbelievable, thundercloud formations.

South of Burringurrah (Mount Augustus) a series of peaks rise steeply from the ancient plains of the Gascoyne Region of Western Australia. Travelling South from Burringurrah these peaks are called Mount James, Mount Gascoyne, Mount Steere, Mount Puckford and Mount Dalgety is closest to the road.