Permanent Re-Route of Heysen Trail at Chookarloo Campsite, Kuitpo Forest.
A short (500m) permanent re-route has been installed for walkers bypassing the Chookarloo Campsite at Kuitpo Forest.
This re-route is an amendment to the re-route originally published in 2023. It removes the need for walkers to use the narrow walkway against the highway bridge opposite the campsite entrance.
Northbound walkers leaving the eucalypt plantation surrounding the Kuitpo Tree Climb at Mapsheet 2A (GR 919019) will now follow the northern edge of this plantation westwards to the boundary fence. Walkers will then cross Brookman Road via a step-over before heading north towards the pedestrian gate at GR 918020 and rejoining the Trail.
This re-route will provide walkers with a clear view of approaching traffic and greatly improve walker safety.
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In August 2024 a re-route was created to get some of the Heysen Trail off of the main highway. The re-route follows Olives Road and Deep Creek Road.
A minor 1.1 km reroute which takes the trail along a series of fencelines on the Willowburn property.
This reroute has been effected to allow the farmer to sow crops on several paddocks without interference from walkers.
ForestrySA operations in Kuitpo Forest will impact the Heysen Trail into the foreseeable future.
Walkers in this forest may encounter closed plantation blocks as harvesting operations are undertaken. The presence of heavy machinery and falling trees makes it highly dangerous, and heavy trucks using the haul roads add to the risk. Walkers must not enter the harvesting areas under any circumstance (penalties apply).
ForestrySA Rangers and Friends of the Heysen Trail volunteers will ensure that safe reroutes are in place and are clearly marked. Walkers should follow the marked reroute trail until the new track rejoins the Heysen Trail. Reroute signs will be placed at the start and finish of the reroute. From time to time, it will be necessary to reroute the Trail along public roads. Walkers are advised to take extra care on public roads, to always walk on the right, facing traffic and to always walk in single file.
Forestry SA has advised that commencing in early October 2023, logging operations will be undertaken in Dewells block of the Mt Crawford Forest.
The reroute is depicted by the bold red line in the attached map pdf.
For walkers heading northbound, the reroute heads north along Warren Road, following the fence line until it crosses Cricks Mill Road and enters Mount Road. It follows Mount Road, past the access to Fromms Farm, and turns east at Grid Reference 131 564. It then ascends up Little Mount Crawford, where it rejoins the Trail.
Due to the short notice given to us, we do not have a gpx file of the reroute.
Forestry have installed ‘No Access Logging Operations’ signs at the beginning and end of the reroute and reroute markers along the new route.
The logging operations are expected to take 6-8 weeks.
A recent addition to the trail in the Mount Magnificent Conservation Park has created a loop allowing walkers easier access to the summit of Mt Magnificent. The 3.5 km loop follows the Parks SA ‘Mount Magnificent Loop Trail’.
The GPX file was updated on 6th February 2024 to a more accurate route line.
Prior to the change, north bound walkers were able to access the summit by taking the spur 500 metres west of the Mt Magnificent Rd. This old spur is remains in place.
To create the loop, Parks rangers marked a second (eastern) spur approximately 100 metres west of the park entrance off Mt Magnificent Rd. In addition to being marked as the Mt Magnificent Loop, this part of the trail also has the traditional red coloured Heysen Trail arrows.
Walkers heading in a south- north bound direction will take the new spur trail to the south. This part of the loop heads south gradually getting closer to the road before turning west to join the original spur just below the summit. The short but steep climb to the summit (380 metres above sea level) affords a magnificent view!
Walkers then return to the trail proper by turning around to descend to the the loop and this time following the old spur trail north.
Walkers not intending to do the loop walk have the option of the shorter east to west section of the original trail. This 500 metre section of the trail is now marked with black arrows as an alternative Heysen Trail route.
A new reroute has been established near the Bundaleer Reservoir. The reroute crosses into SA Water land on the southern side of the channel opposite the crossing of the Spalding-Gulnare Rd where the Heysen Trail follows the channel from Spalding.
Walking from south to north, the re-route proceeds directly across the Gulnare-Spalding Rd from the channel (Grid Ref 716 938) and crosses a stile next to the SA Water entrance gate. The trail follows a track for 100 m to a ford then directly up the hill to a stile that crosses into SA Water land.
Once in the SA Water land the trail crosses to the Ring Rd around the reservoir and follows this road across the dam wall and around to the Reservoir Car Park/Toilet at the North-Western corner of the reservoir (Grid Ref 710 958).
The trail leaves the car park on the western side and after 50 m crosses a stile into private property, (the trail follows the northern channel but NOT in the fenced off channel land). The trail then follows the fence within the private property until it reaches the Aquaduct where it crosses a stile and meets up with the existing trail (at Grid Ref 706 969) and follows the existing trail north.
New End to End walk start point. The Reservoir car park is now the end point for End to End Walk 33 and the start point for Walk 34. The E2E point has been moved from the Chlorinator, as the trail no longer passes that feature.
As part of the development of the Wild South Coast Way on the Heysen Trail the Kings Head Hike spur trail into Victor Harbor has been waymarked. The trail branches off the main Heysen Trail at Kings Beach and heads to Kent Reserve, Victor Harbor.
A minor 2km re-route away from the road at Tapanappa, and a spur trail from Tapanappa into the Yapari Ngawanthi/Cliffs ‘walk-in’ site.
Due to forestry operations the Heysen Trail has been re-routed near the Old School House in Mt Crawford Forest.