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’.
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 SAWater 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 SAWater entrance gate. The trail follows a track for 100 m to a ford then directly up the hill to a stile that crosses into SAWater land.
Once in the SAWater 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.
A temporary re-route has been marked on the Heysen Trail just south of Hamilton. The affected section of the trail is shown on Heysen Trail Mapsheet 3B..
The re-route has been established to address landholder concerns about walker access to farming property.
For walkers northbound, after exiting a property at grid reference 046 059, the trail now turns left onto Allen Creek Road and continues to the junction with Marrabel Road.
Again the trail turns left and follows Marrabel Road for approx 1.5 kilometres. Walkers are advised to walk on the gravel verge and take extreme care on this section of road.
The trail then turns left and follows Taylors Run Rd before turning right (northwards) onto Hydedale Rd. After 2 kms the re-route rejoins the original trail on Cornvale Road at grid reference 033 100.
Walkers now have the option of two routes through Knott Hill Plantation. The re-route affects both Mapsheets 1D & 2A.
The original route via Knott Hill planation
Following the completion of a logging operation commenced in September 2021, the original trail has been restored.
This route heads westwards along Wicks Road before heading northwards towards Stagecoach Lane (6km).
The new optional route following sections of the Onkeeta & Willunga Basin Trail
The new route involves a walk further to the east.
It departs the main Trail at grid reference 898 027 and follows the Onkeeta and Willunga Basin Trails northward. It skirts along the eastern side of the forest before rejoining the main trail on Stagecoach Lane at grid reference 904 054. The distance for this option is 3.5 kms
This additional route is designed to avoid sections of the Knott Hill plantation which may be logged from time to time.
It is marked as an alternative route, and will remain available in the event of future logging operations nearby.
A temporary re-route has been marked north of Huppatz Hut to avoid construction works associated with the Goyder Wind Farm.
The section of the trail affected by the re-route is shown on Heysen Trail Mapsheet 3D.
The existing trail heads east from Huppatz Hut before the re-route diverts walkers from the trail at grid reference 089 509.
The re-route heads due north contouring up the ridge, before a switchback at grid reference 089 514 that brings you to the summit.
The new route crosses the construction road and then heads east adjoining the old trail over a new stile at grid reference 092 514.
While classified as a temporary re-route, we expect that it may be in place for 18-24 months.
The Heysen Trail east of Aroona ruins has been realigned to follow the northern section of the Yuluna loop walk trail.
The re-route relates to both the August 2015 and the November 2020 editions of Mapsheet 8C.
Although this is a relatively small change, (a distance of 2.6 kms) the walk is improved as follows the Yuluna hike and therefore avoids a section of the Bulls Creek Track.
We do not have a map of the reroute at this stage.
ForestrySA has advised that extensive logging operations in the Bells Gully area, will impact on walker safety on the Heysen Trail.
There is now a re-route between Kyeema Conservation Park and Brookman-Connor Road.
The re-route affects both the original version (September 2014) and the September 2022 (version 2) of Mapsheet 1D.
An expansion of the logging operations area in late April has resulted in an major change to the trail. This has required a re-route to the east, adding a further 2km to this section.
Walkers (northbound) will deviate from the trail at grid reference 900 962. The re-route follows forest break tracks eastward to Blackfellows Creek Road. From there the new trail will head northwards to the junction with Brookman-Connor Road at grid reference 914 968. The trail then heads westwards along Brookman-Connor Road until it re-joins the trail near the car park at grid reference 903 968.
Walkers take care
Walkers must not enter the closed logging areas at any time and are advised to take great care of heavy logging vehicles when crossing and walking along Brookman-Connor Road.
This re-route will remain in place for several months.