Month: November 2019

Heysen Trail closing early due to 2019-2020 Fire Danger Season being brought forward

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The SA Country Fire Service (CFS) has declared the Fire Danger Season will start early in the Mt Lofty Ranges, Mid North and Flinders Fire Ban Districts.

Update April 2020: the Fire Danger Season dates will end as normal (between 15 and 30 April 2020.)

This means that access to most sections of the Heysen Trail have closed to walkers earlier than expected. A dry winter and increased temperatures for spring has brought the fire season forward in these areas.

Mt Lofty Ranges Fire Ban Season commences on 15 November 2019 and ends on 30 April 2020

The Mt Lofty Ranges District includes the trail between Cape Jervis and Tanunda. The Heysen Trail between these locations will close on November 15, 2019 and will reopen on April 30, 2020.

Mid North District Fire Ban Season commenced on 1 November 2019 and ends on 30 April 2020

The Mid North District includes the trail between north of Tanunda and south of Wirrabara. The Heysen Trail between these locations closed on November 1, 2019 will reopen on April 30, 2020.

Flinders District Fire Danger Season commenced on 21 October 2019 and ends on 15 April 2020

The Flinders District covers the Heysen Trail north of Wirrabara (near Laura). The trail in this section includes Melrose, Wilmington, Quorn, Hawker, Wilpena Pound, the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park through to the northern end of the trail at Parachilna Gorge. This section of the trail closed on October 21, 2019 and will reopen on April 15, 2020.

Some sections of the trail remain open over the Fire Danger Season

During the declared fire danger season some sections of the Heysen Trail remain open to walkers. They are principally the sections of the trail that are not on private land. These include public roads, Conservation Parks and Reserves, Forests and vacant land. You can read more about the sections of the trail that you may walk on our Fire Danger Season page.

Please note that Conservation Parks and Reserves and Forests are closed on days of Total Fire Ban. The CFS publishes these bans, as does the Bureau of Meteorology. In addition, the media also broadcast weather reports including fire ban information.

If you want to walk on the trail, check which Fire District you will be in. Details of the Fire Ban Districts can be found Interactive Map on the Friends website.

We strongly advise you to respect the rights of landholders. Please restrict any activity which may increase the risk of fire in this period.

Our Twilight Walks Have Commenced

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As the walking season has come to a close, the arrival of warmer evenings and daylight saving has heralded the beginning of our Twilight Walks. There is a 1.5-2 hour walk on most Wednesday or Thursday nights until March.

The full programme is listed on our walk calendar but here are the details for the next four walks:

Wed 27th November 6pm: Semaphore South

A 10km walk taking in what we hope will be a stunning sunset.

View Walk

Thursday 5th December 6pm: The Pat

Details to be advised.

View Walk

Wed 11th December 6pm: Anstey’s Hill

An evening walk around Anstey’s Hill Recreation Park. We will be on the look out for local wildlife.

View Walk

Wed 18th December 6pm: Brownhill Creek

A walk up to McElligotts quarry to enjoy some great views then a descent to the start of the Brownhill Creek Recreation Park. We will follow the creek, either on tracks or road and hopefully see some wildlife along the way, along with some of the great work in re-vegetation and clearing done by Friends of Brownhill Creek.

View Walk

Golden Boots passes are accepted for Twilight walks

Walk fees are $5.00 ($1.00 for walkers under 18 years of age). Remember that Golden Boots passes are accepted for Twilight walks.

Register online or via the office

If you don’t have a Golden Boots pass, you can purchase one when you register for the walk. Just click on the Golden Boots pass payment option.

Further details of our walks and walker registration can be found on our website at heysentrail.asn.au/walks