Month: August 2023

Big bold idea for Heysen Trail Northern Trailhead

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The Existing Northern Trailhead

Exciting news about a bold new proposal to enhance the Heysen Trail northern Trailhead!!

Do you remember the feeling as you started or completed the Heysen at the Parachilna Gorge trailhead?   Many have described the climb over that Trailhead stile as “underwhelming” – for such a grand occasion.

The new design – northbound view

In 2022, The Friends Council supported a proposal to investigate ways to give the 30+ year old Trailhead a makeover.

We envisaged a gateway offering a greater sense of significance and a place of arrival/launching for the 1200km Heysen achievement.

The Friends engaged Landscape Architects to work with The Friends and consult with local landholders, community organisations, and local Adnyamathanha representatives, about a suitable concept – a concept that The Friends Council has now endorsed.

After preliminary discussion with the Department for Environment & Water (DEW), The Friends are optimistic that the go ahead for the concept will be forthcoming.

The southbound view

The design concept, shown to the right, looks inspiring and will incorporate planting / landscaping.

A more detailed design package is available by clicking on this link: Heysen Trail Northern Trailhead.

We hope you’ll agree that it’s a worthwhile and very exciting project!

FOHT Website Review – Update

Members would be aware that The Friends Promotion: Membership & Marketing Standing Committee (PMM) has been canvassing views about the need to improve and modernize our website.  Consultation across the Friends Committees and a member survey have informed the assessment that it is time to generate a visually appealing website with simpler navigation.

PMM has now completed a tender process by engaging an experienced design and software team to provide The Friends with future design options.  PMM is aiming for completion in 2024.

Heysen Trail GPX files update for GPS: latest edition includes 9 reroutes

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This is a summary of the latest permanent reroutes of the Heysen Trail that have been undertaken by the Trail Development Committee in consultation with the Department of Environment & Water (DEW).

The reroutes have been added to the downloadable GPX file (version 4.4 released 7/8/2023) and the Interactive Map as displayed on Friends of the Heysen Trail website.

You can find instructions for downloading the updated file onto your GPS unit on the Maps & GPS page.

The following re-routes and updates have been added:

  1. Mapsheet 1A – Reroute around Tapanappa Campsite for the Wild South Coast Way
  2. Mapsheet 1A-1B – The Wild South Coast Way spur trail from Kings Beach to Victor Harbor
  3. Mapsheet 1C – Reroute at Robinson Hill/Jaggers Block, September 2022
  4. Mapsheet 1D – Reroute at Kyeema – exit off Woodgate Hill Rd, December 2022
  5. Mapsheet 1D and 2A – Reroute at Chookarloo Campground, Kuitpo Forest, January 2023
  6. Mapsheet 1D and 2A – Alternate Route at Knott Hill Plantation (Kuitpo Forest), April 2023
  7. Mapsheet 2D – Reroute at Old School House, Mt Crawford Forest, July 2023
  8. Mapsheet 4B – Realignment of the trail east of Mt Bryan, September 2022
  9. Mapsheet 8C – Yuluna realignment, Ikara Flinders Ranges National Park, April 2023

Please note the the revised gpx file does not include temporary reroutes such as :

  • Those frequently established around Forestry SA logging operations in the Kuitpo and Mt Crawford Forest reserves (Mapsheets 1D, 2A & 2D)
  • The Maryvale reroute, south of Hamilton (Mapsheet 3B)
  • The Goyder Windfarm reroute, east of Huppatz Hut (Mapsheet 3D

Walkers are advised to check the Heysen Trail Reroutes page before setting out on any walk to make sure you are aware of any recent trail changes.

The reroutes have also had a very minor impact on the Heysen Trail Distances.