Heysen Trail

Heysen Trail closure dates over the 2025-2026 Fire Danger Season

Posted on

The Country Fire Service  (CFS) has now announced the dates for the 2025/26 Fire Danger Season.

Many sections of the Heysen Trail are closed during the Fire Danger Season. As the trail passes through several fire ban districts, the trail closures commence progressively from Saturday November 1st.

Flinders District Fire Danger Season began on 1st November.

The Flinders District covers the Heysen Trail north of Wirrabara.  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 will be closed from November 1st and is expected to re-open on April 16th 2026.

Mid North District Fire Ban Season began on 1st November.

The Mid North District includes the trail between north of Tanunda  and south of Wirrabara.
The Heysen Trail between these locations will close on November 1st and is expected to reopen on May 1st next year.

Mount Lofty Ranges Fire Ban Season will begin on 1st December

The Mount Lofty Ranges District extends from the start of the trail at Cape Jervis through to Tanunda.
The Heysen Trail in this section will close on December 1st and is expected to reopen on May 1st 2026.

As indicated above the Heysen Trail will reopen during April/May next year. The re-opening dates vary across the three Fire Ban Districts the Trail passes through.

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.

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. The Fire Districts are listed on the Fire Danger Season page and shown on the Interactive Map on the Friends website.

Heysen Trail Closure – Cudlee Creek

Posted on

Cudlee Creek Closure

The advice below is from the Department  for Environment & Water (DEW).

Please be advised that Section 15 of the Heysen Trail, specifically the segment between Union Bridge and Tippett Road in Cudlee Creek, is now closed. This closure is effective as of 5pm on Friday the 8th of August 2025 and will remain in place indefinitely.

DEW has been unable to secure access to this section of trail and a safe detour has not yet been established.

As this area is private land, hikers will not be permitted to enter and will need to use Gorge Road and Tippett Road through this section to rejoin the existing trail. Please take care walking on these roads.

We understand this may impact your plans and appreciate your understanding. DEW is actively working with the Friends of the Heysen Trail and other stakeholders to find a safe and sustainable solution. We will provide an update as soon as a resolution is found.

If you should gave any comments or questions  please contact the DEW State Trails Officer: Jarrah.bailey@sa.gov.au.

Heysen Trail GPX files update for GPS: version 4.9 issued 15/5/2025

Posted on

Latest update to the Heysen Trail gpx and Interactive Map

With the opening of the walk season upon us, we have updated the Heysen Trail gpx file to include all re-routes since the last version of the consolidated gpx file was released in February 2024.

The trail changes include five re-routes and a new spur trail:

  • Mapsheet 1D: Willowburn reroute of 1.1km which takes the trail along a series of fencelines on the Willowburn property.
  • Mapsheet 1D/2A: permanent re-route at Chookarloo Campsite, Kuitpo Forest.
  • Mapsheet 2B: a minor re-route of the trail through Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens.
  • Mapsheet 3B: a new spur trail trail north of Kapunda to a campsite and pub at Allendale North.
  • Mapsheet 4C: a re-route on Olive Road, Spalding East to get some of the Heysen Trail off of the main highway.
  • Mapsheet 5B: in August 2024 a re-route was created to get some of the Heysen Trail back on land it was previously on prior to May 2021.

The reroutes have been added to the downloadable GPX file (version 4.9 released 15/5/2025) 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 reroutes have had a very minor impact on the Heysen Trail Distances.

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

Improvements to the Walk Selector pages

Walkers are reminded that following recent improvements to our website,  the Heysen Trail Walk Selector pages now include:

  • Re-routes – all current re-routes (permanent and temporary) are listed for each of the 61 ‘day walk’ sections from Cape Jervis to Parachilna.
    Before before setting out on any walk, you should check the relevant Walk Selector page to make sure you are aware of any recent trail changes.
  • Vehicle access to End to End points – there are a limited number of ‘End to End’ start and finishing points that do not have close access to a public road.
    In those cases, the Walk Selector pages now include an advisory note to independent/through walkers wishing to get vehicle access to End to End points.

HEYSEN TRAIL – NORTHERN TRAILHEAD REJUVENATION

Posted on

CELEBRATE HEYSEN TRAIL – NORTHERN TRAILHEAD REJUVENATION

Monday 2 September, 2pm; Parachilna Gorge Road, near Blinman

Friends of Heysen Trail members & supporters are invited to help celebrate completion of the Northern Trailhead Rejuvenation Project.

It’s very exciting to see The Friends’ bold vision become reality, especially as it is the biggest project our volunteers have ever initiated and funded.

The tired old stile and fencing are gone; deteriorating platforms are replaced by stone yarning circles and a vibrant archway with stone steps herald the start or finish point.  Landscaping and clear parking bays transform the surrounds.

The celebration will officially open the Trailhead and unveil new signage and a plaque acknowledging the incredible support and donations that helped make this a reality.

Members please register your attendance via The Friends of Heysen Trail website walks & event program to help with catering. (Click here)

Heysen Trail closure – Northern Adelaide Hills – June 17th-30th 2024.

Posted on

An aerial pest animal control program will mean the closure of sections of the Heysen Trail in the Mount Lofty Ranges from Monday 17th June to Sunday 30th June, 2024. The program will include forestry reserves, reservoir reserves, conservation parks and private properties, over native scrub, plantations, and farmland in the areas around Millbrook Reservoir, Para Wirra, Mount Crawford Forest and Kaiserstuhl.

The Heysen Trail and Heysen huts will be closed from Pewsey Vale/Kaiserstuhl in the north (GR 170 727 on Mapsheet 2D, Southern Guide Map 4.3) , south to Scotts and as far south as Millbrook (GR 014 442 on Mapsheet 2C, Southern Guide Map 3.7).

This represents the southern part of section 18, the whole of sections 17 through 16 and the northern portion of section 15.

For further information contact Theo Goldsworthy of PIRSA at Theo.Goldsworthy-Hess@sa.gov.au or phone 0461 284 454.

You can find further information on the Forestry SA page.

Heysen Trail closure – Mid North – May 28th-June 2nd 2024.

Posted on

Caroona Creek Conservation Park :   www.visitburra.com

An aerial pest control program will mean the Caroona Creek Conservation Park (Including Caroona Creek Campground), Mimbara Conservation Park and Hopkins Creek Conservation Park will be closed from 6.00 pm Tuesday 28th May to 6.00 pm on Sunday 2nd June, 2024. The closure will also extend to surrounding private land.

The Heysen Trail from Gerkie Gap (GR 113 250 on Mapsheet 3C, Southern Guide Map 5.5) all the way to Dares Hill Summit Road (GR 188 017 on Mapsheet 4B, Southern Guide Map 6.6.) will therefore be closed
This represents the whole of sections 23 through 28 of the trail.

If you have any enquiries about the Park Closure  please contact the National Parks & Wildlife Service, Yorke & Mid North on (08) 8841 3400.

You can find further information on the Parks SA Alerts page.

Heysen Trail governance review consultation

Posted on

A  new governance model for the Heysen Trail

The Heysen Trail is managed by a partnership comprising the Department of Environment and Water, the Friends of the Heysen Trail, ForestrySA, and SAWater.

As foreshadowed by the Heysen Trail 5 Year Plan, work has started to develop a best-practice governance model to give the Heysen Trail a continuing and successful future.

If you are a landowner or other stakeholder along the Trail please read this flier about consultation that will take place in the near future. We would love to have your input.

Neil Hendry,
President,
Friends of the Heysen Trail

BIG BOLD NORTHERN TRAILHEAD

Posted on

The current trailhead

The proposed trailhead

Change is coming to the Heysen Northern Trailhead!

Work will commence in early May.

The Friends of Heysen Trail initiated a rejuvenation of the now tired Trailhead that’s helped hikers cross the line for more than 30 years.

The new design will enhance the sense of starting or completing the 1200km adventure.
Read the full article in the latest Trailwalker. (Click here.)

This benefits everyone, whether you are new to the Trail or a long-term hiker & supporter.
Anyone who has or will enjoy the Trail is encouraged to donate to this exciting project. (Click here.)

Heysen Trail re-opens with end of Fire Danger Season

Posted on

The entire length of the Heysen Trail has now re-opened following the conclusion of the Fire Danger Season in the Mount Lofty Ranges and Mid North Fire Ban Districts.

The northern half of the trail, from Wirrabara, reopened on April 15 following the conclusion of the Fire Ban Season in the Flinders Ranges Fire Ban District.

The entire length will remain open until November 2024 when the Fire Danger Season is expected to begin.

View more information about how the Fire Danger Season affects the Heysen Trail.

View the CFS media release confirming the conclusion of the Fire Danger Season.