The Heysen Trail is now closed for the Fire Danger Season! Read more
 | Mapsheet 1: Cape Jervis to Kuitpo Forest (Sept 2014)Occasionally, due to weather or maintenance issues, it is necessary to realign sections of the Heysen Trail. Minor reroutes, necessitated by such things as sand blowouts in coastal areas, protection of native vegetation, erosion control, or requests from landholders, are also frequently carried out. Harvesting operations in Kuitpo Forest: 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. |
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The Heysen Trail has been re-routed just west of Trig Campsite, through the campsite and down into Deep Creek waterfall. The new trail is a great improvement on the original trail, with a more gentle descent down to the waterfall. The trail crosses Tent Rock Road at the northern entrance to the campsite, with a new car parking area.
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This re-reoute applies to: Section 2: Cobbler Hill to Tapanappa
Some structural elements of the lower steps no longer reach the sand
The steps and viewing platform at Waitpinga Beach have been closed due to continued sand erosion.
Walkers should find alternative access directly across the sand dunes until the infrastructure has been renewed. DEWNR staff will continue to monitor the sand erosion and structure. We expect alternative arrangements will be put in place, including in the short term a marked route through the sand dunes.
Last August the lower steps were replaced with a dutch sand ladder, but this solution hasn’t worked and has since been removed. The entire structure has now been closed. Prior to approx 2012 there were two separate sets of stair structures, these were removed and replaced with a new single structure, which is the one now affected by erosion.
The viewing platform has been undermined
This re-reoute applies to: Section 4: Balquhidder to Waitpinga
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.
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This re-reoute applies to: Section 5: Waitpinga to Tugwell Road
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This minor re-route relates to the original September 2014 version of Map sheet 1 (Cape Jervis to Kuitpo).
When walking south-north, the re-route starts at the intersection of Prouse, Hancock and Keens Road following a fence line west behind a telephone tower to enter the Robinson Hill walk-in site.
Just prior to the tank and platform it turns north west, out of the campsite, down into and through a disused quarry, to cross Hancock Road and enters the Jaggers Forest, over a step-ladder stile.
It then follows the fence line of the forest, initially west, then north, then west again with a final northerly turn to exit the forest onto Roads Lane, over a stile.
The re-route avoids temporary reroutes through the the forest which may arise due to future logging operations.
This re-route was marked in early September 2022, which was just in time to be included in the new Edition 2 of Map sheet 1.
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This re-reoute applies to: Section 6: Tugwell Road to Inman Valley
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The Heysen Trail has been re-routed near Inman Valley. The trail now passes through farmland rather than beside the main bitumen road. Although the trail now bypasses the town of Inman Valley, the town and the cafe Inman Valley Country Kitchen are only a short walk from the trail.
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This re-reoute applies to these 2 sections:
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A 600m re-route up The Sugarloaf, north of Inman Valley. An improved realignment was marked in November 2020
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This re-reoute applies to: Section 7: Inman Valley to Myponga
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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.
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This re-reoute applies to: Section 9: Mt Compass to Kyeema
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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.
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This re-reoute applies to: Section 9: Mt Compass to Kyeema
View pdf map showing re-route
The Heysen Trail has been permanently re-routed through Kyeema Conservation Park, parallel to Woodgate Hill Road but completely within the Park boundary.
Northbound, it enters the Park through the gate at the junction of Woodgate Hill and Blackfellows Creek Roads (Mapsheet 1D and Southern Guidebook Map 2.8, Grid Ref 909 942). The new route runs along the southern boundary of the Park until it re-joins the main Trail at Grid Ref. 899 943, near the Kyeema car park.
This re-route greatly improves walker safety by eliminating the undulating walk along Woodgate Hill Rd. It also provides a much more enjoyable walk through the park.
Walkers should exercise caution when crossing Woodgate Hill Road near the junction with Blackfellows Creek Road.
We appreciate the assistance of the Parks SA Rangers who helped with the route selection and trail marking.
Download gpx file for loading onto your GPS unit.
This re-reoute applies to: Section 9: Mt Compass to Kyeema
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.
This re-reoute applies to these 2 sections:
View pdf map showing re-route
This is a minor but permanent re-route of the Trail near Chookarloo Campground at Kuitpo Forest.
The new route directs walkers away from the Kuitpo Tree Climb and associated car park. Northbound, it deviates from the Trail at the Avenues Picnic Ground (Mapsheet 2A & Southern Guidebook, Map 2.9 at Grid Ref. 916 015), runs parallel with Black Nursery Road for 200 metres before crossing the road. The new trail then enters the forest at GR 918 015. After a short meander through a dense eucalypt forest, it rejoins the Trail just to the north of the Tree Climb area.
The two hike-in campsites at Chookarloo have been closed, but the other 21 campsites in this campground are available for hikers.
Walkers should be aware of increased road traffic when crossing Black Nursery Road and should avoid entering the Tree Climb facility and walking under the high ropes course. There is now a cafe at the the facility and walkers are welcome to take a break and tarry a while at the cafe. Please walk around the high ropes apparatus when accessing the cafe.
Download gpx file for loading onto your GPS unit.
This re-reoute applies to: Section 10: Kyeema to Dashwood Gully
View pdf map showing re-route
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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Download gpx file for loading onto your GPS unit.
This re-reoute applies to: Section 10: Kyeema to Dashwood Gully
View pdf map showing re-route
Walkers now have the option of two routes through Knott Hill Plantation. The re-route affects both Mapsheets 1D & 2A.
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 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.
Download gpx file for loading onto your GPS unit.
This re-reoute applies to: Section 10: Kyeema to Dashwood Gully
