Re-Routes of the Heysen Trail

Mapsheet 2: Kuitpo Forest to Tanunda (Sept 2014)

Occassionally, 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.

Logging operations in forests can sometimes necessitate the rerouting of the Trail. These reroutes often have to be done at short notice, and it is important to follow these reroutes, as it is dangerous to walk in areas where logging operations are in progress.

1. Mapsheet 1D and 2A: Re-route at Chookarloo Campground, Kuitpo Forest, January 2023

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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

2. Mapsheet 1D and 2A: Alternate Route at Knott Hill Plantation (Kuitpo Forest ), April 2023

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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.

Download gpx file for loading onto your GPS unit

3. Mapsheet 2A: Kuitpo – Jupiter Creek temporary re-route, June 2022

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This is a temporary re-route

View pdf map showing re-route

This reroute is in the Jupiter Creek Plantation on Mapsheet 2A and Southern Guidebook Map 3.1.

It follows the eastern edge of the plantation along Pocock Road from the intersection with Bassham Road (Grid Reference 955 107) until the car park at GR 953 117. It then follows the northern edge of the forest until it reconnects with the Trail at GR 947 120.

Walkers should take care not to enter the logging area shown on the map and to beware of logging trucks using the haul roads to Pocock Road.

Logging operations are due to recommence in July/August 2023, so this reroute will remain in place until further notice.

5. Mapsheet 2C: Error in Grid Reference (Eastings), September 2014

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Please note that there is printing error on Mapsheet 2C of the 2014 version of the mapsheet.

The grid references (Eastings) on the bottom are incorrect, so those on the top part of the map should be used.
The Eastings on the bottom half of the map are displaced by 1 km between  980 and  700.

As an example, the true grid reference for Grandpas Campsite, (south of Cudlee Creek township)  is 019 395. The Eastings on the top of the map show this correctly, however  the bottom reading is 009 395 (incorrect).

6. Mapsheet 2C: Reroute of the Heysen Trail near Chain of Ponds where it crosses North East Road, Early 2021

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This re-route was marked in early 2021 to allow for a roadwork upgrade of the junction of North East Road and South Para Road.
It was expected to be a temporary change until the roadworks were completed in June 2021.

The route shown in purple is the Heysen Trail in Chain of Ponds crossing North East Road.

UPDATE December 2021. Due to land access issues related to SA Water property, the trail has not returned to the original route. Further options are being investigated.

CAUTION: The re-routed trail now crosses North East Rd about 50 metres from the crest of a hill which makes for a dangerous road crossing. This is a dangerous crossing as the speed limit on the Chain of Ponds Rd is 100 km/h.
Please be extra cautious when crossing the road.

Download gpx file for loading onto your GPS unit

7. Mapsheet 2D: Reroute at Dewells Block, Mt Crawford Forest, October 2023

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This is a temporary re-route

View pdf map showing re-route

Forestry SA has advised that commencing in early October 2023, logging operations will be undertaken in Dewells block of the Mt Crawford Forest.

The reroute is depicted by the bold red line in the attached map pdf.

For walkers heading northbound, the reroute heads north along Warren Road, following the fence line until it crosses Cricks Mill Road and enters Mount Road. It follows Mount Road, past the access to Fromms Farm, and turns east at Grid Reference 131 564. It then ascends up  Little Mount Crawford, where it rejoins the Trail.

Due to the short notice given to us, we do not have a gpx file of the reroute.

Forestry have installed ‘No Access Logging Operations’ signs at the beginning and end of the reroute and reroute markers along the new route.

The logging operations are expected to take 6-8 weeks.

8. Mapsheet 2D: Reroutes in Mt Crawford forest, August 2020

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The Heysen Trail has been re-routed in Mt Crawford forest in three places:

  1. The main trail (which is the route along the southern then eastern side) has been re-routed off of Chalks Road
  2. The alternative trail (which is the route along the north-western side) has been re-routed via Warren Reservoir to Centennial Drive
  3. When the South Para River water level is high, avoid the main trail crossing (marked #3, upstream to the east) and walk 900m downstream to cross the river on the Mount Rd bridge (marked #4, downstream to the west)

Download gpx file for loading onto your GPS unit

10. Mapsheet 2D: Re-Route returning the trail to Tower Hill, avoid closed Freemans Hut, and Re-Route near Mt Crawford Summit, April 2016 (updated May 2018, updated November 2021)

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  1. Freemans Hut on the Heysen Trail near Mt Crawford has been closed due to a land sale, and the trail re-routed to continue north along the Wirra Wirra Peaks ridge line.

    [update May 2018] The trail has been re-routed away from Tower Road, to the east to follow Wirra Wirra Road to the north to meet Corryton Road.

    [update November 2021] Following successful negotiations with landholders in the area, the Heysen Trail has returned to the route initially adopted in 2016 following the closure of the trail to Freemans Hut.

    After the descent from the Wirra Wirra peaks, the trail again follows Tower Road in a northerly direction for a kilometre. It then crosses a fence into private property. The trail follows the fenceline for another kilometre before reaching the summit of Tower Hill, which affords spectacular views in all directions.

    The trail continues along the fenceline until reaching the Ross Fire Track where it turns in an easterly direction along an unmade road reserve. This section of the trail continues until it leaves the road reserve at the junction of Wirra Wirra, Trial Hill and Corryton Park Roads.

  2. [update May 2018] The Heysen Trail climbs over the summit of Mt Crawford. There is now a river crossing on stepping stones near the base of the summit. When river water levels are high, use the route west over the road bridge.

Download gpx file for loading onto your GPS unit