Much of the Heysen Trail is currently closed due to the Fire Danger Season. The northern section will re-open in mid April. The Wild South Coast Way remains open. Read more
 | 2014 Southern Guidebook, 6th EditionOccassionally, 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. |
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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 is a temporary re-route
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
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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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When entering Morialta Conservation Park from Norton Summit:
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This temporary re-route has been restored to the original trail alignment
This reroute/closure has been removed – the trail through to Cudlee Creek was reopened in April 2021. However Grandpa’s camp remains closed.
Forestry SA has closed access to the Heysen Trail in the vicinity of Cudlee Creek, with the affected section shown on this exclusion zone map.
It covers sections of the following maps:
Heysen Trail Sheet Maps 2B & 2C and
Southern Guidebook Map 3.6.
The exclusion zone commences at the eastern exit of Montacute Conservation Park (Grid Ref 983 377) and concludes when the trail leaves Forestry property at Snake Gully Rd (GR 014 402).
All walkers are advised to avoid the area. Trail closure signs have been erected by Forestry SA.
Unfortunately the excluded area included Grandpa’s campsite. The campsite has been reopened and the rainwater tank replaced in late August 2021. Until there are good rains in the area walkers are advised to carry additional water if heading in this area.
Updated 29 Aug 2017: the temporary re-route has been removed, the trail has been restored to its original alignment, with a small re-route crossing North East Road. The Aug 2017 re-route has been suspended, please refer to the 2021 temporary re-route.
Following the January 2015 Sampson Flat Bushfire the Heysen Trail has been re-marked through the fireground, from Nugget Road to near Kersbrook. A temporary re-route is in place from Chain of Ponds to Kersbook.
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This re-route has been suspended, please refer to the 2021 temporary re-route. During the restoration of the Heysen Trail to the pre-Sampson Flat fireground route, the trail has been improved and re-routed where it crosses North East Road at Chain of Ponds.
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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 dangerous as the speed limit on the North East Rd is 100 km/h.
Please be extra cautious when crossing the road.
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The Heysen Trail has been re-routed in Mt Crawford forest in three places:
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[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.
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The Heysen Trail has been re-routed to take the trail into central Kapunda, to the newly constructed Kapunda Town Square (corner Main St and Crase St), and to be closer to bakeries, coffee shops, the camping ground and caravan park.
In July 2020 the route has been tweaked: heading north, the main trail continues along Cameron St, Branson Crescent and Crase St. An short alternative option is from Cameron St, along Mine St, then Whittaker St turning on to Crase St.
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