The Country Fire Service (CFS) has now announced the full set of dates for the 2020/21 Fire Danger Season.
Mount Lofty Ranges Fire Ban Season to commence on 1st December 2020
The fire danger season for the Mt Lofty District (that is the trail south of Tanunda) will commence on 1st December and continue through until midnight on 30th April 2021.
Closure of the Heysen Trail over the Fire Danger Season
The Heysen Trail is closed during the Fire Danger Season. As the trail passes through several fire ban districts, the closure dates vary depending on the region that the trail passes through.
Flinders District Fire Danger Season commenced on 1st November 2020.
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 is now closed until April 15th 2021.
Mid North District Fire Ban Season to start on Sunday 15th November 2020.
The Mid North District includes the trail north of Tanunda and south of Wirrabara. The Heysen Trail between these locations will close on 15th November 2020 and reopen on 30th April 2021.
As indicated above the Heysen Trail will reopen during April/May 2021.
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. You will find the Fire Districts listed on the Fire Danger Season page and shown on the Interactive Map on the Friends website.