1) Walk map - Shows route and waypoint locations

2) Photo from walk  (also see Photo Galleries)

3) 3D map view

4) Satellite imagery

5) Route profile

6) Walk description

7) Waypoint listing and grid references

[Click on map for full page version]

View to granite dome of Boonerring Hill,

 from outcrop 700m NW,   Aug. 2007.

[Click on photo for larger version]

More photos.

Click here

for Google Maps image

of the walk area. -Use zoom bar

for road details.

Step 1: Left Click here

For fly-in to waypoints and route on image of the walk area.

Or Right Click to

 "Save Target/Link As..."  kml file.

Step 2: Left Click here

For fly-in to 3D view

 of the walk area.

Or Right Click to

 "Save Target/Link As..."  kml file.

Hint: For enhanced 3D effect, set 'Elevation Exaggeration'

in Google Earth to "3" (via 'Tools' menu, 'Options' & 'View' tab).

       Route profile

57 kms SE of Armadale along Albany Highway.   

20 field kms  (45% off-track);

or 18 kms alternative (70% off-track).

MEDIUM   (What does this mean?)

380m main route (via Boonerring Spring)

also 380m on alternative route.

PREFERABLE for off-track sections, especially alternative route. Alternatively, simple map & compass navigation skills should be adequate.

See Google Map for start point on road map.

(Use zoom ladder for detail. Select 'Hybrid' to add satellite imagery.)

Continue down Albany Highway to Serpentine River crossing, which is 7.5 kms before  the North Bannister Roadhouse (and before North Bannister-Wandering Rd turnoff).  Turn off onto minor vehicle track (Summer Track) on right hand side just after the Serpentine River crossing.  Park less than 100m down the track at the Start point.  (Don't attempt to drive west along the track as it soon becomes deeply rutted and is waterlogged and boggy in winter-early spring.) Nearest facilities are at North Bannister Roadhouse (toilets, food and petrol).

Important access issue (2008):   Walkers need to be aware that this walk area and many others on WalkGPS lie within drinking water catchment areas.  In 2007 DoW in effect recommended a prohibition of all traditional off-track bushwalking activities across the entire Perth region catchment areas covering 4500 sq km, far beyond the limits of  existing or proposed Reservoir Protection Zones (see map). By March 2008, in the face of growing community outrage, the DoW has reconsidered its published position, advising that it would now be allowing walkers ‘free-to-roam’ access to the forested water catchment areas outside of the RPZs. The community, including visitors to WalkGPS, need to remain vigilant to ensure that commonsense continues to prevail over regulatory zealotry.  See also Home page: 'Access' and Related access issues on WalkGPS, and link below to "Serpentine Dam Catchment Area...Drinking Water Source Protection Plan".

In north, head east via Summer Track for 1-1.5 kms to Albany Highway. 

In south, follow Bibbulmun Track east to Albany Hwy (if necessary bypassing the steepest part of the Track by following (via '47' and '48') old vehicle track initially SE when Bibb. Track branches off just NE of waypoint '18').  

/Highlights:

Boonerring Hill is one of the higher points in the Darling Range (elevation above sea level approx. 530m).  It rises less than 200m above the surrounding landscape, but the summit area is an impressive,  near-bald granite dome which provides spectacular 360 degree views across the forests of the Darling Range and some farmlands and blue gum plantations.   Some of the landmarks include Mount Solus (22 kms NW), Mount Cooke (22 kms NW), Bannister Hill (14 kms SE),  Kimberling Hill/White Horse Hills, 4.5 kms SW), and Bowerling Hill (6.5 kms WNW). 

The route described here initially follows a valley south through lowland heath and grassland and joins the Bibbulmun Track east of Boonerring Hill. It then follows the Track for about 2.5 kms to a saddle at the northern end of the main granite dome of Boonerring Hill. From there it continues southward and off-track to ascend (60m) the quite steep northern slope of the granite dome to reach a small rock cairn on the flat summit area.  The route rejoins the Bibbulmun Track via a spur track from the summit area. The main, longer route then follows the Bibbulmun Track for less than 2 kms, initially through some delightful wandoo woodland along a ridge and then down to a valley and  past Boonerring Spring (a permanent waterhole).  The route then heads off-track (through heathland and jarrah forest) to traverse the ridge west of Boonerring Hill, during the initial 100m ascent gaining a good view from a small outcrop to the south to Kimberling Hill/White Horse Hills.  After descending the northern flank of the ridge the route meets Summer Track which is followed for about 6 kms eastward, descending to the Serpentine River valley, then passing through some pleasant open wandoo woodlands and heathlands for a few kilometres to the end of the walk.

The alternative slightly shorter walk reduces the amount of on-track walking. It includes an off-track segment along the ridge west of Boonerring Hill (via waypoints 'ALT1'-'ALT5') as an alternative to descending on the Bibbulmun Track to Boonerring Spring. It also includes an alternative route segment across two northern outcrops (via waypoints 'ALT6'-'ALT12').     

This is an easy walk overall. The longer route includes more on-track walking (11 kms, versus 6 kms on the shorter route (on Bibbulmun Track & Summer Track). There are only three short, quite steep uphill sections.  The 'Medium' difficulty rating mainly reflects the walk distance (18-20 kms).

For overnighters: For those keen to camp overnight in the area, the White Horse Campsite (which includes a 3-sided shelter)  is located on the Bibbulmun Track about 6 km further south of the halfway point (at'18') on the walk route.  By adding the detour from waypoint '18' to the Campsite (via a return trip on the Bibbulmun Track) you will increase the walk distance to about 16 kms per day for the two days.

Controlled burns:  A burn is currently scheduled for Spring 2009 and will impact on the whole walk area. See DEC's 6-season indicative burn programme.

Duncan 1:50,000 Sheet 2132-1 (CALM/DOLA, 1995).

"A Guide to the Bibbulmun Track, Northern Half, Kalamunda to Donnelly River Village" by Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) 2002, 2nd ed., pp.118-124.

"Serpentine Dam Catchment Area and Serpentine Pipehead Dam Catchment Area Drinking Water Source Protection Plan" (Report # 78, Water Resource Protection Series) by Department of Water (DoW), July 2007. - See pdf version (2.3MB). Pages 42-43 are of particular relevance. 

Note: DoW's recommended protection strategy in Report # 78 intended to prohibit recreational off-track bushwalking opportunities within the entire 690 sq km catchment area, far beyond the proposed ~120 sq km Reservoir Protection Zone, and including this walk area which is over 18km SE of the reservoir.

From the Start point, head approx. southward through open jarrah forest  to meet  an old vehicle track at waypoint '1'. Follow the track SW to cross the nearby stream course. At '2', turn SE (left) to leave the track and walk through open forest to '3'.  From '3' follow the open valley floor for about 1.5 kms through lowland heath and patches of grassland, via '4', keeping just to the west of a nearby stream course. Cross the stream course to reach '5', then head approx. SW for about 1.5 kms, climbing a very gentle slope through open jarrah forest to meet the bibbulmun Track at '6'.  Follow the Bibbulmun Track for 2.5 kms, initially westward, then via waypoints '7' to '11'. This on-track section includes the climb up the forested, lower NE slope of Boonerring Hill. At '11', leave the track and head SSW along a short saddle (partly forested) to reach the foot of the Boonerring Hill granite dome. Continue SSW to climb the quite steep north slope of the dome to '12', keeping to a strip of fractured and partly vegetated rock which provides a reasonably easy and safe route up the slope and avoids likely slippery patches on the smoother rock surface. (Alternatively, in wet weather, avoid this steepish climb by staying on the Bibbulmun Track at '11' and continuing to a spur track turnoff at 'JCTN', which provides a very easy, much gentler and safer wet weather route to the Boonerring Hill summit.)   From '12' head approx. southward across the dome for only about 50m to locate the cairn at the summit (approx. 'SMT'). Take time out to wander around the summit area to take in the magnificent views in all directions across the surrounding Darling Range plateau.  Less than 100m south of the summit, at '13', locate the start of the spur track that leads back to the Bibbulmun Track,  Follow the spur track westward down the forested ridge to meet the main track at 'JCTN'. Then follow the Bibbulmun Track westward (for 1.7 kms), initially through  wandoo woodland along the ridge (via '14') and then descending through jarrah-banksia forest to a valley (via '15' and '16') and  past Boonerring Spring, a permanent waterhole, at 'WTR'. (Or see 'Alternative short-cut' below). On reaching a sharp bend in the Track at '18' (the halfway point on the walk), head approx. WNW off-track and begin climbing, initially gently through open forest and a patch of heathland (with abundant yellow flowers of Plume Petrophile, Petrophile serruriae, in spring). After about 300m the slope steepens. At '19' veer NW and continue upslope to reach a low granite outcrop forming an open terrace at 'VU', from where there is a good view SW to Kimberling Hill/White Horse Hills.  Veer approx. northward to continue up a ridge to '21'. Then veer NW along a gentle slope through open jarrah forest to reach the crest of the main ridge at '22'. 

Alternative ridge route (from '14' to '22'): This optional short-cut reduces this leg of the walk distance by less than 1 km but avoids one steepish ascent of about 100m:  At '14' veer right (northward) to leave the Bibbulmun Track and cross the rocky forested ridge to 'ALT1' to reach an outcrop on the northern side. Head WNW along the outcrop to 'ALT2' and pass through low fringing shrubland to re-enter the jarrah and sheoak forest. Continue westward (via 'ALT3') to then approx. follow the crest of the ridge through open forest. Between 'ALT3' and 'ALT4' cross a small outcrop on the southern flank of the ridge crest. Continue via 'ALT5' along the narrowing ridge crest to '22'.   

From '22', follow the ridge northward across a gentle saddle, then cross a local high point on the ridge at '23'. Continue approx. northward (still in jarrah forest) to descend the north flank of the ridge. The slope flattens onto a terrace (at about '24'), then continues gently downhill. (Or see 'Alternative northern outcrops route' below).  On reaching '25', near  a minor stream course, veer NNE to initially  follow the stream course. Then cross another stream course and continue through mixed jarrah and wandoo forest to meet Summer Track (vehicle track) at '26'.  Follow Summer Track for 6 kms (via 'waypoints '27' to '34') to get back to the Start point, initially passing across gentle, jarrah- forested slopes and after about 2 kms through open wandoo woodlands and lowland heathland/grasslands fringing the Serpentine River.

Alternative northern outcrops route (from '24' to '31'): This optional route segment bypasses almost 4 kms of on-track walking along Summer Track and also visits two northern granite outcrops which provide further excellent panoramic views across the surrounding landscape (including to Mounts Solus, Cooke, etc).  From '24',  instead of continuing northward to reach Summer Track, veer NE and cross two stream gullies within the first 1 km. Then begin climbing initially gently, then increasingly steeply (via 'ALT6')to cross a forested rocky knoll and reach a north-sloping outcrop at 'ALT7'. Veer ESE to descend the outcrop and re-enter open forest. Continue eastward near a ridge (via 'ALT8') for less than 400m, then descend through a belt of denser understorey to reach the second major outcrop (at 'ALT9') which slopes NE. Veer right to follow the outcrop SE along slope to 'ALT10', then descend the outcrop (about 55m) approx. NNE to 'ALT11'. Then continue northward to re-enter forest. Soon cross two stream courses and climb gently to a gentle ridge at 'ALT12'. Veer ENE to reach Summer Track at waypt '31' after about 600m. Then, follow Summer Track eastward for approx. 2 kms to get back to the Start point.