1) Walk map - Shows route and waypoint locations

2) Photo from walk  (also see Photo Galleries)

3) 3D map view

4) Google map & Satellite imagery

5) Route profile

6) Walk description

7) Waypoint listing and grid references

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Pool in Poison Gully, June 2003.

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More photos.

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of the walk area. -Use zoom bar

for road details.

Step 1: Left Click here

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 on image of the walk area.

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Step 2: Left Click here

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 of the walk area.

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

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          Route profile

44 kms ESE of Perth. 

15 field kms (90% off-track).

See Google Map for start point on road map.

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

Previous Access: Orrong Road or Albany Hwy to Welshpool Road, then right into Canning Road, follow  Road to Brookton Hwy, then turn left (to follow Brookton Hwy approx. 6 kms to former Boulder Rock picnic area (now blocked off) on right hand side of the Highway.

The Lesley picnic area and nature trail (not currently clearly  signposted) is located 3 kms further SE along Brookton Highway, on the righthand side, almost opposite the Ashendon Rd turn-off. The picnic area has a public toilet.

The Munda Biddi Bike Trail also crosses Brookton Highway 2.5 kms SE of Boulder Rock and heads generally south just east of this walk area (see 3D map).  

Important access issue:  Unfortunately entry to much of this traditional bushwalking area is now prohibited under by-laws and related policies and guidelines as it lies largely within a 2 km wide Reservoir Protection Zone ('RPZ') around the Canning Reservoir. Bushwalkers should not enter that area. Fines of up to $200 apply for unauthorised entry (and are recommended in Sept. 2010 Parliamentary Committee report to be increased to $5000). I accept no responsibility if users of this site ignore the restrictions and this update at their own risk. Restricted access around public drinking water source areas is intended to protect against perceived possible acute risks to water quality.

Most walks on WalkGPS lie within the outer water catchment areas, 'safely' beyond the RPZs. However, walkers also need to be aware that 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 had 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 "Canning River Catchment Area Drinking Water Source Protection Plan".    

Via various old forestry vehicle tracks either north or NE to Brookton Hwy or Start point, or east or SE to Kinsella Road.

/Highlights:

This walk starts at the well known, former Boulder Rock picnic site (within the eastern corner of the newly named Midgegoroo National Park (2008; previously 'Canning National Park') and features a particularly  interesting and varied 4-5 km middle section that follows Poison Gully with four (usually step across) crossings of the stream. The stream flows in winter and drains into Canning Reservoir just to the west. The route also crosses many impressive granite outcrops which often have small rock pools on the crests in winter. There are views of the surrounding bushland from some of the outcrops and also a view through the trees to Canning Reservoir.  Between the outcrops the walk  passes mainly through open jarrah forest and some sections of low, open heathland. 

Update : The fires of January 2005 which burnt out a large area of forest to the north, also burnt the area of the former Boulder Rock picnic area which has since been permanently closed. The Rock is also a registered Aboriginal Heritage ceremonial site for 'men's business'.

Controlled burns:  Despite the wildfires of 2005 a burn is currently scheduled for Spring 2008 which will impact on the northern half of the walk area, between waypoints 'START' & '9' and also between '34' and 'END'. See DEC's 6-season indicative burn programme. 

WalkGPS walk map for OziExplorer users:  A downloadable OziExplorer format MAP file (*.map) for this walk area is included on the Maps, Waypoints & Track Files page. The zipped folder also includes the associated 'base' topo map image file, plus other attached waypoints, tracks/routes, etc in OxiExplorer file formats.

Other:  Kelmscott 1:50,000 Sheet 2133-4 , (CALM/DOLA, 2002);

or Kelmscott & Beraking 1:50,000 CALM Operations Graphics series 2003/2004, Sheet 2133-4 & 2133-1;

or Kelmscott 1:50,000 Sheet (WA Forests Dept., 1984);

or Kelmscott 1:25,000 2133-IV, SE sheet (Dept. of Lands & Survey, 1982; Series R811) -available on DVD.

"Canning River Catchment Area Drinking Water Source Protection Plan" (Report # 77, Water Resource Protection Series) by Department of Water (DoW), June 2007. - See pdf version (5MB). Page 32 is of particular relevance. 

Note: DoW's recommended protection strategy in Report # 77 intended to prohibit recreational off-track bushwalking opportunities within the entire 730 sq km catchment area, far beyond the proposed 58 sq km Reservoir Protection Zone, and including this walk area.

Trivia: How did the huge, round granite boulders on Boulder Rock get there? - See Rock Landforms for the answer.  

Head initially southward from the former Boulder Rock picnic area carpark (now closed) and climb the impressive Rock itself  to waypt '2'.  Veer SW to cross an old vehicle track at about  '2A'. Then head approx. southward and downhill into the fringes of open forest at about '2A'. Veer SE and skirt shrubland to meet an old vehicle track at '3'.  Follow the track SE for a short distance and then then continue off-track to cross Death Adder Creek ('CSG').  Continue approx. SE and soon follow another old vehicle track  to reach the lower edge of a small partly heath-covered outcrop at '4'.  Veer southward and up the slope of the outcrop to reach '5' and enter forest.  Continue gently uphill SSE for about 400m to cross a vehicle track at '6' and soon reach the lower edge of a larger outcrop.  Follow the outcrop uphill to get good northward views back across Boulder Rock (now 1km away) and to reach a forested ridge after about 400m. Then begin descending to reach '7' where there are views to distant Mt. Cuthbert  on a clear day.  Descend the southern flank of the outcrop via '8' and re-enter forest. After about 400m (SSE) cross a vehicle  track at '9',  then veer SSW to soon reach another large outcrop. Follow the outcrop approx. SSE, passing a number of small rock pools in winter. After about 250m the outcrop slopes very steeply southward, so veer to the left (east) to find a safe way around. Then continue SSE along the slope over partly heath-covered, rocky ground for about 400m and meet an old vehicle track at 'TRKST'.  .  Follow the track, including a turn eastward at '11'.  When the track veers north (about 300m after '11'), continue east off-track for about 150m to  reach another outcrop at '12'. Veer SE across the outcrop for about 100m to '13', then veer SW across partly heath-covered, rocky ground to cross Poison Gully Creek at 'CK-2' after 250m. Continue SW for a short distance to reach a distinct small, dome-shaped outcrop. Veer westward to climb the outcrop and descend the steeper western slope to reach '14', then veer WNW  to re-enter forest. Continue along slope and then descend to cross Poison Gully Stream  again at 'CK-3'.  Veer more westward across a small outcrop, then NW-ward at '16' to re-enter forest.  After about 200m, reach  the edge of another, larger outcrop (this connects northward upslope with the large outcrop crossed earlier in the walk, after waypt '10'). Continue along the outcrop for a short distance to '17' then veer approx. west to descend through a short section of bush to cross Poison Gully Stream again at 'CK-4' and reach a continuation of the outcrop.  Follow the outcrop gently upslope NW-ward for about 200m to re-enter forest at about '18'.  Then veer WSW to cross a north-sloping ridge and cross low rocky ground and a stream course after about 200m. Continue for a further 300m to cross another low, forested ridge and reach an outcrop at '19' which gives local views of the forest across Poison Gully.  Walk NW down the sloping outcrop a short distance to reach a small waterfall at 'FALLS' and a nearby pool along Poison Gully Stream.  Then veer SW to cross the outcrop and reach '20'. Then continue SW along the forested slope for about 300m to  meet a vehicle track  at 'TRK-5'. Then follow the track downhill and northward for only about 100m, to reach a ford across Poison Gully stream at '21'. Stay on the south bank and follow the stream for about 100m to  another small pool ('POOL').  Then head southward and quite steeply uphill through forest to reach a ridge near '22' after about 150m. Veer SSE to follow the slope of the west-sloping hillside to soon reach a heath- and shrub-covered outcrop. Follow distinct animal tracks to find an easy way through the shrubs to reach a rocky, SW-sloping ridge at '23' with nearby good views NW down Poison Gully and of a large outcrop dominating the ridge to the west (and on the route ahead) Veer SW to descend through open forest and heath and cross a saddle to soon reach a large outcrop at '24' which provides good views across the valley of the East Branch of the Canning River  immediately to the south.  Veer west to follow the broad granite ridge upslope to approx. '25'.  Veer to the right (NW)  when necessary to avoid the thick covering of large shrubs along  the crest of the ridge. Descend  across the NE slope of the outcrop and then find a way through the heath and shrubs that cover the  steeper lower slopes to reach another outcrop at about '26'. Continue NW to re-enter forest and follow the slope for about 300m and then descend to quickly reach the Poison Gully Stream (at 'CK-5') which is filled  with large boulders at this point enabling an easier, dry crossing than is possible further upstream. Veer approx. NE to soon leave the forest to reach a large outcrop  which rises quite steeply ahead. Climb the slope to reach '28' (with good views west across lower Poison Gully toward Canning Reservoir though the Reservoir itself is just hidden from view). Veer north to climb more gently and cross a ridge before descending to reach 'follow along the slope and reach '29'. Veer NNW, partly through heath and shrublands, cross a stream bed and re-enter forest before reaching '30'.  Continue approx. NNW across a broad, low, forested ridge, cross a vehicle track and after about 400m reach partly rocky ground and heathland again at '31'. Veer westward through forest and some heathland for less than 400m to reach (at '32') the foot of an outcrop.  Veer approx. WNW up the western slope of the outcrop, bypassing patches of shrubland. Soon re-enter forest and reach 'DAMVU' near the crest of the hill, to obtain glimpses of Canning Reservoir just to the west through the jarrah trees. Veer NW downslope for a short distance to '33', then northward along the hillside to reach '34', with further glimpses of the Reservoir.  Then turn sharp right (east) to cross the crest of the ridge  again and descend to cross an outcrop and re-enter forest. Continue  eastward to reach an old track at '35'.  Veer left (NE) to follow the track for a short distance to soon cross a heath-covered outcrop. then continue NE off-track, and cross  a ridge and then a stream course at 'CK-6'. Continue NE to cross another broad ridge and meet an old vehicle track to reach  '37'. Turn NNW, cross the edge of an outcrop and after about 500m (mainly off-track through forest) reach Death Adder Creek at '38' close to a concrete flow gauge station wall. Use the wall to cross the creek. The track on the other side of the creek is initially densely overgrown with tall shrubs. Find a way through the shrubs to the right to  reach more open ground and a good open track within a few metres.  Continue  along this old track gently uphill for about 500m, initially NNW then NE. When the track veers northward, continue NE off-track  and uphill, soon crossing a small low outcrop. Continue NE for a further 300m to get back to the carpark at the  Start point.