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 NE to Mount Dale (20km) from granite outcrop in south, Jan. 2003.

[Click on photo for larger version]

More photos.

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for Google Maps image

of the walk area. -Use zoom bar

for road details.

Step 1: Left Click here

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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'

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

         Route profile

24kms SE of Armadale along Albany Highway.

16 kms (80% off-track)

MEDIUM   (What does this mean?)

YES

See Google Map for start point on road map.

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

Turn left off Albany Hwy into Kinsella Road which is about 250m before the Gleneagle Rest Area. After 2kms along Kinsella Road (gravelled surface) at approx. end of Gleneagle Pine Plantation (cropped and replanted in early 2005) turn into a narrow dirt road on the right (Eagle Hill Road) and at first bend in that road (after less than 50m) park at the 'START' point in a cleared off-road area on the left. (Sufficient space for a few cars).

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 "Canning River Catchment Area Drinking Water Source Protection Plan".

In north, follow Scenic Drive (dirt road)  NW about 3.5km to Kinsella Road and then follow Kinsella Road about 5km south to Albany Hwy. In east, follow Bibbulmun Track/Edgelly Road to Scenic Drive, or to  Coglan Road or Randall Road (dirt roads) and then west to Albany Hwy.

/Highlights:

The walk features several of the granite outcrops around the flanks and southern ridge of Eagle Hill (elevation approx. 480m) which provide excellent views, variously to the north (as far as Mt. Dale), east and west. Between the outcrops, the walking is mainly through open jarrah and marri forest with some sheoak and banksia, plus a few short scratchy sections of parrot bush (including Eagle Hill summit area).  The route crosses the Bibbulmun Track at a couple of points including the footbridge at Canning River. The uphill walking involves only gentle to medium grade slopes. In wet weather extra care is needed on the outcrops which can become slippery in places.

For overnighters: For those keen to camp overnight in the area: After reaching waypoint '21' on the walk route, you can then detour to the Monadnocks Campsite (which includes a 3-sided shelter) on the Bibbulmun Track by heading southward on the Track  for 5.5 kms (via waypoints '58' and '57'). To rejoin the walk route from the Campsite you can return northward along the Bibbulmun Track for about 2.7 kms, then veer NW-ward off the Track (at '58'), climb the ridge off-track for less than 1 km (via '59' and '60'), then descend to soon rejoin the walk route at '27'.   

Controlled burns:  A burn is currently scheduled for Spring 2009 in the walk area. This will impact on most of the walk route  except for the short section east of the Bibbulmun Track between waypoints '11' & '21'.  See DEC's 6-season indicative burn programme.

Timber harvesting (i.e. logging operations): These are scheduled for 2008 in the southern part of the walk area between Coglan and Randall Roads and may have an impact on a short section of the route (approx. between waypoints '25' & '34'). - See the indicative 2008-2010 timber harvesting plans.  You may see foresters' white paint markings on tree trunks. (Trees with any form of marking are not for harvesting)

Jarrahdale 1:50,000 Sheet (WA Forests Dept., 1990);

or Jarrahdale 1:50,000 Sheet 2133-3 (CALM/DOLA, 2001);

or Jarrahdale & Yaganing 1:50,000 CALM Operations Graphics series 2003/2004, Sheet 2133-3 & 2133-2;

or Jarrahdale 1:25,000 2133-III, NE sheet (Dept. of Lands & Survey, 1984; Series R811) -available on DVD.

'More Family Walks in Perth Outdoors", by CALM, 1994, pp.130-132, includes a mud map and brief description for the Eagle Hill Trail,  a short (3 km return) on-track walk.

"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 part of this walk area.

Head approx. SE off-track from the 'START' point partly following an old track overgrown with parrot bush. At waypt '1' veer eastward to pick your way through a scrubby and possibly slightly swampy (in winter) low area and start climbing in forest to reach '2'. Continue uphill on the southern flank of a stream gully to reach the lower partly scrub-covered slopes of a granite outcrop at '3'. Turn SE and follow the outcrop uphill to re-enter scrub at '4' near the top of the outcrop. Soon reach another outcrop with views NW across part of the route just followed and also NE across Canning River valley from about waypt '5'. Walk along the outcrop to re-enter forest at about '6'. Continue along this northern slope of Eagle Hill partly across rocky ground via waypt '7'.  Re-enter forest after 'HIROK', then veer NE down the quite steep NE flank of Eagle Hill. Cross a stream gully at about '9', then veer ENE to reach Scenic Drive (dirt road) at '10'. Follow Scenic Drive east for about 250m to meet the Bibbulmun Track at '11'.  Follow the Track along the road to '12' and then across the footbridge over the Canning River. (The original Bibbulmun Track footbridge across the Canning River was destroyed by fire in about late 2004 but has since been replaced. On a sunny day you may see marron 'sunbathing' in the shallow water of the river below the bridge). [If you prefer a slightly shortened walk with more on-track walking: Instead of crossing the Canning River near '12' you can follow the Bibbulmun Track south from '11' to rejoin the walk route at '21'.]

After crossing the bridge turn right off the Bibbulmun Track at '13' and head approx. north up a sloping outcrop to '14', then turn approx. east through forest to reach another outcrop with a SW view from about '15' back across the Canning River valley to Eagle Hill.  Then veer downhill partly through scrub to reach an old track at '16' which leads down to the Canning River which is crossed at 'CRSG2'. Then follow the south bank of the River about 150m before veering southward through heath to reach an outcrop at about '18'. Climb the sloping outcrop via '19' and then continue initially uphill approx. SSE through open forest. The slope soon flattens. On a broad ridge at '20' veer due south and soon descend gently to cross the Bibbulmun Track at '21'. Veer SW, and after about 250m cross Coglan Road (dirt road) and then start climbing gently. [Alternatively, if you prefer more on-track walking: Instead of crossing Coglan Road you can turn right to follow it. It soon climbs gently uphill. After about 800m, you can then veer left off-track when you are within 200m of waypoint '23', rejoining the walk route from that point.]  By '22' the off-track route steepens onto a ridge.  Continue WSW up the ridge and at '23' turn SSW to soon reach a large granite outcrop. Climb the outcrop to reach 'GDVU', with wide views to the east and as far as Mount Dale (20km NE). Walk SSE along the upper slope of the outcrop for about 250m to '25' and then veer uphill to reach the crest of this 'monadnock' in low scrub/heath at '26'. Descend the western rock slope SE-ward  (with good view to west) to reach the foot of the slope at about '27'.  Then veer WNW to cross a small stream and re-enter forest at '28'.  Veer WSW through the forest to reach another sloping outcrop at about '29'.  Giant granite 'marbles' sit at the top of the slope. Veer to the right (NE) for about 50m, to the east flank of the outcrop, to bypass the partly scrub-covered crestal area. Then veer approx. northward along the outcrop (passing two other interesting 'standing' granite rocks) and re-enter forest at '30'. Veer WNW to reach another outcrop at '31'. Turn approx. NNE to cross the outcrop and then a small stream gully at '32'. Re-enter the forest and walk uphill   NNE to reach a ridge and re-cross Coglan Road at '33'.  Then veer NNW along the ridge to reach '34' and then north to '35' crossing some rock outcrops on the east flank of the ridge. Continue northward via '36' close to the ridge and ascend a partly scrub-covered outcrop to '37'. Then veer  NW through parrot bush to reach an old overgrown road ('Eagle Hill Road') along the summit ridge of Eagle Hill. Follow the old road NW gently downhill from the summit area to '38'. Then turn left (westward) to leave the road and descend to a steeply sloping outcrop at '39'. Follow the outcrop downslope to cross a stream at about '40'. Veer WNW around the hillside through forest to '41' and then continue NW to meet the old overgrown 'Eagle Hill Road' again at '42'. Turn left (west) to  follow the road to where it meets a corner of the pine plantation at '43'.  Follow the pine plantation boundary road via '44', '45' and '46' to get back to the Start point of the walk.