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 Mount Dale (3.7kms east) from Beraking Brook 'rapids', 

April 2002.

[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

50 kms SE of Perth,  along Brookton Hwy to Ashendon Road (gravel road) on left,  then further 17 kms via Ashendon and Dale Roads.

16.5 field kms (70% off-track)

MEDIUM   (What does this mean?)

570m (positive elevation change)

YES

See Google Map for start point on road map.

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

To reach parking spot at Start point, follow Ashendon Road for 5km off Brookton Hwy, then turn right to follow Dale Road for 12.5km and stop where Bibbulmun Track crosses the road. Park on right near white boom gate across the Bibb. Track, or in the picnic area about 100m further along Dale Road and on the right.

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 "Mundaring Weir Catchment Area Drinking Water Source Protection Plan".

By road, to west via Dale Road (as per access route), or to north via forestry roads (approx. 2km north along Dale Road from Start point, turn right into a road that connects after about 4km with Reservoir Road to NE which can then be followed NW approx 20km to Mundaring Weir Road).

By foot, approx 9km to Brookton Hwy in south via either Omeo Road (in west) or Bibbulmun Track, or via Smith Road to east then south 9km to Brookton Hwy via Beraking Pool Road.

Main features

/Highlights:

This walk is within the 8000ha Helena National Park.  The walk starts at Mount Dale (546m) which has superb views over a wide region of the Darling Range.  After an initial steep descent from Mt Dale the walk covers varied terrain, including a few granite outcrops and two  stream gullies. The forest is mainly mixed jarrah-marri, but includes a couple of patches of wandoo woodland mainly on the lower ridges. A highlight in mid-winter to spring, is the rapids at Beraking Brook which are impressive if the brook is flowing strongly.  The walk also includes a small hill about 1.5km south of Mt Dale which offers some additional  views from its eastern flank.

For overnighters: For those keen to camp overnight in the area: The Mount Dale Campsite (which includes a 3-sided shelter; at waypoint 'HUTD') on the Bibbulmun Track is located on the walk route, 2 kms before the end point. Alternatively the Campsite provides a useful opportunity for a final brief rest stop during the walk.

Note : Fortunately this walk area was unaffected by the wildfires of January 2005 (evidently started by arsonist/s) which burnt out a large area of forest between Mt Dale and Helena Reservoir, northward of the walk area.  An earlier smaller fire of January 2003, which resulted from a lightning strike, burnt an area around the summit of Mt Dale, within the walk area. The route description below was written after the 2003 fire.

Additional maps :

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).

Other background references :

DEC's Naturebase site also includes a very brief note on Helena National Park.

"Helena National Park - Park Guide" by DEC (undated pdf; 380KB).

"Mundaring Weir Catchment Area Drinking Water Source Protection Plan" (Report # 69, Water Resource Protection Series) by Department of Water (DoW), June 2007. - See pdf version (3MB). Pages 41-42 are of particular relevance. 

Note: DoW's recommended protection strategy in Report # 69 intended to prohibit recreational off-track bushwalking opportunities within the entire 1470 sq km catchment area, far beyond the proposed 60 sq km Reservoir  Protection Zone, and including this walk area. 

Walk up the road from the 'START' point and at ‘TRK’ follow a new track just to right of the road to near the summit of Mount Dale. Then follow the track around south side of summit (via ‘D2-A’), with superb views to south. On reaching waypt ‘D3’, head downhill approx ESE quite steeply through forest burnt in early 2003, approx. following close to (but just south of) the crest of a ridge, to reach a small rock outcrop on the ridge at 'ROX'. [Update: By 2007, the initial 300m from 'D3' has become 'scratchier' as understorey regrowth becomes established after the 2003 fire, but take it slowly and don't let this short section put you off.  The route soon gets much easier!].  Cross a small stream gully (initially east), then after reaching 'D3-A',  veer  approx. NE to follow a broad ridge downhill to 'D4' . (The ridge drops off to a stream gully on the left which can be followed as an alternate route to an outcrop at 'ROX2' but that includes sections of slippery rock.)  Continue downhill to 'D5' and then veer ESE to cross a stream gully. Then climb quite steeply in open wandoo woodland to reach a laterite-capped ridge after 'D5-A'. Then turn south to reach 'VU' with a good view from the ridge back to the summit of Mount Dale  through the wandoo trees. Walk SE through wandoo woodland, along the eastern side of the flat ridge-top  to 'D6', then down a very gentle  slope to 'D7'. Then turn approx. ENE to descend through woodland and down a steeper rocky outcrop to 'D7-A'.  Then veer east down a gentle slope to reach Smith Road at 'D8'. Turn right to follow the road via 'D9' to reach the Beraking Brook 'rapids' (waypoint 'RAPIDS') which is a good rest spot and also provides an excellent view back to Mount Dale . In mid-winter to early spring the rapids will be flowing well provided there has been close to average rainfall for the season.   After the rapids, retrace the route west along Smith Road back to ‘D9’. Then veer SW off-track to ‘’D9-A’ and ascend the granite outcrop eastward to ‘D9-B’, with further good views to Mt Dale and down Beraking valley. Continue uphill via 'D9-C' into wandoo woodland and reach a laterite-capped summit area before 'D10' (a good spot for a lunch stop). Follow the ridge SSE to reach 'D12' and two small laterite ‘knobs’ soon after. After the ‘KNOB’ veer SW to initially stay on the ridge then cross a gentle saddle to meet a forestry road at 'D13'.  Continue SW and uphill along the road, which veers NW along slope at 'D17A'.  After 'D18A' initially follow the road as it veers west. Then continue west off-track downhill through the forest when the road veers SW.   Cross an old forestry road at 'D18' and then walk gently uphill, continuing west, and cross a broad low ridge before descending gently to cross the Bibbulmun Track at 'BIBC'.  Then almost immediately cross a small stream course and climb gently WNW to 'D19A'. Veer approx. west and soon cross a stream gully (at 'CK') and continue up the steepening hillside to reach a granite outcrop at 'D19-B'. Veer approx. NW along the outcrop to 'D19-C' and then continue approx. north along the outcrop to ‘D19-D’ (with views of Mt Dale). Descend NE partly across another outcrop and through  forest to re-cross the Bibbulmun Track at ‘BIBTR’ and follow the side-track from that point to the Mount Dale Campsite (hut) at 'HUTD'.   Locate an old track leaving the northern side the hut and follow it WNW to reach a recently cleared fire-break track and rejoin the Bibbulmun Track at ‘D20-A’.  Then follow the Bibb. Track (via ‘RDC’ to where it meets Omeo Road) uphill back to the Start point.