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 west from Mount Yetar,

May 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

Approx 70kms east of Perth, along Great Eastern  Highway then Great Southern Highway to Yarra Road turnoff (on right 13km east of The Lakes), then further 11km down Yarra Road (last 8kms is gravel surface).

16kms (100% off-track)

MEDIUM   (What does this mean?)

470m (positive elevation change)

YES

See Google Map for start point on road map.

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

Start walk at 'PARK' point approx. 2.7kms after Yarra Road crosses the Helena River. Park just off the road on a dirt track on east side of Yarra Road. 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 "Mundaring Weir Catchment Area Drinking Water Source Protection Plan".

Bear north to Ridley Road (dirt road) or east to Yarra Road.

/Highlights:

This walk passes through some very picturesque wandoo woodlands located south of the Helena River  and about 23km 'upstream' (east) of Mundaring Weir. Interesting, varied terrain, with granite outcrops, laterite 'breakaways' and occasional stream gullies (usually dry), plus panoramic views of surrounding valleys and bushland from the summit ridge of Mount Yetar (elevation 350m).  A few medium grade slopes to climb but nothing very demanding. Short sections of low scratchy heath and scrub. The route mostly avoids areas of quite dense dryandra scrub (parrot bush) which is common on some of the surrounding laterite-capped ridges.

Controlled burns:  Burns are currently scheduled for Spring 2008 immediately north of the walk area (north of Ridley Road) and also about 2 kms to the SW.  These should not impact directly on the walk route. See DEC's 6-season indicative burn programme.

Mundaring 1:50,000 Sheet (Dept. of CALM, 1990);

or Mundaring & Chidlow 1:50,000 CALM Operations Graphics series 2003/2004, Sheet 2134-3 & 2134-2.

"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. 

Cross Yarra Road from the start point (at 'PARK'). The route rises gently through open wandoo woodlands and then skirts around the edge of dryandra scrub near the crest of a ridge at waypt 'Y2'.  From 'Y2' to 'Y5' it passes along the gravelly NE flank of a laterite-covered ridge, still mainly in open wandoo woodlands, but crossing a heath-covered ridge spur at about waypt 'Y3' and a stream gully 300m past waypt 'Y4'. After crossing another stream bed (probably dry) at 'Y5', you veer from the generally WSW heading to cross the gentle valley floor and then further veer to approx. NNW after waypt 'Y6' and then follow a gentle valley, crossing the creek bed at about  waypt 'Y7'. Then ascend slowly along the western valley flank to reach the 'BOLDRS' waypt where there is an area of laterite boulders among pleasant wandoo woodland and zamia palms. This is a pleasant rest point before crossing a stream gully and then ascending more steeply across more rocky, mainly heath-covered ground via waypt 'Y9' (with views of Mount Yetar to NE) to reach a ridge and ascend a small laterite-capped hill at waypt 'Y10'. The route then descends northward down the ridge to reach a granite outcrop with some views across the Helena River valley.  It then continues downhill, NE-ward through sheoak forest and across rocky ground to meet Ridley Road (dirt road). It then follows Ridley Road briefly for about 200m.  After the Road crosses a stream gully the route climbs a fairly steep and partly rocky ridge ESE-ward toward Mount Yetar.  It crosses a small granite outcrop at 'ROK2' and then within another 150m reaches a larger outcrop at 'ROK3' with good views across the valley.  The route then passes through a partly scratchy section of scrub and heath before again reaching open wandoo woodlands at about 'Y14' on the laterite-capped northern summit ridge of Mount Yetar.  The route passes south to SE-ward along the ridge (with pleasant views to the west), crossing the summit area at 'SUMMIT'. You then veer eastward to cross a small laterite 'KNOB' and then NE to NNE along a ridge with varying cover of woodlands and heath and some rocky ground. At 'Y21' descend eastward from the ridge and cross a small rock outcrop at 'ROK4'. Continue downhill, veering southward after 'Y24'.  after crossing a stream bed at 'GULLY' the route veers eastward again and rises up a broad ridge to cross Yarra Road and reach 'Y27' soon after. The route then continues uphill to 'Y28', then heads SSE-ward through sheoak forest along the ridge to the approx. high point at 'Y31'.  You then descend quickly, crossing a narrow gully. before the slope becomes gentler and you return to the start point ('END').