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

Granite tor near Toodyay Road,

Dec. 2003.

Click on photo for larger version.

More photos.

Click here

for larger frame 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

27 kms NE of Perth. 

15 field kms (30% off-track).

EASY - MEDIUM   (What does this mean?)

400m (positive elevation change)

YES 

See Google Map for start point on road map.

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

Great Eastern Hwy and Bypass to Roe Hwy, then north, right into Toodyay Road and follow it for 7 kms up the steep hill to the top of the Darling Scarp (Red Hill). Park down a short track off the right hand side of the road just after it straightens toward the NE (and less than 50m past an alternative marked parking area, also on the right). The Start point is marked by a secondary entrance gate (and fallen fence!) and vehicle track into John Forrest National Park.

Good alternative access to this circuit walk and to the central area of John Forrest National Park is from the Taaffe Rd entrance: Turn right off Roe Hwy into Morrison Road (at first lights after crossing Great Eastern Hwy), then after 3 km turn left into Pechey Road, then right into Taaffe Rd (part dirt).  Park at the end of Taaffe Rd (at waypoint 'ALT-ST') past the Swan View Equestrian Lodge at the secondary park entrance. Walk through the park gate for less than 20m (waypt '59'), then walk east along the old vehicle track/bridle trail to waypt '58' and then either north on the marked Eagle's View Trail to link into the walk route at 'EAG-TR', or continue east along the vehicle track and soon climb quite steeply uphill for about 300m to reach waypt '80' near the crest of a ridge. Then turn left to head approx. NW off-track through heathland to '81' on the northern flank of the ridge. Then head NW downslope to soon meet Eagle's View Trail at about waypt '15' and turn right to follow the described walk route eastward.

If starting at Taaffe Road you can bypass northern waypoints '45' to '48' and '1' to '3' to avoid the section close to Toodyay Road: See route notes below.

In north, follow dirt vehicle tracks to Toodyay Road. In west, follow tracks to waypoints '58' and '59' and exit to Taaffe Road (near Swan View Equestrian Lodge). In south, follow Eagle's View trail and/or vehicle tracks to Jane Brook and main carpark (waypt '61').

/Highlights:

This circuit walk is within the northern area of John Forrest National Park which also forms part of the Darling Range Regional Park system. It includes sections of overlap  with the Eagle's View Trail (Walk # 4 on this site),  which total to about one-third of the walk, but also includes some off-track heathland and forest walking.  It also offers some additional views along the Darling Scarp and across the Swan Coastal Plain to Perth City, and visits some interesting natural sculptures in the form of granite tors.  The walk also includes two easy off-track crossings of Christmas Tree Creek which usually flows well by late winter-early spring and includes small rapids at one of the crossing points. 

As on the Eagle's View Trail, the route passes through varied vegetation types, including extensive heathlands,  wandoo woodlands and mixed jarrah-marri-wandoo forest.  The broad areas of heathland make this walk especially worthwhile in the wildflower season.

Note that several of the old vehicle tracks/park maintenance tracks also double as Bridle Trails for horse-riding.

Bushfire impact: A fire on 3 Nov. 2010 burned about 450ha in the northern area of the National Park and has probably affected at least part of this walk area.  A 'controlled burn' that was scheduled for Spring 2010  may also have impacted on the walk area, but was probably deferred. See DEC's 6-season indicative burn programme.

WalkGPS reconnaissance history: Click here for a map of past WalkGPS test walks in the walk area, plus the final route. The final route was selected only after several visits to the area which aimed to achieve a walk that would be the most rewarding.

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

Mundaring 1:25,000 2134-III, NW & SW sheets (Dept. of Lands & Survey, 1983; Series R811) -available on DVD.

Note: Mundaring & Chidlow 1:50,000 CALM Operations Graphics series 2003/2004, Sheet 2134-3 & 2134-2, is too 'busy' across the Park area to be useful for this walk.

"John Forrest National Park: A Place of Beauty"  article by George Duxbury, in Landscope magazine (CALM), Vol.11, No.4, Winter 1996, pp.16-21. 

"John Forrest National Park"  leaflet by CALM. This includes a brief history of the park and a summary of its trails and flora and fauna. DEC's site also provides a very brief Park summary.

"John Forrest National Park - Park Guide" by DEC (undated pdf; 390KB).

"Travellers guide to the Parks & Reserves of Western Australia" by Simon Nevill, 2001, pp.44-45 (Simon Nevill Publications), also includes a summary of the Park. 

"John Forrest National Park Management Plan 1994-2004" by Dept. of Conservation and Land Management (CALM), Aug.1994. - See pdf version (650KB) which also has summaries of the flora & fauna, geology, history, future park plans, etc.

From the Start point off Toodyay Road follow the rough vehicle track uphill to waypt '2' where the track branches.  Follow the right hand branch south along a ridge to waypt '4'. Then veer off-track toward the SW to approximately follow the ridge downhill walking initially across open heathland and then through mixed forest and  heathland. Meet a minor vehicle track at 'TRK' and follow it SW for a short distance before continuing off-track along animal trails and across small rock outcrops with views across the Coastal Plain to Perth. Then reach some open  'kangaroo pasture-land' and turn left (SE) at '6' and descend the fairly steep hillside through heath and open wandoo woodland (following clear animal trails through the heath). - Good view south along the Darling Scarp and across the Park.  Meet a vehicle track at '7' just past a stream gully. Walk SE along the track to '8', then turn right (SSW) to continue off-track and steeply downhill over a rocky, mainly heath-covered slope to reach  a stream gully.  Cross the gully and reach a nearby track at '9'. Turn left (SE) to follow the track uphill TO '10' where the track branches. Take the branch which heads south down the hill (to the left hand side of an old fence). After less than 50m  (at '11')  follow another track which branches off to the left (east) and uphill.  At waypt '12' turn SSW off-track to cross an outcrop and descend quickly across rocky ground to Christmas Tree Creek.  Cross the creek (by a very short boulder-hop if it is flowing) and find a clear animal track up the steep southern bank near waypt '13'.  Then follow animal trails through fairly thick heath and past granite outcrops to meet the Eagle's View Trail at 'EAG-TR'.  Follow the Trail eastward (via '15' to '18'). (Alternatively, if you started the walk from the Taaffe Rd entrance, turn right onto the Trail at 'EAG-TR' to soon follow it southward for about 500m, descending back to '58', then turn right again to follow the old vehicle track/bridle trail back to the 'ALT-ST' start point.)

As you walk eastward there are good views back across Christmas Tree Gully.  The Trail merges with a vehicle track after '17'.  After the track turns northward, it soon crosses a bridge over Christmas Tree Creek. Continue to waypt 'RAPIDS' and find a minor foot-track off to the right and cross the Creek at a suitable safe point near the small rapids.  (This should be a simple 'step-across' crossing unless the creek is flowing unusually strongly.  -In that case a safe option is to retreat to waypt '18' and head directly uphill to '20', bypassing the bridge and creek crossing). After the crossing find an animal track through the heath and then climb steeply SE over and around granite outcrops and 'tors' to reach a broad area of open heathlands  (waypt '20'). From about this point there are good sweeping views westward across the Swan Coastal Plain. From '20' veer ENE to head up the ridge (or see recommended 'Alternative' below), soon entering a narrow belt of wandoo trees along the edge of a laterite plateau.  Cross the laterite 'breakaway' and into open jarrah forest.  Meet a vehicle track at about '20A' near the crest of the ridge. Follow the track NE and then eastward to '23' for just over 1 km in total, then veer NE off-track, soon following the sloping edge of the laterite plateau/valley rim and crossing two vehicle tracks. Meet Eagle's View Trail again at '24' and turn left (NW) to follow it  through picturesque wandoo woodlands and across the lateritic surface (see Eagle's View walk photos). 

At '27' there are good views across the valley and Scarp toward Perth.

Recommended alternative (from '20' to '27'): This offers more off-track walking and also more variety in terrain and scenery: After '20' head NE-ward through wandoo woodland along the westward-sloping hillside via '82' to '82', gaining some good views across the valley and crossing a gully at '84'. Cross an old vehicle track at '84A' plus another track (the old W-E park boundary road) after a further 100m. Veer northward across a west-sloping spur-ridge to '85', then turn eastward to reach a large granite slab (at 'BIGRK') which provides good views across a side valley. Continue eastward along slope up the valley. Cross a gully at '87'  and reach a cluster of large granite boulders near '88'. Then veer due north to soon rejoin Eagle's View Trail (near '89')  and the described route.  Follow the Trail WNW-ward to link up with the route again at '27'

After '27' the Trail soon descends quite steeply northward to meet a vehicle track and cross a sidestream at '29'. The Trail then follows a vehicle track to a bridge crossing of Christmas Tree Creek at '30'.  Continue along  the track northward and then eastward up the hillside (via '31' to '34'). At '34' turn left (south) off the vehicle track to continue on the Trail around the edge of the dissected laterite plateau.  There are some excellent views across this secluded northern valley.  At '39' veer right (SW) off-track to leave the Trail. Cross a vehicle track at '40'. (That track provides a good potential escape route north back to Toodyay Road, via '50', 52', '44' and '2'.)  Continue off-track through mixed forest and heath to '41' to bypass old revegetated pits, once quarried for road gravel).  Then veer NW to follow the slope around the edge of the plateau, finding and following animal tracks through mainly open heathlands. -Good views across the valley and Coastal Plain. After '42', veer NNW and re-enter wandoo woodlands along the hillside. Soon after '43', climb steadily up on to the plateau (avoiding thickets of dryandra/parrot-bush) to meet a N-S vehicle track at '44'.

Follow the track north for a short distance along an old  fenceline to '45' (don't follow the track branching off to the right ). Then veer NW off-track and downhill initially through wandoo woodland and then across open heathland, interrupted by scattered granite tors. Again there are views across the Darling Scarp and Coastal Plain. Toodyay Road will soon be within sight.  After '47' veer left (west) and cross a stream gully. At approx. '48' meet a vehicle track which follows the SE side of Toodyay Road, inside the park fence.  Follow the track SW back to the Start point.

Alternatively, if you started the walk from the Taaffe Road entrance you can bypass northern waypoints '44' to '48' and '1' to '3' to avoid the section close to Toodyay Road.  Instead go from waypt '43' to '90' and follow the mountain bike trail, initially westward downhill to '91' and then southward along a gentle saddle which gives good views across the valley and to part of the route already walked. At '92'  turn right and head off-track through heath, across the crest of a gentle hilltop, to soon reach a vehicle track. Turn left to follow the track southward to link back into the described walk route at '4'.