Registrations open 7:00am Tuesday 25 August, 2026.

What to expect

Note: These walks are out of order and has the shorter distance on Sunday.

Saturday 12^th September: Bowman Park to Mt Zion 20km

There’s quite a bit of road walking for this section which begins on Bowman Park Road. At Hughes Gap you’ll come to the southern-most hills of the Flinders Ranges. After a gradual climb to the top of the range you’ll be rewarded with views of Port Pirie and Spencer Gulf.

Sunday 13^th September: Locks Ruin to Bowman Park 16km

An easy walk, predominantly along roads and road reserves, this section takes you through the town of Crystal Brook, then follows the Crystal Brook itself to historic Bowman Park.

NOTE – If you wish to walk on only one day, please contact the FOHT office (once bookings have opened) to register for that day’s walk. The on-line registration system will only allow you to register for both days.

Walk Difficulty – The Heysen Trail walks are demanding and suitable for experienced walkers who have walked regularly in various terrain consisting of long-distance trails with some steep inclines/declines, irregular surface with loose uneven, slippery base. They have a walking time of about 5 to 7 hours and will require a good degree of physical fitness.

BIOSECURITY MEASURES – Please ensure you thoroughly clean your footwear, clothing, walking poles and other equipment before and after each walk to remove all seeds, dirt and other debris. Removed seeds should be bagged and disposed in a ‘to landfill’ garbage bin.

Walk leaders: Chris Young
Glenn Chambers
Heather Thompson
Paul Frost
Peter Nation
Tammy Main

Registrations close: 4:00pm 9 September 2026

Cost

Adults: $12.00

Golden Boots Pass accepted

Bus: $50.00

TBC

Dates

Saturday 12 September 2026 – Sunday 13 September 2026

Walk difficulty: End-to-End 17

These walks are for those wishing to walk some or all of the Heysen Trail. There are approximately sixtyone day walks involved, spread over six years. The southern walks, from Cape Jervis to Kapunda, are held on one Sunday per month during the walk season. Due to the greater travelling distances involved, from Kapunda northwards, the walk is held over a weekend.

These arrangements make it easy to walk the entire trail because the Friends of Heysen Trail work out many of the logistics.

These walks are reasonably demanding and for walkers who have walked regularly in various terrain. They have a walking time of about 5 to 6 hours and will require a high degree of physical fitness.

Walk details

Start time:
830am – commence walking

Finish time:
4-430pm approx.

Walking from:
Bowman Park

Walking to:
Mt Zion

Distance:
20km

Hazards

Road walking & crossings, keep to right hand side or as directed by leaders. May need to through tall grass/crops. Sections of the trail can be very slippery where wet. Snakes, insects and other critters that could bite & sting.

Requirements

Wear appropriate hiking clothing, walking poles, hiking footwear, hat, sunscreen, rain jacket etc, as per the forecasted weather conditions.

Carry at least 2 litres of water, hand sanitiser, a personal first aid kit including:- band-aids, blister packs, analgesics, anti-inflammatories and electrolytes, your regular medications including an action plan, and anything else you think you might need.

Bring food and snacks for morning tea and lunch.

Experience

The Heysen Trail walks are demanding and suitable for experienced walkers who have walked regularly in various terrain consisting of long-distance trails with some steep inclines/declines, irregular surface with loose uneven, slippery base. They have a walking time of about 5 to 7 hours and will require a good degree of physical fitness.

Start time:
8:30am – commence walking

Finish time:
3-3:30pm approx.

Walking from:
Locks Ruin

Walking to:
Bowman Park

Distance:
16km

Hazards

Requirements

Wear appropriate hiking clothing, walking poles, hiking footwear, hat, sunscreen, rain jacket etc, as per the forecasted weather conditions.

Bring food and snacks for morning tea and lunch.

Experience

Interactive map

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Registration terms and conditions

All walks are subject to you wearing appropriate clothing. Prime considerations are warmth and weather protection. Your safety and the safety of the walking group can be jeopardised by you wearing inappropriate clothing. In an emergency situation it can take hours to evacuate a sick or injured walker. Leaders may not accept people for a walk who have not come appropriately dressed or prepared.

View details of appropriate clothing at heysentrail.asn.au/appropriate-clothing

If the forecast temperature for Adelaide is equal or higher than 32C, walks are cancelled. For simplicity, this can be determined the night prior to the walk from the 7.00 pm ABC News Adelaide weather forecast, based upon the Bureau of Meteorology’s routine 4pm forecast.

Your Walk Leader will send an email to all walkers advising the walk is cancelled. We suggest you check your emails before leaving to join the walk. Even if the forecast temperature is later revised, the walk remains cancelled. In such a case walk fees will be refunded.

If unforeseen circumstances arise and you are no longer able to participate in the walk, please cancel your registration as soon as possible using the Manage Walk Registrations facility on your Account page.

Alternatively you can notify the office by 2.15pm on the last business day before the walk. Walk leaders do not have access to messages left on the answering machine after this time. If your Walk Leader has provided their mobile phone number you may be able to contact them prior to the walk (subject to phone service availability).

View the full details of our Cancellation & Refund Policy at heysentrail.asn.au/cancellations

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Memberships, walk and event registrations and Golden Boots passes are tickets. If you purchase a Golden Boots pass details of your pass purchase will be recorded. If the Golden Boots pass has expired when you register for walk events, you will be prompted to purchase another pass.

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