About the Walking Trails

Explore this hidden wonderland which is just outside of Lobethal. The park features two large reservoirs and tall stringybark forest with fern undergrowth. Hiking here, even on warmer days, is a delight.

During the 19th and early 20th century, before reticulated water was available to the towns in the Onkaparinga Valley, the two reservoirs in this park supplied water to the town of Lobethal and its major industry – the Onkaparinga Woolen Mills. In 1986 the land was aquired by the Adelaide Hills Council and preserved as bushland.

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Walk Route Options

There are four hiking trails marked in Lobethal Bushland Park. Each of the four trails is a circuit, and all depart from the trailhead near the carpark, building and picnic area (marked as A on the map). There is a trailhead sign here with a map and information. All the trails are marked with coloured arrow trailmarkers, although some have faded a bit (the purple used on our map is more of a brown arrow on the trailmarkers.

 1. Yellow trail (short), 870m circuit

A short loop which climbs to the hill which the Lookout sits on. The trail between points D and T on the map is steeper (obviously the lookout is on one of the tallest hills in the park.)

Trail instructions:

• From the trailhead at point A, proceed along the main fire track past the picnic area and point B
• At point C, stick to the main fire track, walking up the valley to point D
• At point D, there is a sign to the Lookout. This section up to point T is steep
• Optionally head from point T to the Lookout at Point R, although the best views are on this trail section rather than the Lookout itself
• Return to the picnic area between points T and B

 2. Blue trail, 2.2km circuit

Visit the higher reservoir on this hike along walking trail and fire tracks. The eastern stretch is along open fire track beside a fire break.

Trail instructions:

• From the trailhead at point A, proceed along the main fire track past the picnic area and point B
• At point C, watch out for the arrow pointing to the walking path beside the gate and foot cleaning station
• The trail circuits around the upper reservoir via points E, F, G and Q. At point F, the walking trail meets a fire track
• At point P, turn left, following the fire track to point M, then to nearby N
• From point N, the trail follows a fire track along the fire break back to the trailhead at point A

 3. Red/Orange trail, 2.1km circuit

Walk around the higher reservoir and visit the Lookout. This trail (when walking clockwise) follows the main fire track through the park (from points B to C and D.)

Trail instructions:

• From the trailhead at point A, proceed along the main fire track past the picnic area and point B
• At point C, stick to the main fire track, walking up the valley to point D
• At point D, continue past the sign to the Lookout, on to the upper reservoir at Point Y
• The trail circuits around the upper reservoir via points E, F, G and Q. At point F, the walking trail meets a fire track
• At point Q, follow the faint fire track (it’s wider than a walking trail, but not a particularly noticeable fire track)
• At point R is the Lookout, although the best views are on this trail section rather than the Lookout itself
• Return to the picnic area between points T and B

 4. Purple/Brown trail (long), 4.2km circuit with optional 1.1km

Walk a longer hiking circuit through the northern parts of the park. This trail visits the higher reservoir before heading north through the dense forest. There is an optional sidetrip shown as a dotted line. The trail returns via the Lookout. We recommend this trail as the best trail route to see the best parts of the park.

There are fire breaks around the boundaries of the park, and this Purple/Brown trail follows some of these. Walking along the fire break isn’t great, but it’s only a few hundred metres long. The fire break is shown as a lighter green on the map.

Trail instructions:

• From the trailhead at point A, proceed along the main fire track past the picnic area and point B
• At point C, watch out for the arrow pointing to the walking path beside the gate and foot cleaning station
• The trail circuits around the upper reservoir via points E, F and G
• At point G, turn left up the walking trail, heading north
• At point H, the walking trail leaves the forest entering a wide fire break. The trail to point J isn’t clear or marked, but it’s easy enough to follow the firebreak, watching out for the marker at point J to re-enter the forest (it’s 100m before the dirt Reservoir Road, which is fenced)
• At point J, there is an optional 1.1km route to the north-eastern section of the park
• At point M, the trail returns to the upper reservoir, before turning south at point Q
• At point Q, follow the faint fire track (it’s wider than a walking trail, but not a particularly noticeable fire track)
• At point R is the Lookout, although the best views are on this trail section rather than the Lookout itself
• Return to the picnic area between points T and B

Visiting Lobethal Bushland Park

The carpark at Lobethal Bushland Park is open from 8am to 5pm. You can still hike outside of these times, but the carpark is closed. There is also a gate further north on Kenton Valley Road, near point N on the map. The park is closed on days of Total Fire Ban (as are national parks, conservation parks and forest reserves.)

There are toilets in the building beside the carpark, near to the picnic area. The trailhead for all four hikes is near the building, before the picnic area. The picnic area consists of shelters with bbqs, a playground and grassy areas.

During spring and summer months grass seeds can be annoying when they become lodged in your shoes and socks, which is why some hikers might prefer to wear short hiking gaitors.

Dogs are permitted in the carpark and picnic area at Lobethal Bushland Park, but not the scrub beyond. There are no hikes where dogs are permitted. Horses, dogs and trail bikes are not permitted in the scrub area.