Looking for trails open after the bushfires?
5 Feb 2020: Kangaroo Island was devasted by bushfire in January 2020. Some parks and trails remain closed. View our article of 13 walking trails open post-bushfire.
- Distance
- 3.6 km return
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- Easy
- Terrain
- Flat
- Region
- Kangaroo Island
- Download maps & GPS files
- 2 GPS files
- Photos
- 15 photosJump to Photos section
- Travel options
- Car
About the Walking Trail
The Independence Trail begins at the boatramp, near the wharf, in American River and follows the coast along the edge of the Port of Pelicans lagoon. At nearby Remembrance Reserve there is a loop in the trail, and this can make an ideal shorter walk to return at this point. Continuing further, the trail is sometimes beside the road or on a walking path along the lagoon, before it reaches Independence Point.
The trail is 3.6km one way or 7.1km return. The trail is marked with short blue posts. The American River Progress Association stocks map leaflets at each trailhead (near the boatramp and in the shelter at Independence Point.)
Artist’s impression of the Schooner Independence
At Independence Point there is a picnic area, carpark and monument to the schooner Independence. The schooner was the first ship constructed in South Australia, built in 1803 by the crew of the visiting American sealing ship the Union. The ship was built to access the shallow waters of the lagoon in seal hunting endeavors. The schooner may have been constructed from local timbers, but this isn’t clear, as it may also have been constructed from materials from the Union. The ship disappeared on a voyage from Sydney in 1805.
Photos
Walking on the Independence Trail near Independence Point
Sign marking the start of the Independence Trail near the boat ramp
Views over the lagoon on the Independence Trail
The Independence Trail has a loop through Remembrance Reserve
The picnic shelter at Independence Point. There is a box of maps located on a post here.
The trail passes through Remembrance Reserve
Trail signage in Remembrance Reserve
Independence Trail is marked with short blue posts. The trail is suitable for walking or bike riding. The trail is less suitable for prams the further it gets from the boatramp and wharf
The American River Progress Association stocks map leaflets at each trailhead, this is the trailhead near the boat ramp
The American River Progress Association stocks map leaflets at each trailhead
The end of the Independence Trail at Independence Point, American River
The Independence Trail passes this cool town welcome entry signage
The cairn to the Independence. The plaque reads: 'This cairn commemorates the building of the 35 ton schoomer Independence by American sealers and whalers and its launching near this point in 1804. - June 7, 1986. Presented by Cliff Hawkings Pty Ltd."'
Trailhead of the Independence Trail near the boatramp
Picnic shelter on the Independence Trail near the boatramp