- Distance
- 2.6 km circuit
- Duration
- 1.5-3 hours
- Suitable for
- Walking, Hiking, Trail Running
- Grade 3, Moderate Hike
- Terrain
- Undulating
- Park
- Mount Remarkable National Park
- Region
- Flinders Ranges & Outback
- Download maps & GPS files
- 2 map PDFs
- 2 GPS files
- Photos
- 20 photosJump to Photos section
- Travel options
- Car
About the Walking Trail
Enjoy a walk through the foothills of Mt Remarkable on the Melrose Nature Hike. The trail visits Cathedral Rock, where there is a picnic area.
The trail network is shared with mountain bikers. The trail begins from the swingbridge near the caravan park, at the end of Joes Road.
These little signs mark the Melrose Nature Hike
At first the trail seems as if it is not well sign-posted, but actually it is, it’s just that the mountain bike trails are so well sign-posted they seem to dominate. The Melrose Nature Hike is signposted by small metal hiking icons, and with the help of a few old short yellow arrow signs. Generally you can follow the mountain bike signs for the Farmers Freewheeling Run Track. The Melrose Nature Hike isn’t marked on the good mountain bike trail maps.
There is an optional sidetrip to Melrose Mine and Bald Hill Lookout.
The official maps on the signs at the trailhead have the section between the Brewery Street Trailhead and the swingbridge masked out. This former trail used to be on the northern side of the river. However there is a new walking and cycling trail along the southern side of the river, which passes through the stick-fence gate near Brewery Street.
The recommended walk time is 3 hours, but the trail could be completed in 1.5 hours to 3 hours.
Photos
The view of Cathedral Rock
Crossing the swingbridge at the start of the hike
These little markers mark the way on the Melrose Nature Hike
The trailhead at the Monument
Much of the Melrose Nature Walk is on private property
Shortly after leaving the Monument, the Melrose Nature Hike goes left, whilst the Heysen Trail and the Mt Remarkable Summit Trail goes right. Walking left, follow the Farmers Freewheelin Fun Track
Follow the Farmers Freewheelin Fun Track
Sheep gra‌zing at the base of Mt Remarkable
The Melrose Nature Hike isn't always well marked, or perhaps a case of the mountain bike trails being so well marked, but here follow the signs for the Farmers Freewheelin Fun Track
Follow the fire track and the signs on the Farmers Freewheelin Fun Track to Cathedral Rock
These little signs mark the Melrose Nature Hike
The trail goes to a viewing point for Cathedral Rock before turning around. There is a picnic area here. You can cross the fence and walk about 50 metres for a good view of Cathedral Rock
After leaving the first hill, the trail is mostly firetrack, including out to Cathedral Rock and then heading out towards the mine sidetrip
Picnic area on the trail near the Brewery Road trailhead
The ford near the Brewery Street Trailhead. The water level shown here is higher due to recent floods
The official trail ends at the Brewery Street trailhead, but there is a walking path that continues through this fence and along the creek back to the swing bridge
Walking on the walking trail up from the campsites to the Monument
The walking trail the follows the creek between the Brewery Street trailhead and the swingbridge
Trailhead in the camping area on the other side of the swingbridge
There are brown signs from the main street to the carpark beside the swing bridge