- Distance
- 2.4 km circuit
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Suitable for
- Hiking, Get to by public transport
- Grade 3, Moderate Hike
- Terrain
- Steep
- Park
- Mount George Conservation Park
- Region
- Adelaide Hills
- Download maps & GPS files
- 1 map PDF
- 2 GPS files
- Photos
- 19 photosJump to Photos section
- Travel options
- Bus
- Car
- Travel time from Adelaide
- 1 hour or less
- Total climb
- 125 metres
About the Walking Trail
Behind the high electric fence and seemingly locked gate – it’s locked to vehicles, not people – is a dense hidden forest. This 2.4km loop trail packs a punch: the trail follows fire tracks and walking trails to meander to the summit of Mount George and a nearby rocky outcrop with a magnificent lookout with views over Bridgewater to Mount Lofty.
The trail is marked with pine posts and blue arrows, but it’s not clearly marked at the start, so follow the map closely to get started. The trails are well maintained and easy to follow. You can’t really get too lost anyway as side tracks lead to the 2-metre high electric fence with its 2-metre high locked gates – the only entrance and exit from the trail is at the shed near the main picnic area.
The open Stringybark forest was once typical of the hills here, and is a secluded preservation of native vegetation within an otherwise urbanised and cultivated area.
Trail Directions, walking anti-clockwise, read with map
Any numbers on the captions of the below photos match the numbers used on the map.
- Trailhead at Gate 5 adjacent shed
- t-junction on fire tracks, turn right
- Grassy fire track meets dirt fire track road, turn left and uphill
- t-junction to side track and gate
- Ridge Trail begins (end of fire track, start of walking trail)
- Sidetrip to Mt George Summit
- Take fire track to summit
- Mt George summit
- Lookout
- two tracks, upper track is easier
- End/start of Ridge Trail, end of walking trail, start of fire track
Extend the Hike
Extend the hike by walking along the Heysen Trail:
- from Mt Lofty, or
- from Bridgewater via the Fairy Garden.
How to Get Here
The main carpark can be accessed by car from the Bridgewater exit on the freeway. The hike can also be accessed by Adelaide Metro public transport bus, route 864, to bus stop 46 on Mount Barker Road, and walking along the Heysen Trail from Bridgewater via the Fairy Garden.
Photos
Mount George Conservation Park
1 on map: Starting the walk at Gate 5, next to the shed behind the trees opposite the main picnic area in Mt George Conservation Park. The gate looks locked, but it isn’t, you can walk through the personal access gate.
2 on map: Turn right at this t-junction, just after you have walked through the gate by the shed, Ridge Trail hike.
Walking along the grassy fire track.
3 on map: Turn left when you meet this dirt fire track, walking up hill.
Walking along the fire track through the forest, Ridge Trail bushwalk.
Dense stringybark forest.
2-metre high fence and locked gates surround this section of the park.
5 on map: When you reach the Ridge Trail sign, follow the walking trail (fire track ends here).
Hiking along the walking trail up to the Mt George summit.
8 on map: Mt George summit.
Yes, the trail is marked with blue arrows (on the pine post).
9 on map: Lookout on the Ridge Trail, Mount George.
9 on map: Lookout on the Ridge Trail, Mount George.
Walking down from the Lookout on the Ridge Trail.
Dense Stringybark forest.
11 on map. Ridge Trail sign near Candlebark Dam, where the walking trail ends and the fire track begins again.
The gate is here next to the shed, hidden behind some trees opposite the main picnic area.