- Distance
- 5.6 km one way
- Duration
- Allow 1 hr from the Forest Loop in South Para Reservoir to the Dam Wall Loop in Warren Reservoir West
- Suitable for
- Walking, Hiking, Trail Running, Mountain Biking
- Grade 4, Hard Hike
- Terrain
- Undulating
- Curated Collection
- Southern Barossa Linkage Trails
- Park/s
- South Para Reservoir
- Warren Reservoir
- Region
- Adelaide Hills
- Trail manager
- SA Water (reservoirs)
- Download maps & GPS files
- 1 map PDF
- 2 GPS files
- 5 website links
- Photos
- 4 photosJump to Photos section
- Travel options
- Car
- Travel time from Adelaide
- 1 hour or less
About the Walking Trail
The South Para to Warren Trail is sometimes known as the “South Para Reservoir Reserve to Warren Reservoir Reserve Trail”.
Joining the West Warren and South Para Reservoirs, this trail is part of the Southern Barossa Linkage Trails network, which links South Para Reservoir, Warren Reservoir, Mt Crawford Forest, Para Wirra Conservation Park, Warren Conservation Park and Williamstown.
This route offers some great views of the landscape. This route contains some steep, challenging terrain.
The connecting links of the Southern Barossa Linkage Trails, such as this South Para to Warren Trail, start and end when they meet smaller trails within the reservoirs and reserves. So follow those local smaller trails within the reservoirs until you meet with the trail markers of the connecting links.
The trail is Grade 4 so is recommended for experienced bushwalkers. Some hiking experience and planning for this trail is recommended.
Trail connections
No access at South Para Bridge
There is no access to the South Para Bridge from the South Para to Warren Trail.
You cannot start or finish the trail at this bridge. The trail goes under the bridge, near the water’s edge.
10/9/2026 status: the connecting trail river crossing was washed away in Sept 2026. Works to replace the bridge may take some time – However, you can cross South Para River about 2km east of the bridge, on a connecting trail.
Access under the South Para Bridge is dependent on water level: at low levels it’s quite easy to walk along the shoreline of the reservoir, when the water is higher you may need to scramble along a loose track under the bridge. When the water level is very high access may not be possible.
The South Para to Warren Trail is marked in black on maps.
As these connecting links of the Southern Barossa Linkage Trails start and end when they meet smaller trails within the reservoirs and reserves, you can start the link trail from the trailheads of the smaller trails:
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This link trail starts/ends when it meets the Forest Loop in South Para Reservoir, 2h 5.1km loop (marked in purple on maps.) The Forest Loop starts at the South Para Reservoir carpark on South Para Road (B31), Williamstown SA 5351, 2km south of Williamstown.
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This link trail starts/ends when it meets the Dam Wall Loop in Warren Reservoir, 2h – 2h 30min 5.7km loop (marked in orange on maps. On some maps the trail is marked in purple or dark green). The Dam Wall Loop starts at the Warren Reservoir Northern Car Park, located off of Warren Road (B34), Mount Crawford SA 5351, 4.5km south of Williamstown. Of the two carparks, this one is closer to Williamstown.
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Connection to the middle of the Warren to Para Wirra via South Para (marked in orange and marked in teal on maps) which connects Warren Reservoir, the southern bank of South Para Reservoir, Mt Crawford Forest, Para Wirra Conservation Park.
Trail opening hours
| Dates | Times |
|---|---|
| During Daylight Saving Time: (October to March) | 7.30am – 8pm |
| During Standard Time: (April to September) | 7.30am – 5pm |
| Total Fire Ban Days (generally occur between October and April – check on cfs.sa.gov.au) | Closed |
| During reservoir operational activity (check on reservoirs.sa.gov.au) | Closed (gates will be closed) |
Dog walking not permitted
Dogs are not welcome at reservoir reserves as they can carry harmful organisms that can easily contaminate the water and present a risk to the safety of the drinking water. Assistance animals are accepted.
Photos
Views of the South Para Bridge from the South Para to Warren Trail
The South Para to Warren Trail is marked on trailmarkers as the "South Para Reservoir Reserve to Warren Reservoir Reserve Trail." The trail markers start when you leave or join the smaller trails within the reservoir reserves.
Walking on the South Para to Warren Trail towards the South Para Bridge, which the trail goes under. There is no access from the South Para to Warren Trail to the South Para Bridge. You cannot start or finish the trail at this bridge, you start by walking off of the trails within South Para Reservoir, such as the Forest Loop, or trails within Warren Reservoir reserve.
Walking east, after passing under the the South Para Bridge, the trail climbs