- Distance
- 5.8 km circuit
- Duration
- 2-4 hours
- Suitable for
- Hiking, Trail Running
- Grade 4, Hard Hike
- Terrain
- Steep
- Park
- Onkaparinga River National Park
- Region
- Adelaide City & Suburbs, Adelaide Hills
- Trail manager
- National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia
- Download maps & GPS files
- 2 GPS files
- 1 website link
- Photos
- 12 photosJump to Photos section
- Travel options
- Car
- Travel time from Adelaide
- 1 hour or less



About the Walking Trail
This hike was previously known as the Sundews River.
This trail descends from the Sundews Lookout along a contoured walking trail to the bottom of the gorge, and then follows the river downstream for 1.6km before returning via a steep fire track to the ridge and the car park.
The walk takes in two perennial waterholes, and a lookout. There are numerous glimpses into the river gorge from various parts of the trail.
The 1.6km of trail along the river is not well-formed, and involves some short rock scrambling. Current water levels and recent rainfall can impact on how hard this river section of trail is to follow.
The trail is easiest to navigate when walking clockwise, as the fire trail exit is easily spotted, whereas when walking anticlockwise the walking trail exit may be harder to find.
Begins from the carpark at Gate 11 on Piggott Range Road (near junction of Upper Penneys Hill Road).
Extend the walk
- Walk further up or down the gorge (there is no marked trail, and it may be overgrown or impassable in sections)
- Walk on part of the Sundews Ridge Hike (2 hour loop)
- Walk the Nature Trail (2 hours, 3.5 km loop) and Echidna Trail (2.5 hours, 3.5km loop)
- Shorten the walk with the Sundews Ridge Hike (5km, 2 hours)