Walk Grades

There are five different grades of walk on the Friends of the Heysen Trail walk programme. Four of these operate during the walk season, generally from April to November when it is not Fire Ban Season:

• Trail Starter
• Trail Walker
• Trail Rambler
• End-to-End
• Extended

When it is not walk season, generally during the summer Fire Ban Season, only the Summer Twilight Walks operate.

Please note: All walks are subject to you wearing appropriate clothing. Prime considerations are warmth and weather protection. Your safety and the safety of the walking group can be jeopardised by you wearing inappropriate clothing. In an emergency situation it can take hours to evacuate a sick or injured walker. Leaders may not accept people for a walk who have not come appropriately dressed or prepared.

Trail Starter

The aim of these walks is to introduce people to bushwalking, for those who are not regular walkers and those who have not walked in a group previously or who want a shorter walk. TrailStarter walks are usually close to Adelaide, have a walk time of about 3 to 4 hours and will generally be not too physically demanding. Anyone undertaking these walks may have only a modest degree of physical fitness. These walks generally occur on Saturdays or Sundays.

Trail Walker

These walks are reasonably demanding and for walkers who have walked regularly in various terrain. They have a walking time of about 5 to 6 hours and will require a high degree of physical fitness. These walks generally occur on Saturdays or Sundays.

Trail Rambler

These infrequent walks are for specialist events like bird watching and historical walks; and would by their nature be relatively short and informative. These walks are available to all levels of walkers.

End-to-End

These walks are for those wishing to complete the entire Heysen Trail. There are approximately sixty day walks involved, spread over six years. The southern walks, from Cape Jervis to Kapunda, are held on one Sunday per month during the walk season. Due to the greater travelling distances involved, from Kapunda northwards, the walk is held over a weekend. The group walks on the Saturday, stays overnight in a local town (in B&B accommodation, motels, caravan parks etc), often sharing a meal, and then walking again on Sunday.

These arrangements make it easy to walk the entire trail because the Friends of Heysen Trail work out many of the logistics. However, you arrange your own accommodation.

These walks are reasonably demanding and for walkers who have walked regularly in various terrain. They have a walking time of about 5 to 6 hours and will require a high degree of physical fitness.

The Friends of the Heysen Trail issue a certificate and badge for those completing the whole Trail.

Extended

These are multi-day walks, usually a long weekend or a week long trip. Sometimes a few hours drive from Adelaide, sometimes interstate or overseas, these trips usually involve overnight stays in accommdation included in the package.

Summer Twilight Walks

These walks are only for when it is not walk season. These walks are 1.5 to 2 hours almost every Wednesday evening, close to Adelaide. Meeting at 6pm, followed by a meal if you wish.

These walks are for experienced walkers, for those who are not regular walkers and those who have not walked in a group previously or who want a shorter walk. Anyone undertaking these walks may have only a modest degree of physical fitness.