Walyunga National Park - Echidna Trail

The stats

• Distance - 10.5km circuit (although we probably did closer to 12km)
• Grade - classed as 'medium' to 'hard'
• Estimated time to complete - 4 hours
• Actual time - close to 4hrs but we did get lost to begin with and stopped for a lunch break
• Resources - Paul Amyes' book: Perth's Best Bush, Coast & City Walks
• Cost - $11 national park entry fee

The verdict

Public holiday Monday and fresh off our successful first training walk three days earlier, my walking companions and I decided to up the ante and go on a slightly longer and more challenging walk.  Our target today was the Echidna Trail - the longest circuit walk within Walyunga National Park in the Swan Valley.

First problem was the extraordinarily poor signage at the start of the walk.  We parked the car and looked in vain for a sign detailing the starting point and/or the correct trail marker.  After following the incorrect trail for a while and backtracking (and passing the same family three times at which point they thought we were totally bonkers), we finally got onto the correct trail.  It did add an extra ~1.4km to our walk and we lost time but once on the trail the markers were reasonably easy to follow.  I'm so glad we had our guide book!

The track was rougher (loose gravel and quite deeply corrugated in places) and the inclines decidedly ahem, steeper!  There were sweeping views over the Swan Coastal Plain from the top of the first hill however so the effort was rewarded.  

View of Perth CBD in the distance

Sweeping views of Swan Coastal Plain

The guidebook mentions a 'short, steep climb...to the summit of Woodsome Hill, which at 260 metres elevation is the highest point in the park'.  Steep - definitely!  After pulling ourselves up to the crowning fire tower, we found a shady spot among the grass trees to have our sandwiches, catch our breath, and enjoy the sunshine.

The best part of walking uphill all morning was the glorious descent all the way back down to the river and then a slow amble along the riverside path to the car park.  

Steep descent back to the river

We all felt decidedly footsore and weary after the walk today.  Euphemisms aside - aching actually and totally exhausted.