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HikesAustraliaHeysen Trail (Flinders section)

Heysen Trail (Flinders section)

The Heysen Trail - South Australia’s long-distance route; the Flinders Ranges section is the wild highlight

Difficulty 4/5 · HardMultidayPoint-to-pointMulti-week thru
Distance
~1,200 km end-to-end
Max elevation
~950 m
Duration
~60 days end-to-end
long distanceflinderssectionsfire closuresmultiday
Plan this hike
A breathtaking landscape of Bishop and Clerk on Maria Island, Tasmania.

The route

The line through Flinders Ranges, SA, Australia - waypoints, elevation and the day-by-day shape of the walk.

Waypoints

  1. 1
    Hawker (start)Trailhead
    0 km

    Start [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  2. 2
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    24.5 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  3. 3
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    49 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  4. 4
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    73.5 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  5. 5
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    98 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  6. 6
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    122.4 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  7. 7
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    146.9 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  8. 8
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    171.4 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  9. 9
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    195.9 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  10. 10
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    220.4 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  11. 11
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    244.9 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  12. 12
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    269.4 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  13. 13
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    293.9 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  14. 14
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    318.4 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  15. 15
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    342.9 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  16. 16
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    367.3 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  17. 17
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    391.8 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  18. 18
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    416.3 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  19. 19
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    440.8 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  20. 20
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    465.3 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  21. 21
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    489.8 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  22. 22
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    514.3 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  23. 23
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    538.8 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  24. 24
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    563.3 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  25. 25
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    587.8 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  26. 26
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    612.2 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  27. 27
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    636.7 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  28. 28
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    661.2 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  29. 29
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    685.7 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  30. 30
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    710.2 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  31. 31
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    734.7 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  32. 32
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    759.2 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  33. 33
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    783.7 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  34. 34
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    808.2 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  35. 35
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    832.7 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  36. 36
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    857.1 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  37. 37
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    881.6 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  38. 38
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    906.1 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  39. 39
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    930.6 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  40. 40
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    955.1 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  41. 41
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    979.6 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  42. 42
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    1004.1 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  43. 43
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    1028.6 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  44. 44
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    1053.1 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  45. 45
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    1077.6 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  46. 46
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    1102 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  47. 47
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    1126.5 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  48. 48
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    1151 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  49. 49
    Stage camp/villageCamp
    1175.5 km

    Staging point (approx) [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

  50. 50
    EndTrailhead
    1200 km

    End of route [interpolated - upgrade in research]

    Approximate node - GPS and name to be upgraded in deeper research.

Season & conditions

Best season

Autumn-spring (the north is closed in the fire-risk summer)

Weather risks

Hot dry summers (closures), cold nights up north; water scarce

The northern/Flinders sections are open cool season only (closed ~Nov-Mar for fire). Confirm.

On the trail

Terrain & surface

From coast to the arid Flinders - farmland, ranges, gorges and dry creek beds

Technical & exposure

Non-technical walking/hiking; confirm any exposed or scrambly sections locally

Navigation & waymarking

Marked/waymarked route; navigation generally straightforward - carry a map and confirm locally

Accessibility & group fit

Suitable for reasonably fit hikers; not wheelchair accessible - confirm specifics

Crowds & solitude

Section-hikers; quiet

Variants & turnaround

Almost always section-hiked; the Flinders Ranges section is iconic

Getting there & staying

Trailhead access

Cape Jervis (south) to Parachilna Gorge (Flinders, north)

Shuttle & transport

Point-to-point may need transport between ends - confirm

Huts, camping & refuges

Basic shelters, campgrounds and towns; carry water in the north

Gear, water & connectivity

Layered outdoor kit, sturdy footwear, sun/rain protection, ample water; patchy mobile coverage - carry a map/PLB where remote

Facilities

Services in Hawker; limited or none on the trail

Guide & crew

Not required; self-guided

Permits & safety

No permit; some private-land access rules; the Trail closes in fire season

Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.

Hazards

Heat and water scarcity in the north, fire-season closures, remoteness

Emergency exits & rescue

Retrace the route to exit; dial local emergency services; carry a means of calling for help where remote

This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand trail report. Coordinates are approximate.

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Walk Heysen Trail (Flinders section) with your group
Manta plans the route, the huts and the easy alternatives so a mixed crew all get a great day.
Plan this hike