Montacute Conservation Circuit is a 6.3km, grade 1 hike located in the Montacute Conservation Park, South Australia. The hike should take around 2 hrs to complete.
Hike overview
This hike through the rugged hills of Montacute Conservation Park is challenging, but rewarding with excellent views.
The park is remnant bushland forested with red gums, stringybarks and blue gums, and often a dense understorey.
The hike is along fire tracks which are well marked, so the hike is easy when read in conjunction with the instructions below and map. The first half of the hike (when walked anti-clockwise) is along the Heysen Trail (follow the red markers), and the second half is along the Mawson Trail (follow the purple markers). The last kilometre of the walk departs from the Mawson Trail and returns along a fire track.
GPX file courtesy of Walking SA. File may not contain elevation data and may only represent half the length on return hikes.
Route and GPX file
Max elevation: 537 m
Min elevation: 240 m
Total climbing: 431 m
Total descent: -431 m
For more information on this hiking trail, please visit Walking SA
Trail location
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About the region
Montacute Conservation Park's 200 hectares of remnant bushland is separated by several small creeks, and is home to an abundant array of birdlife. Vegetation in the park varies greatly from the lower to higher slopes. The creek line is dominated by river red gums with a low understorey of grasses and exotic plants. The higher slopes support stringybarks and blue gums.
The Heysen walking trail winds its way through the park's native vegetation to the higher slopes and offers excellent views of the surrounding area. Along the walking trails you may discover outcrops of Precambrian dolomite rocks more than 570 million years old, or on the eastern side of the park, an outcrop of Stonyfell quartzite.
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Gear to consider

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Acknowledgement of Country
Trail Hiking Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we hike and pay respects to their Elders, past and present, and we acknowledge the First Nations people of other communities who may be here today.