Pioneer Women's Trail - Verdun to Beaumont is a 22km, grade 4 hike located in Adelaide Hills, South Australia. The hike should take around 10 hours to complete.
Hike overview
The Pioneer Women's Trail is designed for walkers mainly following country roads, laneways and bush tracks through a delightful section of the Adelaide Hills with historic homes, deciduous trees and native bushland.
The Pioneer Women's Trail honours the early European settlers from Hahndorf who supplied Adelaide with fresh produce at a time when most foodstuffs had to be imported into South Australia.
From 1838, when the South Australia colony was just two years old, Lutheran refugees from Prussia had settled in the Adelaide Hills forming the village of Hahndorf. Women and girls carrying baskets of vegetables and dairy products on their backs, or on yokes across their shoulders, left the village at midnight to walk the rough bush track to Adelaide 35 km away.
At about 4.00 am the women reached a stream in the foothills near Beaumont which became a favourite place to rest, wash their sore feet and tidy themselves before walking into Adelaide to hawk their wares. Their load on the homeward journey contained sewing thread, needles, sugar, tea, some tobacco for the menfolk and two bricks each for building the new church in Hahndorf. As more villages were established in the hills, their inhabitants also followed the Trail with goods on their backs. This manner of provisioning Adelaide continued until the late 1850s.
In 1980 six members of the Hahndorf Branch of the National Trust of South Australia followed a map produced on 18 June 1841 by surveyor F R Nixon showing this Trail. The first public walk along its full length took place on the 20 April 1980 as part of the National Trust's Silver Jubilee celebrations.
Route and GPX file
Max elevation: 589 m
Min elevation: 206 m
Total climbing: 744 m
Total descent: -873 m
Trail location
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Gallery
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About the region
The Adelaide Hills is a rugged area east of Adelaide in South Australia. Known for its cool-climate wines, it centres on the mountain and busy city of Mount Barker. Former German settlements include leafy Hahndorf, with its pubs and galleries, and Lobethal, famed for its handicrafts and Christmas lights. Kangaroos and koalas roam the Cleland Wildlife Park, while Gumeracha town is home to the Big Rocking Horse.
Similar trails nearby
Explore Safe
While planning your hike, it’s important to check official government sources for updated information, temporary closures and trail access requirements. Before hitting the trail, check local weather and bushfire advice for planned burns and bushfire warnings and let someone know before you go. Plan ahead and hike safely.
Let someone know
Adventure with peace of mind: Fill out your trip intentions form. Before you hit the trail, fill out an online form to privately send important details about your hike to your family or friends. If you don’t return on time, they can easily alert emergency services, preventing worry and ensuring a swift response. Hike with peace of mind and enjoy your outdoor adventure to the fullest. Be smart, be safe: Register your plans here.
Gear to consider
My free planning, food and packing checklists provide an introduction to things your could consider (as well as the Ten Essentials) on your day, overnight and multi-day adventures. Customise your kit according to your personal needs, always considering safety first.Â
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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.
3 Reviews on “Pioneer Women's Trail - Verdun to Beaumont Hike (22km)”
Just a note, the start of this gpx trail is a tad deceiving, The pioneer womens trail starts on Silver road in Verdun and follows a different trail to Bridgewater.
The trail above, the section from Hahndorf to Bridgewater follows the Heysen Spur Trail into Hahndorf and there is a bridge crossing that’s a bit dicey in busy times as there is no pedestrian shoulder. the map on southaustralian trails is correct however the gpx downloads match the trail above.