Improved and Longer Harewood Trail Open

The Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) is pleased to announce that it has completed the final construction of the extension to the Harewood Trail in the Harewood State Forest on Scottsdale Road, Denmark.

First time local contractors

The project was awarded to Monkey Rock MTB Co, a new trail building company in Denmark. Monkey Rock has specialised in building mountain bike trails and this was their first walk trail project. Company owners, Nathan and Jane Devenport said, “We were really excited to get this contract so that we could showcase the quality of trail that we can build. Now we feel comfortable quoting on other larger tenders and bringing our unique Denmark brand to trail construction”.

Working closely with DBCA staff

DBCA’s Frankland District staff and Perth-based technical trail experts worked closely with Monkey Rock to get a trail alignment that facilitated good drainage to keep the trail dry. Unfortunately, the region had its wettest winter in years, which tested the trail builders and the ability of the trail surface to shed water, delaying the planned opening by several months.

Parks and Visitor Services Coordinator for the Frankland District Peter Masters supervised the construction on behalf of the State Government. “It was a difficult build”, he said, “from scoping out the alignment in the bush to actually cutting the trail on the ground. We had to push through thick, wet karri forest undergrowth but in the end we’ve got a great result that the community can really take pride in”.

Project Manager Melanie Humphris from the Parks and Wildlife Service, spent many days in slippery, wet, muddy conditions coordinating with the Monkey Rock team and the District staff, looking for the best and driest alignment that showcased the magnificent Harewood Forest.

What’s so special

Situated in the winery region of Denmark, tourists will find this trail particularly enjoyable. You can walk off a long lunch and meander through some spectacular karri regrowth listening to the bird chorus in the canopy.

Harewood is particularly well known for its fungi, with some colourful displays, clinging to fallen timber along the side of the trail. There are still some old interpretation signs along the original section of trail highlighting the logging era when the Millar family logged this forest.

One cautionary note is that the parking area on busy Scottsdale Road is limited and so you should be alert to oncoming traffic and take extra care when backing out onto the road.

The Harewood Trail is a great walk in a uniquely Western Australian forest that has been made even better by the quality of the construction of the extension. It is suitable for most ages and can be done in an hour. If you take your furry friend, please ensure it is on a lead at all times.

More information

You can find a map and more information about the Harewood Trail on the TrailsWA website.