Walking & Hiking
Summit trails, waterfalls and conservation parks
The best walking & hiking in Adelaide Hills
Climb to panoramic summits, chase seasonal waterfalls and wander stringybark forests on a network of well-marked trails across the Hills.
Threaded with conservation parks and the long-distance Heysen Trail, the Adelaide Hills is one of South Australia's great walking destinations - and remarkably, much of it lies within half an hour of the city. The cool stringybark forest, fern-lined gullies and ridge-top lookouts make for rewarding walking in every season, with spring wildflowers and crisp, clear autumn days the pick of the year.
The region's most famous route is the steep climb from Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty Summit, but there's a walk for every level of fitness. Morialta Conservation Park strings three waterfalls together beneath dramatic gorge cliffs, while the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden and gentle nature walks around Aldgate suit families and easy mornings.
Many trails reward walkers with koalas in the gums, echidnas on the path and big views over the ranges. Carry water, wear sturdy shoes, and check for fire-ban days through the warmer months before you set out.
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39 places
Aldgate Valley Nature Walk
FreeAn easy creekside walk with wild koalas
A gentle, family-friendly nature walk along the Aldgate Creek through stringybark forest, with a good chance of spotting wild koalas in the gums.
Amy Gillett Bikeway
A gentle 22km sealed rail trail from Oakbank to Birdwood through Woodside, Charleston and Mount Torrens.
Belair National Park
$South Australia's first national park - lakes, lawns, heritage buildings and bush trails on the Hills' western rim.
Carrick Hill
$A 1930s English-style estate and garden on the Adelaide-side foothills, with sculpture trails and grand interiors.
Cleland Conservation Park – Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty
The Hills' most famous walk: a steep, waterfall-flanked climb from Waterfall Gully up to the Mount Lofty Summit.
Cleland Gully Lookout
Quiet ridge lookout below Mount Lofty
A quiet lookout on the ridge below Mount Lofty near Crafers, with views over the Piccadilly Valley and an easy stop on a scenic drive through the high central hills.
Cleland Gully Trail
Fern-lined creek walking below Mount Lofty
Fern-lined creek walking below Mount Lofty
Cromer Conservation Park
A quiet 44-hectare woodland reserve north of Birdwood where birdwatchers have recorded 110 species.
Cudlee Creek Conservation Park
Regenerating bushland in the Torrens Gorge
Regenerating bushland in the Torrens Gorge
Engelbrook Reserve
A National Trust nature reserve on Cox Creek between Bridgewater and Aldgate, rich in ferns, stringybarks and birdlife.
Fox Creek Bike Park
South Australia's premier mountain bike park at Cudlee Creek, rebuilt after the 2019 fires with over 50km of trails.
Hahndorf Walking Trail
A leafy loop linking the village to its rural fringe
A leafy loop linking the village to its rural fringe
Horsnell Gully & Giles Conservation Parks
Steep gullies, a hidden waterfall and two great trails on the wild western edge of the Uraidla ridge.
Jupiter Creek Diggings
A State Heritage-listed goldfield near Echunga where a marked trail winds past mine shafts, a sluicing dam and an 1869 chimney.
Kersbrook
A forest-fringed village in the northern Hills
A forest-fringed village in the northern Hills
Kuitpo Forest Reserve
A 3,600-hectare working forest near Meadows with walking trails, campgrounds and historic huts among the pines.
Laratinga Wetlands
Birdlife-rich wetland boardwalks at Mount Barker
A constructed wetland on the edge of Mount Barker with easy looping paths and boardwalks, rich in waterbirds and a relaxed spot for a family walk in the southern Adelaide Hills.
Lobethal Bushland Park
Native bushland with waterfalls and spring orchids
A pretty conservation park on the edge of Lobethal with walking trails, a seasonal waterfall and spring wildflowers including native orchids, threaded along Woodside Creek.
Morialta Conservation Park
$Waterfalls and gorge walks on the city edge
A dramatic gorge park on the western edge of the Hills, famous for its three waterfalls, ridge-top lookouts and family-friendly nature playground.
Mount Barker Summit
FreeA short climb to a sweeping eastern view
The conical summit above Mount Barker township, reached by a steady walking track and rewarded with 360-degree views from the ranges to the Murray plains.
Mount Crawford Forest
Pine and native forest for walking, riding and stargazing
Pine and native forest for walking, riding and stargazing
Mount George Conservation Park
$Quiet creek-side and ridge walks near Bridgewater
A peaceful conservation park between Bridgewater and Crafers with shaded creek-side and ridge trails through stringybark forest.
Mount George Lookout
A short climb to long views over Bridgewater
A short climb to long views over Bridgewater
Mount Lofty Botanic Garden
FreeCool-climate gardens that blaze with autumn colour
A spectacular cool-climate botanic garden on the slopes below Mount Lofty, famous for rhododendrons, a tranquil lower lake and dazzling autumn foliage.
Walking & Hiking in Adelaide Hills - frequently asked questions
What is the Adelaide Hills known for when it comes to walking and hiking?
The Adelaide Hills is one of South Australia's great walking destinations, centred on the cool stringybark forests and fern-lined gullies of the Mount Lofty Ranges - and remarkably, much of it sits within about half an hour of the city. Signature walks include the steep climb from Waterfall Gully up to Mount Lofty Summit, the waterfall trails of Morialta and Cleland, and the long-distance Heysen Trail, which threads through the Hills on its 1,200km journey between Cape Jervis and the Flinders Ranges.
What is the best time of year to walk and hike in the Adelaide Hills?
Spring and autumn are generally the most comfortable, offering cooler temperatures without the heat of summer. For waterfalls, head out in winter and early spring when the creeks are flowing strongest at Morialta and Waterfall Gully, while spring brings the brightest displays of orchids and wildflowers along the trails. Note that the official Heysen Trail walking season runs from April to November, avoiding the hotter, higher fire-risk months.
Do I need to pay or book to walk the main Adelaide Hills trails?
Most walks in the conservation parks are free to access on a turn-up-and-walk basis, and Mount Lofty Summit itself is free to visit, though car parking fees apply at the summit and at some park carparks. You do not usually need to book the walking trails, but Cleland Wildlife Park is a separate ticketed attraction. Always check the National Parks website before you go, as parks such as Cleland can close on days of Catastrophic or Extreme fire danger during the Fire Danger Season (roughly November to April).
Can I bring my dog walking in the Adelaide Hills parks?
It depends on the park, and dogs are not allowed everywhere, so check the rules for each one before you set out. Belair National Park welcomes dogs on a lead on its designated trails, and Morialta allows dogs on a lead only in the recreation zone between the Stradbroke Road and First Falls carparks, not on the wider gorge hikes. Where dogs are permitted they must be kept on a lead no longer than two metres to protect native wildlife.
Which walk should I do for the famous Adelaide Hills waterfalls and summit views?
For the classic challenge, the Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty Summit hike climbs steadily through Cleland Conservation Park on a mostly sealed track, passing the First Falls before reaching the 710m summit with its panoramic views over Adelaide to the coast - it is rated hard and takes most walkers around two-and-a-half to three hours return. For more waterfalls with gentler options, Morialta Conservation Park has its three falls and a short, easy walk to the First Falls, while Belair National Park offers its own family-friendly waterfall trails. The Kaurna name Morialta is often translated as ever-flowing, a nod to its creek and cascades.