TRAIL DETAILS
Start Point: End of Helena Valley Rd
Distance: 5.2 kms
Duration: 1.5 – 2 hours
The Helena Pipehead Walk is a moderately easy 5.2km hike through Kalamunda National Park. The trail follows the pipeline past the picturesque Helena Pipehead Dam, up some steep, but short rocky hills to stunning sweeping views of Piesse Brook. Granite boulders and Wandoo woodlands are a real lovely feature of this Perth trail.
The trail commences at the end of Helena Valley Road. Parking is limited here, but please ensure you don’t park in front of the gate.
The first part of the track follows a hardened road before you veer off left onto a gravel track that takes you over a steel bridge and uphill to beautiful valley views. If you take a short detour to your left at the steel bridge you can head down and explore the nearby creek with gauging station, a delightful spot in Winter!
As you make your way up the old vehicle track you’ll be surrounded by the lush Jarrah forest that fills the valley complete with granite boulders and grass trees. The valley views just keep getting better and better as you reach the top of the crest and lay your eyes on the Pipehead Dam.
You will continue alongside the Pipehead Dam, past a huge horizontal tree (a hoot to climb across – if you dare) until you reach a ‘beach’ where you can get up close to the waters edge. From here you veer away from the river and head up the moderately steep hill, back up the valley and into Wandoo woodlands. Before long you will notice the picturesque valley views of Piesse Brook in Kalamunda National Park.
When you reach a fork in the road at the Shire of Kalamunda sign, veer right and head up the old rutted vehicle track (if you turn left you’ll reach Rocky Pools after approximately 1km). The steep hill doesn’t take long to tackle and before you know it you are passing more amazing giant granite boulders.
Ignoring the intersecting trails and carrying on straight, the trail eventually leads you back to the hardened road and an open area. Cross the white gate and rejoin the main road and veer left back to the carpark.
There are no obvious trail markers on the Helena Pipehead Walk but a walk trail map and trail notes can be accessed through the Shire of Kalamunda website.
This 5.2km tadpole trail in the Perth hills is a delightful way to spend 1-2hrs. With picturesque valley views, granite boulders and wandoo woodlands it ranks highly and is a great Perth trail waiting for your to explore!
