Hiking is an incredible method to exercise while experiencing the perfect that mother nature has to supply. Be it for reinforcing fitness, improving mental wellbeing, or enhancing social activity, mountain climbing offers all types of tangible advantages.
Hiking is an activity that will be fun alone, with family and friends, a mountain climbing buddy or as a part of a mountain climbing community group. It means that you can walk through verdant surroundings and marvel on the magnificent rivers, waterfalls and landscapes and it could help take the stress out of day by day life. Hiking can also be a incredible method to improve your overall health and fitness.
Easy mountain climbing trails in WA (0-5km)
Lesmurdie Falls
Located within the Mundy Regional Park within the hills east of Perth, Lesmurdie Falls is some of the spectacular waterfalls on the Darling Range escarpment. Best walked in winter and spring when the rains swell Lesmurdie Brook, the trail follows the brook until it reaches a bridge at the highest of the falls. A lookout means that you can look over the falls and the flat land of coastal plains that sweep over Perth city to Rottnest Island within the west. If you desire to extend the trail you possibly can follow it to the bottom of the falls.
Bells Rapids Walk Trail
One of Perth’s best dog-friendly walks, the Bells Rapids Walk Trail takes you alongside a series of iconic rapids in a 5.5km loop. Follow the river downstream before ascending up the valley slopes to search out a sweeping view of the river below, the Swan Coastal Plain to the west and town. Along the way in which you’ll discover a waterfall, interesting granite formations and numerous furry four-legged friends.
Law Walk
In the center of the Botanic Gardens in Kings Park, the Law Walk takes you thru manicured gardens and views of Kings Park out to natural bush for a bird’s eye view of what Perth would have looked like 200 years ago. One of WA’s premier urban trails, Law Walk is a 2.5km loop that gives unique insight into the biodiversity along the Mount Eliza escarpment. The walk is suitable for individuals with a moderate fitness level and takes around 45 minutes to finish.
Lesueur Walk Trail
Lesueur National Park is considered one of the best wildflower parks in Australia. Heading through Kwongan heathland up the short Lesueur Trail you’ll find a superb display of wildflowers at every turn. A present of WA’s good biodiversity, walk it in winter or spring and also you’ll be blown away by the natural beauty.
Lesueur National Park is comparatively clear of dieback, and given its incredible biodiversity, it must be protected. As such, it is actually vital that you just use the boot cleansing stations provided along the track.
Moderate mountain climbing trails in WA (5-15km)
Camel Trail
The Camel Trail traverses a bit of the Chichester Range in Millstream Chichester National Park. One of WA’s top trails, it links the stunning Python Pool to the lookout at Mount Herbert. The historic trail follows a part of an old cameleer’s path to the wterhole at McKenzie Spring and it’s the right introductory walk for experiencing the Australian outback. A walk within the morning showcases a phenomenal landscape of color changes and is a chance to find some iconic Pilbara wildflowers. Walk 8km a technique or 16km return.
Gabby Karniny Bidi
Explore the salt lakes of Rottnest Island with the magnificent 10km Gabbi Karniny Bidi Trail. Starting on the Thomson Bay Settlement, the trail heads inland through Rottnest’s beautiful lakes system before exploring popular beaches like Geordie Bay, The Basin and Pinky Beach. There are some moderate descents and ascents along the coastal sections however the trail is comparatively flat otherwise.
The Ghost House Walk
Long considered considered one of Perth’s top trails, the Ghost House Walk Trail takes you from the manicured shores of Loch McNess to the wilderness areas of Yanchep National Park, a throwback to an earlier era before wilderness values became the overriding principles of park management. The Ghost House Walk Trail explores the more pristine areas of the national park and highlights include wildflowers, bird watching, limestone cliffs and caves and the ruins of an old house.
Eagle View Trail
A 14km circuit that leads you to several of John Forrest National Park’s less explored destinations, the Eagle View Trail is a series of gentle hills that provide incredible views of town. More difficult than other walks within the park the Eagle View Trail is well price it, following the snaking creek to achieve the summit where you’ll be rewarded with a view of the Perth Coastal Plains all of the method to the coast.
Hard mountain climbing trails in WA (15+km)
Kitty’s Gorge Walk Trail
Accessible from the historic town of Jarrahdale, Kitty’s Gorge Walk Trail follows the Serpentine River and Gooralong Brook past impressive granite outcrops and a lot of waterfalls. It has steep loose sections and uneven ground in parts, requiring level of fitness. An ideal day trip from Perth, you possibly can mix your hike with a visit to a winery or considered one of the town’s lovely little cafes.
Railway Reserves Heritage Trail
Following the route of the old Eastern Railway, the Railway Reserves Heritage Trail provides a novel 41km loop trail entirely on railway formations. The extensive trail passes through quaint hill communities and covers a wide selection of terrains, with scenic views at quite a few points along the way in which. You can even discover the person history, story and character of the settlements that got here to be on the road. Access to the trail is free, although a national park fee applies for those accessing the trail from John Forrest National Park’s foremost automobile park.
Apply for Trail
Located within the spectacular East Fitzgerald National Park, the Apply for Trail starts on the Cave Point Car Park and extends westward to Quoin Head. Running for 23kms, this rugged coastal trail contains a tantalising number of landscapes, from rolling plains and vibrant breakaways to rugged peaks and headlands and stunning bays and inlets. During winter, southern right whales shelter near shore with their newborn calves.
Bibbulmun Track
One of the world’s biggest long distance walk trails, the Bibbulmun Track stretches 1000 km from Kalamunda within the Perth Hills to the historic town of Albany on the south coast. The track offers a variety of experiences, including an 8-week adventure staying within the 49 campsites along the way in which. If you don’t fancy mountain climbing ‘The Bibb’ in a single go, you possibly can access day walks from the quaint rural towns that sit on its edge.
10 tricks to prepare for mountain climbing in WA
Hiking isn’t only a walk within the woods. It requires strength, balance and a level of fitness that can make sure you stay secure. Most trails are uneven at parts and have at the least some elevation gain, so even the best of mountain climbing requires balance and strength to avoid injury.
To prepare for mountain climbing you possibly can:
- Run or walk within the sand to construct the muscles that can protect your knees and ankles.
- Use a resistance band to strengthen your muscles through their full extension.
- Perform crunches to construct your core strength for balance on uneven surfaces.
- Perform squats and lunges to strengthen lower body muscles.
- Perform push ups to support long hikes through which you’ll be carrying a pack.
- Hit the treadmill at your local gym to stand up your lung capability up.
- Fill your backpack and practice wearing it while stepping up on a park bench.
- Take yourself out for a couple of short walks within the week leading up and make certain to walk briskly to maintain your heart rate up.
- Wear your mountain climbing shoes while preparing on your hike as to avoid blisters when the true hike comes.
- Carry a lightly-weighted daypack in your weekday walks to get you used to carrying essential gear.
Health and fitness advantages of mountain climbing
Hiking uphill involves concentric movement (muscle shortening) while mountain climbing downhill involves eccentric movement (muscle lengthening). This requires you to make use of your whole body and it gives you an all-over workout. Your quads, glutes and hamstrings are repeatedly engaged and for those who’re carrying a pack, you’re going to challenge the strength and endurance of your upper body as well.
Because mountain climbing is an all-over workout, it’s an important activity for shedding weight and reducing blood pressure and cholesterol. Just one hour of mountain climbing can assist you to burn greater than 500 calories, depending on the extent of incline and the load of the pack you’re carrying. Head for hilly terrain and a high altitude and also you’ll burn significantly greater than this. In terms of blood pressure, mountain climbing downhill is extremely effective at removing blood sugars and improving glucose tolerance.
Hiking in Western Australia
Western Australia offers an important range of each bush and concrete walks. Many mountain climbing tracks, including the world-class Bibbulmun Track will be easily accessed from Perth and have historic interest in addition to intense natural beauty.
At around twice the scale of Western Europe, Western Australia is large. This unique a part of the world offers space to not only discover yourself within the wilderness, but local culture, jaw-dropping outback landscapes, pristine white beaches and stunning red gorges.
Whether you select a bush or urban trail on your hike, you’re in for a memorable experience and an important workout.
Better secure than sorry
The Australian Walking Track Grading System is a nationally consistent system to grade the extent of difficulty of the track walking experience. It must be used as a guide only, because it’s speculative on quite a lot of conditions and aspects. You may find it simpler to search for trails marked easy, moderate or hard, equivalent to our breakdown of WA trails below.
Kick off your fitness journey today
Interested in exploring the harder and longer hikes inside Western Australia? Bailey Fitness has a wide range of fitness classes to make sure which you could smash your mountain climbing goals. Find out more from our team today.