Hike Map
Details
Location: Ayliffes Road, St. Marys, Adelaide.
Tracks: Viaduct Creek Walking Track, Viaduct Track, Ridge Track.
Grade: Hard
Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Length: 4 km
Map: Shepherds Hill Recreation Park Park Management Plan - Page 9.
Our Story
Back to Shepherds Hill Rec Park the next day - with Dave this time. We took a different route from yesterday, starting along the Viaduct Creek Walking Track and heading towards the Archery Club. Max just loves this place! So different from where we usually go with him and so many different smells!
We got to the Archery Club just in time for Dave to be able to walk through and see all the targets etc. The members were just setting up the targets and putting out the red flags.
When got to the border of Watiparinga Reserve, instead of going up the hill towards Ridge Track, we continued along Viaduct Track into the reserve. In my typical fashion, I saw an interesting track and looked up and saw the caves in the rock face. I had heard about these caves but hadn't looked up where they were. I just had to do it! It was a tough little climb up to them and they turned out to be just little indents in the rock, not actual caves! But the climb was great and was one of the things that turned what was an easy walk yesterday into a hard walk today!
I saw a track going further up, probably towards the railway line, but it looked like it might start to rain so we decided to head back down and stay with what we knew. We will do it next time!
It was slow going coming down. Dave is much more sure-footed than I am so he went first. I had to make sure I had a good grip with each footing before moving on. Max would have run down the whole hillside if he could have!! The photo doesn't give the perspective of how steep and slippery it was, but you can see the Viaduct Track down below.
From there, we climbed up the little track I took yesterday at the border of the reserve and the park, back to Ridge Track, and then continued to follow it around along the top of the Ridge. The views were phenomenal. Even better than yesterday! The amount of Adelaide you can see is expansive - a real panorama. Further along, you can look back and get a great view of the rec park and reserve. Fabulous! The photo just doesn't really do it justice.
Then we did a bit of "off the main trail" walking! My favourite part. We found a little track before Ridge Track began heading back down (just before you arrive at Walkers Creek Track). "Lets try it" and off we went to see where it headed. Knowing the layout of the place better, we knew roughly where we were going! It came out right at the intersection of Viaduct and Ridge. It was a great detour! In looking at the satellite photo, you can see a lot of little tracks branching off and heading down the hillside back to Viaduct Track. Some are steeper than others, so some interesting walks will be upcoming!
From there it was a quick walk back to the car park. Dave loved this place just as much as I did, so it will now become a regular spot for us to go - particularly because we can take Max. If you live in Adelaide, go find it. It is great for all levels of walkers and if you don't get in the bush much, I think you will do so more once you have experienced the Shepherds Hill Recreation Park!
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