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Usually we are up in the Kimberley, out walking the Cape to Cape, or the Bibbulmun track, however when we are in Perth, we often do day walks in the nearby National Parks. If you are looking for a great hike close to Perth, then read on. Learn everything you need to know about the Eagle’s View Trail in John Forrest National Park. One of Perth’s most popular bush walks.
At 15 kms long with sweeping views of Perth and spring wildflowers, the Eagle’s view Trail at John Forrest National Park is one of Perth’s most popular hikes. Being a loop trail (which means you don’t need to take two cars!) and only half an hour from Perth it is also very convenient.
Cut to the chase I hear you say! How hard is it? 15kms is a reasonable distance. On a flat hard surface most people walk around 4.5-5.5 km per hour. The Eagle’s View Trail has some steep sections, some gravelly sections and some steep gravelly sections! All of which will slow you down. You will also be slowed down by some wonderful views of the coastal plains and in spring, the wildflowers.
Unless you are Steve Moneghetti, you are going to average a lot less then 5 km per hour – more like 3.5 km per hour. If you are Steve Moneghetti, then welcome to our blog! You are my hero! Add in some rest stops for some delicious homemade Mango Cake and you should be able to get a pretty good idea of how long it will take YOU to do the walk.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN US ON THIS WALK?
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On our day walks, we would usually complete the Eagle’s View Trail over about 6 hours. We would normally have a 20 minute break for morning tea, about 45 minutes for lunch and then a bunch of 5 minute breaks along the way.
We always go clockwise when we walk this trail because we usually start around 9am and this means that when we are ready for morning tea, we have the perfect view over the city (you are probably getting the picture… morning tea is very important to us here at Inspiration Outdoors!). It also means that you can get the steepest hill over and done with early on.
Eagles View Trail offers great hiking close to Perth. You definitely do not need to be an expert hiker and you don’t need a tonne of gear to complete it.
Where: John Forrest National Park, Park Road, Hovea Western Australia. If you are heading east on Great Eastern Hwy, take the second “Park Road” entrance for the most direct route. Follow the signs down to the ranger’s hut where there is a walkers registration centre.
Distance: 15kms
Time: 4-6 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Best time: August – October, April – May
Take with you: Small day pack, 2 litres of water, snacks/lunch, good walking shoes or boots, first aid stuff.
Phone reception: Good at the start then poor.
Cost: National Park Entry Fees apply. Standard/Concession: $11/$5 per vehicle
Toilets: At the start/end.
Water: None
Now that you know everything you need to complete this trail, it is time to do it!
1. Download the trail notes at the bottom of this article.
2. Call a friend to arrange a date
3. After your walk, tell us how it went in the comments below. If you have already been, why not share some tips with other readers – leave them below.
Eagle’s View Trail Notes – By the Department of Environment and Conservation