Bells Rapids Walk Trail, Swan Valley
Location: Bells Rapids Walk Trail, Swan Valley
Distance: 5.5km loop
Grade: 1/2
Trail Marker: Some totems with directional signage but is minimal.
Duration: 1 - 2 hours
Cost: $0, free entry
Paw-Friendly Hike
Date Hiked: 25th September 2018
Kml Map File: Please click here.
After a week and a half at home I NEEDED to get outdoors and finally was able to head out this morning with my boy. Thank you willy weather for putting on a fine spring day. I decided I would try and get out as much as I can over my final weeks in Perth and enjoy some of my favourite trails, taking some fresh updated pics for the blog.
Bells Rapids is so beautiful at this time of year, was good to see so many families out and about and my boy Diesel absolutely loved it.
The scenic Bells Rapids walk trail enjoys views of both countryside and coastal plains on this circuit. It is also the habitat of the beautiful Grey Kangaroo which can be seen in abundance at certain times of the year.
I parked at the far end carpark by the main bridge, through my backpack on, grabbed my camera and put Diesel on his lead and started to head off. Went to take my first pic only to realise the bloody camera battery was flat....damn it so pics are from my Samsung.
This walk that I have done actually links the 1.25km River Walk and the 3km Goat Walk together making it a 4.25km trail. Both start on the other side of the bridge. A totem with signage marks the location you start from.
So for those that don't know, Bells Rapids is known for being one of the best vantage points on the Swan River for the Avon Descent event, with its majestic boulders and rushing waters in the winter. The Avon Descent is held every year on the first weekend in August and attracts competitors from all over the world. The bridge is usually packed out with spectators throughout the event.
The bridge is a beautiful spot to photograph the rapids and fast flowing river passing underneath. The start point is on the other side.
It really was the perfect time to be out on this particular trail with the river flowing and the abundance of colourful wildflowers around.
This section can be a little tricky. When you get to the fence line turn left and go uphill, do not go straight ahead as many people have done in the past. Unfortunately this part is not signposted but if you have the KML file on your phone you will see it's not where your meant to be anyway. I call this incline 'Heartbreak Hill' as it definitely gets the heart pumping.
Luckily the views are worth it from the top. You can see the train line running through the valley, but it's not the highest point yet.
This can also be a little bit tricky to navigate. Make sure you turn left at the top of the hill, do not go straight ahead. Once again you are following the fence line and the trail declines slowly but I am sure you can see what's ahead right. What goes down must come up, in hiking cases anyway so enjoy the slight relief from climbing up.
The next climb is a little higher up but provided even better views than the last. Turn around and take a good look around. It was just glorious looking down you can see the bridge where you started and river running through the valley. Right over the other side in the crevice there is a secret waterfall, well it's not really a secret but it's not accessible. This position offers the best vantage point to view it. Unfortunately my phone does it no justice but you'll see what I mean where your there next.
The trail flattens out a bit up here with nice little rest spots to stop and immerse yourself in the wonders of nature.
It's also a lovely place to stop and take some portrait pics. Perfect puppy smile haha
And a good panorama photo too
The trail starts to decline from here but make sure you keep an eye out for the granite rock area on the right part of the way down as it offers some pretty epic views of the valley below all the way out to the Perth CBD.
Dragging ourselves away from epic views we continue downhill towards the river.
Be sure to stop and get a pic of 'Buttock Boulder' and no I haven't named it that. There is even a sign post pointing that way.
Continuing on a little bit further we pretty much neared the end of the Goat walk Trail. The trail links up here to the River Walk.
This area is not sign posted either but make sure you take a left turn and walk through the fence and gate towards the river. The river walk is a nice change as you walk along side the river on a narrow trail sheltered in most cases by the trees. There is a small amount of rock scrambling to do but also provides lots of places to get close to the river and dip your toes in to cool off.
The water had dropped down considerably since I was there last month. Being the start of school holidays lots of families were out and about on this section of the walk. The River section is family friendly so a lot more popular than the Goat Trail.
It wasn't a hot day but the sun did have a bite to it, not enough for me to take a dip but Diesel certainly thought it was.
It really did amaze me how much of this rock was exposed. The River Walk takes you right back to the bridge where the trail loop ends.
A nice easy dog friendly hike with your four legged friend.
P.S. When you leave the Bells Rapids area make sure you drive around to the Bells Rapids Lookout at the top of the hill on Campersic Rd.
Hopefully this post inspires you to visit and if so, we would love to hear your thoughts on the trail. Please feel free to tag us in your adventures.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we walk, the traditional lands of the Nyoongar people & wish to acknowledge them as traditional owners paying respects to their Elders, past & present, and Elders from other communities who may be here today.