Themeda Circuit – Circuit C, Burnside Walks - Start

Themeda Circuit, Circuit C of the Burnside Walks, is a 3.6 to 3.7 km loop in Mount Osmond Reserve, Glen Osmond, climbing the hillside on steep switchbacks before paying you back with sweeping views across the Adelaide plains, the city and the coastline. It suits fit walkers with steady, on-lead dogs that handle narrow shared trails.

Leash status

This is a City of Burnside on-leash reserve, with leads capped at two metres, and it is not a designated off-leash area. Because the trail runs through a sensitive native Themeda grassland, dogs must stay on the path the whole way.

Water and hazards

There are no fountains, taps or bins on the trail, so carry enough water for both of you and pack your waste bags out. The clay sections turn muddy and slippery after rain, and the exposed ridge has almost no shade, which matters a lot for your dog in an Adelaide summer.

Cyclists share the single-track in places, so keep your lead short around the blind corners of the switchbacks and hold your dog to the inside of the trail. Access can also be restricted on Total Fire Ban days declared for the Mount Lofty Ranges.

Max: shared single-track means cyclists can come up fast on the switchbacks. Keep the lead short, hold the dog to the inside, and step aside early, a two-metre lead across a narrow path is a recipe for trouble.

Getting there and parking

The trailhead is at 12 Hayward Drive, Mount Osmond, with limited informal roadside parking that fills on weekends and sunny afternoons. The Mount Osmond Lookout car park and the Gill Terrace car park at the Toll Gate are alternatives for the wider Burnside Walks network. Public transport is impractical, with the nearest Adelaide Metro stop on Dashwood Road in Beaumont still a walk away.

More walks nearby

The sister route, Mount Osmond Reserve (Beaumont Circuit, Circuit D), sits on the other side of the ridge and can be combined into a longer outing for experienced hikers.

For an off-leash run after the climb, Myrtle Bank Dog Park is a short drive down the hill.

Weekday mornings are the best window, dodging weekend crowds and the heat on the exposed ridge. Browse more dog-friendly walks in SA or plan the foothills with our guide to Glen Osmond with the dogs.