Luke Pen Walk

Luke Pen Walk follows the Kalgan River out of Lower Kalgan on East Bank Road, a roughly 11 km return route - some sources list it anywhere from 9 to 12 km depending on where you turn around - past marri trees, vineyards and river pasture about 16 km from Albany. Dogs are welcome on lead, and on a quiet weekday morning you will mostly have the river to yourselves.

The walk

This is a grade 3 track with around 140 metres of elevation gain, a few short steep sections and some steps, so it suits a dog with reasonable fitness rather than a puppy or an older dog with joint trouble. Allow two to four hours for the full return trip. Small footbridges cross the creeks along the way, and a bird-shaped shelter sits about 120 metres in if you need an early break.

Leash status

Dogs stay on lead for the whole walk, both for wildlife - the trail passes through bird habitat along the river - and because sections run close to farm pasture. Bring your own bags and carry all waste back out with you; there are no bins on the trail.

Max: Keep the lead short near the pasture boundaries. It is farmland either side in places, and a loose dog is a fast way to end a good walk badly.

Water and terrain

The Kalgan River runs alongside much of the route, so there is water to look at, but no taps or bubblers on the trail itself. Carry enough for both of you, especially in the warmer months. The surface can turn muddy or boggy after rain where runoff crosses from neighbouring pastures, and long stretches have no shade cover at all.

When to go

Skip the middle of the day in summer given the exposed sections, and expect the track to be at its best after a dry spell. Spring brings wildflowers along the route, which is when the walk is at its prettiest. The trailhead is open around the clock, but daylight hours make the steep sections and footbridges far easier to judge.

Getting there and parking

From Albany, take the South Coast Highway for about 16 km, then turn onto Lower Kalgan Bridge Road and follow it to East Bank Road. There is parking and a toilet at the East Bank Road entrance. There is no public transport option, so you will need a car.

Make a day of it

Kalgan River Caravan Park and Chalets is close by and takes dogs overnight if you want to turn the walk into a weekend, while The Grange on Kalgan and Kalgan Retreat offer quieter alternatives along the same river corridor.

Find more dog friendly walks in Western Australia, or see what else is dog friendly in Kalgan.