Brownhill Creek Recreation Park

Brownhill Creek Recreation Park is 51 hectares of steep-sided creek valley eight kilometres from the Adelaide CBD, with river red gums more than 300 years old lining the water. National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia welcomes dogs here, and it is specific about the condition: a lead of no more than two metres, on the designated walking trails only. For a genuine bush valley this close to the city, it is an unusual deal.

Leash status

This is a national park reserve, so the rules run tighter than a council reserve. Keep the dog under control on a lead no longer than two metres, stay on the designated walking trails, and bring bags, because there are no bins in the park and whatever you carry in comes out with you. The two-metre rule is not bureaucratic tidiness: eastern brown snakes live in this valley, fox poison baits may be laid and are fatal to dogs, and kangaroos and koalas will defend themselves against a dog badly enough to kill one.

The walk

Two formal trails carry the walking. The Wirraparinga Trail runs 2.3 km one way in about 45 minutes, Grade 3 and suitable for most fitness levels, passing shaded old European trees and sections of rare grey box woodland on the southern slopes. The Shared Use Trail runs 3 km one way in about an hour and carries walkers, bikes and horses together, with walkers giving way to horses and cyclists giving way to walkers. Linking the two into the loop most people walk makes roughly 6 km and two hours.

Pepsi: Off the track is where the trouble is. Snakes, baits and bandicoot habitat all sit in the scrub either side of a trail that is perfectly safe to walk down.

Water and terrain

The creek runs narrow and is at its best after winter rain, but it is not a swimming creek, and the lead rule keeps a dog on the bank regardless, so carry drinking water. Shaded picnic areas sit at the Mitcham Lions Club site and at Seven Pines. The valley holds its shade better than most foothill parks, which is a real advantage through the warmer months.

Getting there and parking

Access is via Brownhill Creek Road by vehicle, or on foot from Northbrook Avenue. Torrens Park is the nearest railway station, leaving a short walk to the entrance. Entry is free, and the park is open daily except on days of Catastrophic Fire Danger, and it may close on Extreme days, so check the CFS rating before you drive up.

Close by with the dogs

The Brownhill Creek Tourist Park sits inside the park itself, and Belair National Park Holiday Park is the other option close by. Mitcham Dog Park is the nearest fenced run, Randell Park Reserve at Torrens Park is the short local walk, and The Little Leaf and Bean Cafe at Blackwood is a short drive.

When to go

Late autumn through early spring is the pick: the creek has water in it, the snakes are down, and the valley holds its shade. Summer afternoons are the worst of it, with closures on the bad fire days and heat on the rest. Good for big walkers who want a proper bush valley with a dog on a short lead, and not the place to let a dog roam, by rule and by risk alike.

More Adelaide foothill walks are in our SA trails guide, and the Mitcham page covers the local dog-friendly listing.