Mount Barker Summit Walk

Mount Barker Summit is a short climb with a big reward, panoramic views across the Adelaide Hills and the towns below. The reserve allows dogs as long as they stay on lead.

Lead rules

Mount Barker District Council requires dogs to be leashed at all times in the summit reserve. It is a conservation area of native bushland, and kangaroos are often about.

The walk

The walk to the summit is about 500 metres return, and a longer circuit of 1.7 to 2 km loops through the bush for those who want more. The track is natural dirt, uneven in places, with some rocky, undulating sections.

Interpretive signs along the way cover the area's culture and biodiversity.

Before you go

There is no drinking water and there are no toilets, and bins are scarce, so bring water and take waste home. The car park off Mount Barker Summit Road is gated and locked each evening, typically at 6pm, or 8pm in daylight saving.

Make a day of it

Down in town, Laratinga Wetlands has flat on-lead loops, and Rival Brothers Mount Barker is there for coffee.

Parts of the track are exposed, so pick a cool morning in summer. The short summit walk suits most dogs, while the circuit rewards fitter ones.