The Victoria Dam Trail is is a gentle walk through lovely bush in Korung National Park with the added interest of the dam and it's history. There were very few walkers on the day we walked the trail so we almost had the place to ourselves.
The entrance to the dam is off Mason Mill Road in Carmel. There is a small car park with additional roadside parking at the entrance gates on the road to the reservoir. On weekends when the gates are locked you will need to walk 800m along the bitumen road until you reach the second car park area with information signs about black cockatoos. Access to this car park is weekdays from 8am to 5pm. An advantage of walking the extra distance is being able to view the grave of two day old Francis Weston dating from 1876.
Here you pick up the track winding through lovely bush to a lookout area overlooking the Victoria Reservoir and the new dam. There are lovely views of the reservoir, the dam and the Bickley Valley with Perth in the distance.
Take the steps down to the dam and walk across the new dam wall for great views. Follow the bitumen road down the hill. You will pass the toilet block and a picnic area on your left. There is a grassed area which sits below the dam wall which is popular with bird watchers as it is frequented by feeding birds. Turn left off the road to the remnant of the old dam wall. There are information displays on the wall.
Take some time to explore the old dam wall and read up about the history of Perth's first public water supply. There are some landscaped gardens here so it is a great spot to have a rest.
From the old dam wall we followed the trail towards Bickley Reservoir. A narrow trail winds through the bush for a little while before coming out onto a dirt road. We continued along the dirt road for a short while, past an old information area and then a few hundred meters further on before turning around to retrace our steps.
This walk was about 5km and took a couple of hours at a leisurely place. Most of the walk is fairly easy but the tracks are narrow (two abreast) in places and there are some inclines and of course the stairs. This walk is in a national Park so dogs are not allowed. Toilets can be found in the picnic area below the new dam wall.
Since our initial hike to explore Victoria Dam we have learned that you can complete a 7.2 km loop trail by continuing along the wide gravel road until it emerges at Munday Brook Bridge on the Mason and Bird Heritage Trail.
We returned to complete this loop at another time, continuing along the gravel road to the bridge and then following the Mason and Bird Heritage Trail east to loop back and finish at the Victoria Dam car park on the access road.
We have since also completed the full Mason and Bird Heritage Trail from Bickley Reservoir and the challenging Bickley Reservoir Walk Trail.
After our walk we headed a short distance down the road to Masonmill Gardens for a cuppa and to explore their beautiful gardens and mini golf.
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In the spirit of reconciliation Out and About- Family Nature Connection acknowledges the traditional owners of the Wadjak boodjar (Perth land) and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and emerging and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
As always when hiking in the bush please help to reduce the spread of Phytophthora Dieback by sticking to the tracks and paths, staying out of quarantined areas and, if possible, clean your shoes before and after hiking. A spray of 70% methylated spirit and 30% water can be effective.