After the fire: Welcome back to Mount Remarkable National Park

Witness a remarkable recovery

Did you know that at 16,500 hectares, Mount Remarkable National Park is about 100 times the size of the Adelaide CBD? That’s a lot of incredible national park to explore, and at just 3.5 hours’ drive from Adelaide, it’s a popular destination for city visitors.

Getting a grip on the size of Mount Remarkable National Park is important for visitors planning a trip this autumn, because two months ago a bushfire swept through part of the park. About 25% of the park was affected, but there’s still plenty of untouched rugged southern Flinders Ranges landscape to experience – and on Thursday 17 April much of the park was reopened, offering visitors a unique experience to see a landscape recover from fire.

What do visitors love about Mount Remarkable National Park?

The park is home to diverse landscapes, from the 960m summit that overlooks Willochra Plain to tranquil creek beds and rugged gorges. Visitors love walking scenic trails, taking on mountain biking adventures or camping in treasured spots like Mambray Creek.

The silver lining of the fire event is that visitors now have a rare chance to witness a fire-affected landscape regenerating. Nature has an incredible ability to recover after fire and Mount Remarkable National Park is already showing signs of new life.

Good news: It’s mostly untouched by fire

The Wilmington Fire burned through part of Mount Remarkable National Park’s northern area, leaving much of the park unaffected. Key visitor areas such as Mambray Creek, Melrose, and Willowie saw no fire impact at all – they remain fully open and as stunning as ever, with their campgrounds, picnic spots and trails intact. This means you can still soak up the gorgeous creekside scenery at Mambray Creek, tackle the summit walk near Melrose, or enjoy the adventure of Willowie’s cycling trails just as you always could.

Be aware: Some areas of the park are impacted

In the northern section of the park visitors can expect to see the impacts of fire. Alligator Gorge was the area hardest hit by the fire and restoration efforts are underway. Visitors can once again access Alligator Gorge’s dramatic rock formations, except for the northern end of the Gorge. A section of the 9km Alligator Gorge Hike, including the Terraces, remains closed for now while repairs continue and Ali Lookout Walk and platform are also closed for visitor safety.

What’s open for visitors

With the park getting back on its feet, here’s a quick look at what's open and how you can visit:

Walking trails
Nearly all of Mount Remarkable National Park's walking routes are open. Favorites like the Hidden Gorge Hike, Black Range Trek, Monitor Loop and The Narrows Hike are available for you to enjoy. Even the long-distance Heysen Trail segment through the park is open for through-hikers. Stretch your legs and take in the views – there are plenty of options for all fitness levels. Just remember that portion of the Alligator Gorge Hike, including The Terraces, is still closed for now and plan your route accordingly.

Campgrounds and camping
All main campgrounds (including Mambray Creek Campground and Baroota Ruins Campground) are open and most backpacker campsites have reopened as well – except for Longhill, Eaglehawk, and Stony Creek camp sites, which will remain closed into the recovery period. Always use designated campsites and book ahead at parks.sa.gov.au.

Mountain biking trails
Great news for cyclists – all designated mountain biking trails remain open. The network of trails in the Willowie section and Remarkable Epic Trail in the park are ready to ride. You can pedal through diverse landscapes, from rugged bushland to open forest, and enjoy the fresh autumn air. Bikes are not permitted on walking trails or non-designated tracks, so please stick to the bike-approved paths for everyone’s safety.

Park roads and management tracks
Park management tracks and roads have reopened for visitor use as well, which means walkers can also use these tracks to access different parts of the park but there remains no public vehicle access on fire and management tracks behind closed gates. As always, check any on-site signage about track conditions.

Please note
Recovery work is ongoing in some areas, so conditions may change. Park staff and rangers may need to close or detour certain spots if unexpected issues arise – always pay attention to signage and any instructions on-site, even in areas that are generally open. For the latest updates on access, it’s wise to check the National Park and Wildlife Service South Australia website (parks.sa.gov.au) before and during your visit.

Plan ahead for a great Easter visit

Mount Remarkable National Park is a popular destination during long weekends, and with areas reopening, demand will be high. Most campsites will book out ahead of the long weekend, but you can check online for last-minute spots and pay for vehicle entry at parks.sa.gov.au