Kalamunda Zig Zag Trail - Trail Description

Looking down from the zig zag. The bottom leg of the zig zag can just be seen through the trees in the middle of the photo. Alexander McCooke

Location: Shire of Kalamunda, south east of Perth, 25km from Perth

Start/end: Kalamunda

Region: Western Australia

Length open: 3km

Surface: Bitumen

Description

The railway through Kalamunda was opened in 1891. It was extended to Karragullen before closing in 1949. The rail line had a series of switching points (zig zag) where trains reversed direction in order to climb the steep 1 in 30 grade of the Darling Range.

After the rails were removed the zig zag was turned into a narrow bitumen road (one way - top to bottom).

Situated in the Gooseberry Hill National Park, the zig zag offers great views over Perth. It is a popular scenic drive. You may also like to walk the zig zag. Traffic is generally slow moving, but some care is required since there are no footpaths. The national park offers a number of walking tracks that offer interesting side trips off the road.

The zig zag is also well used by local cycling groups. Riding down the zig zag on road or any bicycle is one of the most enjoyable things available to a cyclist in WA.

The railway formation that the zig zag was built on continues on through Gooseberry Hill to Kalamunda and beyond. Much of the former railway has been made into a walking and cycling trail - the Kalamunda Railway Heritage Trail.

Thanks to Steve Yates for assistance with this description.