Hewett's Hill to Ball Creek

The first section out of Hewett's Hill brings you back down the hill and along the carved valleys of the nearby waterways (mostly dry throughout the year, except after heavy or continual rains). Because of the close proximity to the seasonal water supply the forest here is very lush and on a dark winters day, this section has a very "deep forest" kind of feel. After a short walk you reach the first of many intersections of the Bibbulmun Track and Munda Biddi as both trails snake their way on different paths all the way to Albany. Take a right onto the wide gravel road and travel down the hill towards the meeting of even more trails. Throughout the years there have been numerous named trails run through here and one tree shows about 4-5 different markers for the Dell to South Ledge loop, bike trails and even signs for the Winjan Track, which has very limited information on it. Back in my younger days I would take the Munda Biddi down to a granite platform a few hundred metres from this intersection, have lunch and then walk back to Kalamunda.

 

These days I continue on the Bibbulmun as it says goodbye to the Munda Biddi (for now) and heads up a fairly steep hill. Recently this area has seen prescribed burns rip through it so the landscape will keep changing as the forest recovers from the burning. I've been lucky to see it either side of the burns and I know which one I prefer but hopefully they leave it alone for a while now and it can recover. You follow the wide 4x4 track up the hill and past what used to be lockout gates (the barrier has since been removed and not replaced). At the top of the hill you are treated to the expansive views over the Helena River Valley that will become home for the next few kilometres. With little tree cover along this stretch, the payoff being some great views to your left as you catch occasional glimpses of Mundaring Weir in the distance.