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Butterflies, Birds & Bridges Trail, Canning River Pk Butterflies, Birds & Bridges Trail, Canning River Pk

Urban Walk

(+3)
Trail Running, Gravel, Road
 in Perth & Surrounds

  • 1-3 hours
  • 4 km
    • Bush Walk Class 1

      All abilities access, flat, even, hardened surface with no steps or steep sections. Suitable for unassisted wheelchair users and prams. Clear directional signage. No bushwalking experience required.

One of the most stunning trails in the Canning River Regional Park, this four kilometre dual use trail will take you over sedge meadows, through mature woodlands, over creeks and amongst the crowns of a paperbark forest.

View from Kent St Weir upstream
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The Canning River Regional Park extends 6km along both sides of the Canning River, between Shelley Bridge and Nicholson Road Bridge. The Butterflies, Birds and Bridges Loop encompasses a broad range of the park's ecosystems. The Kent St Weir was built in 1928 to prevent salt water moving upstream and destroying the alluvial soils of the market gardens. This is where the trail begins and immediately the estuarine tolerant plant species of samphires, soft needled swamp sheoak and salt-tolerant melaleucas can be seen transitioning into freshwater dominant species of flooded gums, river banksia and freshwater melaleucas. The trail takes you through the freshwater region, past wetlands constructed to improve the health of the river, parkland and tidal lagoons, to the Greenfield Street Bridge, where you cross over the river and return to the weir on the opposite side of the river.

This wheelchair friendly trail is popular with cyclists, walkers and bird-watchers. The park itself has 97 species of birds, which is approximately half the number of species recorded on the Swan Coastal Plain, many of these birds using the area to breed in.  Commonly spotted waterbirds include cormorants, swamp hens, ibis, pelican, egret, ducks and spoonbills.

Although the trail can be completed in little over an hour and a half, a full day can be spent in the area exploring the many attractions.  Picnic facilities are located at several places along the trail.  Wilson Park the area surrounding Kent St Weir has many attractions including the Canning River Eco Education Centre, Canning River Cafe and the Castledare Miniature Railway.

The river is also popular with canoeists, with designated canoe launch areas located at Riverton Bridge, Kent St Weir, Masons Landing, Hester Park and more further downstream of Shelley Bridge. A canoe trail exists from the Mt Henry Bridge to Hester Park past Nicholson Road.

In addition, several other walk trails can be completed while on this trail including the Banksia Hill Loop Walk trail and the Woodles Walk Trail.

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Here is everything you need to know before visiting this trail.

Time / Duration

One and a half hours if walking

Length

4km loop

What To Pack

Group A - Urban Trails (Urban trails or short trails near facilities) required.

Trail Start

Canning River Regional Park at the end of Kent Street, 20 minute drive from Perth

Get directions

Trail End

Bush Walk

Class 1

All abilities access, flat, even, hardened surface with no steps or steep sections. Suitable for unassisted wheelchair users and prams. Clear directional signage. No bushwalking experience required.

Visit Trail Tips for further information.

Hazards & Warnings

Beware of snakes during warmer months.

Facilities

  • BBQ Facilities
  • Bicycle Rack
  • Cafe
  • Car Park
  • Child Activities
  • Coach Parking
  • Dog Friendly
  • Interpretive Centre
  • All accessible parking
  • Picnic Area
  • Public Toilet
  • Shaded Area
  • Sheltered Area
  • All accessible toilet facilities
  • View Platform
  • Water Access Points

Best time of year

All year round, more flowers during Spring - September to November

Trail Access

Road

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1 trail goers have rated Butterflies, Birds & Bridges Trail, Canning River Pk as 3 out of 5!

We love to hear from people who've been on our Western Australian trails, so it would be most appreciated it if you wanted to leave a review.

Chelle Fisher

Reviewed 14 Sep 2022, 11:15am

A really beautiful dual use, family friendly trail over sedge meadows, through mature woodlands, over creeks and amongst the crowns of a paperbark forest.

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