It was Sunday and a perfect day for a hike in the John Forrest National Park, east of Midland up in the hills. I came to hike The Eagle View Trail, which is the longest one in the park, a challenging 16km loop that consists of many hill climbs & descents. The track is mostly narrow with lots of loose stones underfoot & big rocks. There are some parts where you walk along easy wide flat dirt roads.

Starting from the picnic area I traversed pass the National Falls, at this time of year it has pently of water. A popular spot filled with parents & kids. Then the path goes up to the Eagle View lookout. Don’t stop on the path but as it is swarming with Bull ants that are quick to climb up your legs & bite if you let them! There is a perfect huge rock providing shade & cool for a break as I stopped for lunch. Many planes fly overhead often, breaking up the nature sounds. Here you see the city skyline in the far distance. Continuing on were the best display of wildflowers along the track, an explosion of colour everywhere.

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By the time I reached the junction where the Eagle View & Christmas Creek Trails separate, it felt like I had walked 10kms but it was only 7kms with all the up & downs of hills. Here I had the choice; 9kms to finish the loop or 4.5kms to take the shortcut. As a trail runner went by along the loop I decided what the heck, I’ll finish the loop.

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So onwards & upwards I went, the path turning on a wider more pleasant walking track before branching off back along the narrow rocky track, surrounded now by banksias. 1km from the end & the track bypasses Hovea Falls. There is a side track to the falls, again pently of water flowing. The Eagle View Trail is advertised as taking 5 hours to complete. It took me 4.5hrs which included lunch & short breaks. An excellent dayhike to do at this time of year, not too hard & not too easy. There are a few small creeks you cross over which at this time of year they are flowing with water nicely. And as the Christmas Creek trail follows the Eagle View Trail some of the way, there is that option to shorten the hike if need be to 10kms in total.