🚴 Cycle Trails Heritage Rail Trail

Heritage Rail Trail

Bridgetown to Greenbushes via Historic Railway

📏
18km one way Distance
⏱️
1.5–3 hours one way Duration
Easy Difficulty
🔄
One-way / Return Trail Type
⛰️
Gentle railway gradients Elevation

About This Walk

The Heritage Rail Trail follows the old railway alignment between Bridgetown and Greenbushes, offering an 18-kilometre ride through dense jarrah and marri forest on gentle gradients. As a former railway line, the trail is remarkably flat and even, making it one of the most accessible cycling trails in the region — perfect for families and casual riders.

The trail passes through peaceful bushland with occasional glimpses of historic railway infrastructure — cuttings, bridges, and formation works that speak to the region's timber and mining heritage. Greenbushes township makes an ideal midway rest stop for coffee and a look around the Discovery Centre before returning.

For more adventurous riders, the Heritage Rail Trail connects to the "Greenbushes Challenge" — a roughly 50-kilometre loop featuring sustained climbs, exhilarating descents, and expansive views across the farming valley. The annual Rotary Tour of the Blackwood also offers distances from 35km to 65km through this corridor.

Trail Highlights

Gentle railway gradients — ideal for families
Dense jarrah and marri forest setting
Historic railway infrastructure along the route
Coffee stop in Greenbushes township
Connects to the Greenbushes Challenge (50km loop)
Annual Rotary Tour of the Blackwood event

Practical Information

🌿 Best Season

Year-round — pleasant in all seasons

🐕 Dogs

Yes — dogs welcome on lead

♿ Accessibility

Grade 2 (Easy) — gentle gradients, compacted surface, suitable for most riders

📍 Trailhead

Bridgetown Railway Station precinct or Greenbushes town centre

🥾 Walking Tips

  • Start from either Bridgetown or Greenbushes — both have parking
  • Surface is compacted gravel — hybrid or mountain bike recommended
  • Carry water and snacks for the full return ride
  • Stop at Greenbushes Discovery Centre for local history
  • Consider a one-way ride with a car shuffle for families