The new dog-friendly loop trail of the Harewood State Forest on Scotsdale Road, Denmark is finished.

The original walk trail out and back from the parking area to Scotsdale Creek has been increased from 1.2km to 2.8km and is now a loop trail taking walkers back to the carpark on Scotsdale Road.

The Class 3 trail is suitable for most ages and fitness levels and is situated within the Harewood State Forest.

It gives residents another place to walk their ‘fur children’ as well as getting some physical exercise and reconnecting with nature.

The project was awarded to Monkey Rock MTB Co, a new trail building company in Denmark.

Monkey Rock has specialised in building mountain bike trails and this was their first walk trail project.

Company owners, Nathan and Jane Devenport, said the contract enabled them to showcase the quality of trail they could build.

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attraction’s Frankland District staff and Perth-based technical trail experts worked with Monkey Rock to get a trail alignment that facilitated good drainage.

But the region had its wettest winter in years, which tested the trail builders and the ability of the trail surface to shed water, delaying the planned opening by several months.

Frankland District parks and visitor services coordinator Peter Masters supervised the construction on behalf of the State Government.

“It was a difficult build, from scoping out the alignment in the bush to actually cutting the trail on the ground,” he said.

“We had to push through thick, wet karri forest undergrowth but in the end we’ve got a great result that the community can really take pride in.”

Situated in the winery region, tourists can meander through some spectacular karri regrowth listening to birds in the canopy. Harewood is well known for its fungi, with some colourful displays, clinging to fallen timber along the side of the trail.

There are some old interpretation signs along the original section of trail highlighting the logging era when the Millar family logged this forest.

The restrictions on dogs in national parks, reserves and State forests are partly for their safety as well as those of native wildlife.

Toxic baits are used throughout the State to control feral animals such as feral cats and foxes, and are attractive to dogs but fatal if ingested.

There are more than 120 locations where dogs are allowed in parks and reserves which are managed by the Parks and Wildlife Service, including most State forests.

This article appeared in the Denmark Bulletin, 9 December 2021.