Plan your activity

Check Park Alerts and contact the local Parks and Wildlife Service office for up-to-date track conditions, river or creek water levels and fire danger.

The Bureau of Meteorology website provides up-to-date information on current weather conditions. Local shire offices provide total fire ban information and latest road conditions. Tune in to ABC Local Radio for broadcasts. You can also find alerts and the current fire danger rating on the Fire and Emergency Services website.

It is recommended that you inform friends, family and/or police of your travel dates and the locations you plan to visit (your itinerary) during your travels into parks and reserves in Western Australia. Provide them with regular updates to ensure they know where you are. Agree on what they should do if you are overdue or do not return when you said you would. Use this Trip Intentions form and provide sufficient detail so that they have the information needed to get help if required. 

Some of our parks and trails have self-registration stations and for some remote region parks, visitors should register with the local Parks and Wildlife Service office. These registrations should be completed in addition to informing your own trusted person or persons, not as an alternative.

There will be times when, in the interests of visitor safety and environmental protection, parks and reserves are closed or have restricted access.

This could be because of:

•  Bushfires, floods or another natural disasters and the aftermath of these events.
•  Fire prevention measures including prescribed burning.
•  Forecast high Fire Danger Ratings.
•  Maintenance and facility development works and visitor safety works.
•  Management works including pest control operations and land rehabilitation.

As far as possible closures for programmed conservation, maintenance or development work are scheduled to minimise impact on visitors. When closures are unplanned, reopening will take place at the earliest opportunity. Notice of closures can be found from the Park Alerts menu.

For up-to-date information, also contact the local Parks and Wildlife Service office closest to your destination and please observe any park and road closure signs and directions from department staff.

Please heed visitor risk warnings shown on signs. Hazard warning signs are placed there for your protection and safety.

To keep yourself safe during this bushfire season:

• Plan your visits for cooler periods of the year, avoiding the hot summer months.
• Check the Fire Danger Rating and do not go on or remain on the trails if the forecast is Extreme or Catastrophic.
• Do not do extended multi-day trips as it is not possible to keep up with changing conditions (extremely limited mobile phone coverage) and it is difficult to self-evacuate from the trail at short notice.
• Avoid remoter sections of the trail where there is limited vehicle access.
• Abide by all trail closure signs, and any instructions from Parks and Wildlife and other emergency staff.
• Download the free Emergency+ App before your hike. It can be used in the event of any emergency to call for assistance. If there is no mobile phone coverage you will not be able to call 000 but the app will provide you with GPS location details. 

Trails and parks may be closed on days when the Fire Danger Rating is Extreme or Catastrophic. Check these websites when planning your walks:

• Emergency WA – information about Fire Danger Ratings, current warnings and incidents
• Bureau of Meteorology – for weather forecasts and Fire Danger Ratings.