Welcome to the stunning Yorke Peninsula Salt Lake Trail.
Yorketown and the surrounding areas were once a hive of activity. There were many more townships in the area than there are today, and several had populations in the hundreds. Salt and gypsum were major industries, employing thousands of workers, and individual farms also employed hundreds of labourers.
As industries became mechanised or closed down and work became scarce, many townships also faded, leaving only stone buildings and ruins behind. The Salt Lake Trail will take you past many beautiful lakes, and will also give you the opportunity to visit the ruins of these once thriving communities.
What is the Salt Lake Trail?
The Salt Lake Trail is a self-drive tour that will take you past stunning pink, orange, blue and white salt lakes. For those who want a bit more, there is also the opportunity to investigate the history of salt on Yorke Peninsula. Interpretative signs are installed along the way.
Following the Trail
There are 4 different trails to choose from, depending on how much time you have to explore.
Each tour has different coloured signs to follow, and these are also numbered to help you keep on track. Refer to the Salt Lake Trail map (below) for estimated drive times and corresponding colours.
For the ‘Full Tour’, ‘Schools and Cemeteries’ drive and the ‘Short Drive’, the first coloured signs are all located on the corner of Boothill Station Road and St Vincent Highway (head towards Warooka).
The first blue sign for the ‘Lake Fowler’ drive is on the corner of Lake Fowler Road and St Vincent Highway (head towards Edithburgh).
Starting Point – Weaners Flat Reserve
The Salt Lake Trail begins at Weaners Flat Reserve, which is located on Stansbury Road in Yorketown and marked as ‘A’ on main map (below).
At Weaners Flat, head to the shore of Par Lake where you’ll find the main information sign, with details about the different tours as well as more information about the history of the salt on the Yorke Peninsula.
Seasonal Changes
The salt lakes change dramatically from season to season and the trail is worth revisiting at different times of years.
Winter: the land is green, the lakes are full and the reflections are stunning.
Spring: native and migratory birds flock to the lakes.
Autumn: thick fog sometimes cloaks the lake surfaces in the morning.
Summer: the lakes are dry and colourful.
Photographs by AdBe Photography
Safety
The trail follows many unsealed roads. Please drive to the conditions, which change throughout the season.
Private Property
Please do not climb fences or encroach on private property. View the lakes from the designated roads and lookouts only.
Funding
This project was achieved with funding from the Commonwealth of Australia and proudly supported by Yorke Peninsula Council and Yorketown Progress Association.
Interactive map
To view the map in Google Maps, click the “View larger map” icon (
).
Get local information, kerbside waste collection reminders and report issues on your iPhone or Android device. 
