Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park
| Location | Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park |
| Start Point | Wurtupa Loop Track, Gammon Ranges |
| End Point | Mount McTaggart Track, Wooltana |
| Distance | 6.8 km one way |
| Time | 2.5 hours |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Activity | Walking |
| Region | Flinders Ranges & Outback |
| Accommodation | Bush camping, mid-range and premium options — See accommodation options |
| Key Feature | Abandoned copper mine, shale and magnesite hills |
Following the Miners into the Gammon Ranges
In the remote reaches of the Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park, the Monarch Mine Hike traces a 6.8-kilometre route past an abandoned copper mine and over the distinctive shale and magnesite hills that characterise this corner of the northern Flinders Ranges. This is a walk through two layers of history — the deep geological time written in the ancient rocks and minerals, and the brief human chapter when miners attempted to extract copper from these remote hills before the harsh economics of distance and isolation shut their operations down.
Copper mining in the Flinders Ranges has a long and often difficult history. From the rich deposits at Burra and Kapunda in the 1840s to the more marginal operations in the northern ranges, miners were drawn by the promise of copper-rich geology but frequently defeated by the challenges of remoteness, water scarcity, and transport costs. The Monarch Mine is one of many abandoned workings scattered through the ranges, each telling a story of ambition, hard work, and eventual abandonment.
The Walk
The trail leads through the park’s characteristic terrain — rugged hills of shale and magnesite that create a landscape of muted colours and sharp textures quite different from the quartzite ridges further south. The abandoned mine workings provide a focal point for the walk, offering a tangible connection to the human history of the ranges alongside the overwhelming geological story told by the rocks themselves.
The shale and magnesite hills have their own austere beauty. The mineral-rich soils support specialised plant communities adapted to the unusual chemistry of the substrate, and the exposed rock faces display the layered geological history of a landscape that has been shaped by hundreds of millions of years of tectonic activity, erosion, and mineral deposition. Walking through this terrain, the connection between geology, soils, plants, and human activity becomes vivid and direct.
Planning Your Walk
The Monarch Mine Hike shares its access points with the McTaggart Track Hike and other trails in the Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park. The same requirements for self-sufficiency apply — carry ample water, sun protection, and navigation equipment. The 6.8-kilometre one-way distance requires transport arrangements or a return walk. The abandoned mine workings should be observed from a safe distance, as unstable ground and hidden shafts present hazards.
The Monarch Mine Hike is a walk through two timescales — the millions of years recorded in the shale and magnesite of the Gammon Ranges, and the brief decades when miners tried to extract wealth from these remote hills. The abandoned mine stands as a quiet monument to that effort, slowly being reclaimed by the landscape that was here long before the miners arrived, and will be here long after their workings have crumbled to dust.
Where to Stay
Planning an overnight trip? See our Flinders Ranges Accommodation Guide for the best places to stay near this trail.