Ranford Pool Walk Trail

The Ranford Pool Walk Trail, near Boddington in Western Australia’s Peel region, is an easy 4 km return walking and cycling route following the Hotham River from Lions Weir to historic Ranford Pool (Darnmining Pool). Around 135 km south-east of Perth, the trail follows part of the former Pinjarra–Narrogin railway alignment, winding through paperbark trees, riverside vegetation and rural paddocks. The first section is sealed and wide enough for bikes, prams and wheelchairs, making it a particularly accessible option for families and recreational riders. For cyclists, the most suitable riding follows the old railway formation between Boddington and Ranford. The formed section is approximately 2 km one way, with a combination of sealed and compacted-earth surfaces suitable for mountain bikes, hybrids and touring bikes. Riders should be aware that parts of the riverside return route become a narrow walking-only trail, so the entire walking loop shouldn't be treated as a continuous bike route. The ride follows the Hotham River past Long Donkey Farm and the Hotham Valley Bridge, eventually reaching Ranford Pool. The pool is a naturally deeper section of the river associated with the former Tannin Extracts Factory, which operated at Ranford from the 1930s until the 1960s. Today the area is popular for picnicking, swimming, fishing, canoeing and birdwatching, with interpretive signs covering local wildlife and the area's cultural and industrial history. Ranford Pool itself received a significant upgrade completed in 2025, adding improved parking, shelters, seating, a barbecue, composting toilet, laterite pathways and new interpretive signage. This makes the pool a worthwhile destination rather than simply the turnaround point of the ride. The trail also fits nicely into a bigger Boddington cycling trip. Nearby is the Tullis Bridge Rail Trail, another former railway route following the Hotham River towards the historic Tullis Bridge. Boddington also has the Hotham Park recreation precinct and pump track, while longer-term plans include further development of cycling and MTB trails around the town. RTS Tip: Ranford Pool is best suited to a relaxed family ride rather than a long rail-trail adventure. Ride the formed path from Boddington to Ranford Pool, enjoy a break beside the river and return the same way rather than continuing onto the narrow walking-only sections. If you're looking for more kilometres, pair it with the nearby Tullis Bridge Rail Trail. Autumn through spring is particularly good, when the Hotham River is more likely to be flowing and the surrounding countryside is green.