Warren

To prepare for your visit, please check the conditions of access.

Walking/running

Two unsealed shared use loop trails within the reservoir offer great bushwalking and trail running experiences. The 8.8km River Loop, accessed from the Old Bridge Hub (eastern car park), links into and through Mount Crawford Forest. The 5.7km Dam Wall Loop, from the Red Gum Cove (northern car park), offers views of the Warren Reservoir dam wall, as well as linking into the 9.7km Greenhood Trail to South Para Reservoir. Please note that dog walking is not permitted within any reservoir reserve.

Fishing

With a fishing permit, you can drop a line in the from the shoreline in the public access area or on the water from a kayak or canoe.

The reservoir is stocked with Murray cod (catch and release), golden perch and silver perch. Fishing limits are detailed on PIRSA's website.

Cycling

Two unsealed shared use loop trails within the reservoir offer great off road cycling experiences. The 8.8km River Loop, accessed from the Old Bridge Hub (eastern car park), links into and through Mount Crawford Forest. The 5.7km Dam Wall Loop, from the Red Gum Cove (northern car park), offers views of the Warren Reservoir dam wall. These trails are better suited to mountain and gravel bikes. Walkers and runners also regularly use these trails; please be considerate of other trail users.

Kayaking/canoeing

There are two launch areas at Warren for kayaking and canoeing, located at the Red Gum Cove and the Old Bridge Hub, from which you can take in the surrounding landscape from the water. With a fishing permit, you can also drop a line from your kayak or canoe.

The accessible kayak facility located at the Old Bridge Hub will be unavailable until early April 2025. Please check back here for updated information.

Dam wall lookout

A short walk from the western car park is a vantage point to view the dam wall and reservoir.

Picnicking

There are three picnic areas for you to enjoy, of which two have toilet facilities and are fully accessible for people with limited mobility.

With the exception of assistance animals, dogs are not welcome at reservoir reserves as they can carry harmful organisms that can easily contaminate the water and present a risk to the safety of the drinking water. Dogs also pose a threat to local native birds and wildlife.

Swimming is not permitted at any of our reservoirs because it involves direct contact with the water above the knee and risks contamination of the water by the harmful pathogens carried by humans.

For the same reason, other activities that involve wading above the knee or present a high chance of failing or jumping in the water are not permitted.

Blue-green algae

Algae is a common occurrence in open water sources, including reservoirs and the River Murray, especially during warmer months of the year when conditions are favourable for growth.

SA Water samplers, operators and scientists actively monitor and test the source water and connecting water networks during these times and adjust treatment processes as needed. This ensures they continue to supply safe, clean drinking water to their customers.

Some blue-green algae species produce compounds which can be harmful to humans and animals. Contact with untreated water in a reservoir where algae are present can be harmful to your health.

When blue-green algae levels are increasing, and related water treatment or algal management activities are being conducted, the site will be closed to visitors until 1pm that day. There will be clear signage at the entrance and on this website page.

To find out more, read SA Health’s information about blue-green algae health impacts and how to avoid illness.

Click map below for a print-friendly version.

Extended trail network

Click here for a print friendly version of the northern extended trail network at South Para and Warren Reservoir Reserves

Click here for a print friendly version of the southern extended trail network at South Para and Warren Reservoir Reserves

Maps on your mobile

If you have a smart­phone or tablet you can down­load the free Aven­za Map app and have inter­ac­tive reservoir reserve maps on hand when you need them.

The app uses your device’s built-in GPS to plot your real-time loca­tion with­in the reserve onto a map. The app can be used with­out a net­work con­nec­tion and with­out roam­ing charges. You can also mea­sure area and dis­tance, plot pho­tos and drop place­mark pins.

How to get it work­ing on your device:

1. Down­load the Aven­za Maps app from the app store (iOS/Android) whilst you are still in range (its free!).
2. Open up the app and click the shop­ping cart icon.
3. Click ​‘Find’ and type the name of the reservoir reserve you are look­ing for.
4. Click on the map you are after and install it (all our maps are free).
5. You will now find a list of your installed maps on the home page of the Aven­za Maps app.
6. Use our maps through the Aven­za Mapa app while in the reserve and nev­er take a wrong turn again.

Capacity: 4.7 gigalitres (one gigalitre is one billion litres), that will fill about 2,300 Olympic swimming pools

Constructed: 1914-1916

Warren Reservoir was built during World War One with a number of workers given a leave of absence to join the armed forces.

It was built to ensure water supply to the local area. When the natural springs supplying Eudunda dried up every summer, Warren Reservoir was built to ensure a reliable water supply for the local area.

The construction project supervisor Edgar Bradley was given a new Model 'T' Ford, at a cost of $444, so he could drive between Warren and Millbrook, where he was also supervising dam works. Edgar learnt to drive so he could make the 30 km journey between the two reservoirs in just one hour. The trip by horse and buggy had taken more than two.

You can check current reservoir levels at SA Water’s website.

Warren Reservoir mystery

There is a time capsule cast into the door lintel of the valve house built in 1926 including  a bottle of wine, some coins and a newspaper. Sorry, not accessible to visitors.

Warren Reservoir is one of 16 across South Australia.

Treating drinking water before it’s supplied to homes, businesses, schools, hospitals and more, is important to make sure it is clean and safe to drink straight from the tap. You can learn how SA Water treats water and maintains the quality its customers value and rely upon.

Warren Reservoir is not currently used to directly supply drinking water.