Canning Dam
Please note: The Turtle Brook picnic area, including the playground is currently closed until further notice. We apologise for any inconvenience. All other public areas remain open.
Located on the Canning River approximately 33km from Perth, this dam combines scenic beauty with fascinating Western Australian history and is one of our most important reservoirs.
Dam information
- Capacity – 90.5 billion litres
- Catchment area – 730km2
- Reservoir length – 11km
Visitor information
Facilities
- Picnic areas with bbq facilities
- Toilets (wheelchair accessible)
- On-site parking
Opening hours
Canning Dam is open every day of the week until 6pm (5pm from May to November).
Directions
- From Perth, take Albany Highway towards Armadale
- Just beyond Kelmscott, turn left onto Brookton Highway and follow to Roleystone
- Turn right onto Croyden Road and follow the signs for approximately 9km
What to do
Enjoy a picnic lunch. We recommend the lower picnic area where the creek flows through; it is a stunning spot to eat your barbecue lunch. Be sure to take a photo!
Follow a walking trail that is specially designed to take you past historical features, such as the old contour channel and stilling chamber.
Prefer a leisurely stroll? Some walk trails are short, just for you. Feel more energetic? Try our longer trails. You can also take walks across the dam wall to enjoy lookouts.
This area has abundant native birdlife for you to search for. You might also catch a glimpse of a kangaroo in the early morning.
Operations
For operational enquiries please contact 13 13 75.
Planning a visit?
When visiting a dam, please follow these simple rules to ensure you and your family have a fun, memorable, and safe experience.
- Obey directional and informational signs
- Keep to pathways, roads and recreational areas
- Be aware of uneven ground and walking hazards
- Children must be within view of a responsible adult at all times
- Dogs are not permitted on site
- Swimming, canoeing, fishing and marroning is not permitted
- Drone use is not permitted
- Do not climb walls, fences, bridges, pipework or other operational infrastructure
- Do not trespass into signposted operational and ‘No Entry’ areas
- Never attempt to operate taps, valves or controls
- Do not deface safety and security signage
- Keep emergency and operational access gates and roadways clear
People and domestic animals naturally carry pathogens that can be transferred into streams and reservoirs when they have contact with the water. The pathogens can be difficult to remove, putting our drinking water at risk and potentially making people sick. There are also restrictions on other activities such as off-road driving, camping, lighting fires and littering. Failure to comply with these rules may result in an infringement or prosecution.
All Perth’s metropolitan and regional dams are proclaimed Public Drinking Water Source Areas and are protected under the Metropolitan Water Supply Sewerage and Drainage Act 1909, the Country Areas Water Supply Act 1947 and the Water Services Act 2012. Access is not permitted on the reservoirs or in the streams flowing into it. Failure to comply may result in prosecution.
Please report unmarked safety hazards, suspicious behaviour or pollution to 13 13 75.
For additional information about any of our dams, please call us on 13 13 85.