Canning Dam

A day out at Canning Dam combines scenic beauty with an interesting flavour of Western Australian History. You’ll find plenty of picnic spots with gas-fired BBQs, a children’s playground, toilets and a viewing platform overlooking the reservoir. The construction of the Canning Dam started in 1933 and was Western Australia’s biggest public works project during the Great Depression. Officially opened in 1940, it cost more than 1.1 million pounds to construct. Walking trails around the dam have been specially planned to take you past historic features such as the old contour channel and stilling chamber. The trails are well signposted and range from a short stroll to longer distances for the more energetic. The area has abundant birdlife and early morning visitors may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of kangaroos in the surrounding bush.

Water Corporation will be performing upgrades at Canning Dam from early October 2026 until late February 2027. During this work, the car park and recreational facilities off of Canning Dam Loop Road will be temporarily closed to the public.