American River: Walking Trails, Birdlife and Oysters

American River is a fishing village on Kangaroo Island. Walking trails, birdwatching, oysters and activities on the water give the town several distinct points of interest. There is a boat ramp beside the American River Campground, and a jetty is a two-minute walk away. So the town’s offerings include both on-land trails and facilities and activities related to the water.

Walking Trails and Local History

The Fish Cannery Walking Trail is a 3 km loop that starts at the end of Scenic Drive and takes about 1.5 hours. It leads to the ruins of a fish cannery built in the late 1890s. The American River Town Walk adds two longer loops: the northern loop is 7 km long and follows the Fish Cannery Trail; the southern loop is 7.5 km long and follows the Independence Trail. This gives you a shorter loop and two longer circuits to choose from, which also differ in the trails they follow. If you are choosing between the two longer loops, the northern one follows the Fish Cannery Trail, while the southern one follows the Independence Trail.

The Fish Cannery Walking Trail has a specific historical connection: the ruins of the cannery, built in the late 1890s, lie along the trail. The loop thus links a named route with the remains of a former business.

Birdlife and Pelican Lagoon

Glossy Black-Cockatoos are often seen and heard feeding along the Fish Cannery Walking Trail. American River is also home to resident and migratory waders, including Pied Oystercatchers, Cape Barren Geese and Australian White Ibis. Nature enthusiasts can find both specific information about birds along a trail and a range of wader species that live in or pass through the town.

Pelican Lagoon is a marine sanctuary. Motorboats are prohibited there; kayaks and other non-motorised watercraft can be used. The type of propulsion is therefore key when choosing an activity on the water: non-motorised craft are permitted, while motorboats are excluded. If you plan to include the lagoon in your day, keep this rule in mind when choosing a watercraft.

Fishing, Oysters and Ships

Fish caught while fishing in American River can include whiting, salmon trout, tommies, garfish, snook, flathead and sand crabs. These named catches give fishing a specific place among the activities of this fishing village.

The Blue Oyster Farm Gate Shop offers freshly shucked oysters, oysters in the shell, and fresh and frozen local seafood. You can choose between two forms of oysters; the other local seafood is available fresh or frozen. KI Oysters is an oyster farm in the fishing village of American River on Kangaroo Island.

Visitors to the Rebuild Independence Project can learn about the ships “Union” and “Independence”. These two named ships offer another connection to the town, alongside its trails, wildlife and oyster and seafood offerings.

More local pages: Wisanger, Gosse, Cygnet River, Penneshaw, Parndana, Haines, Kingscote, Flinders Chase.

For the broader travel overview: Kangaroo Island Council.