South Lawson Waterfall Circuit (Discover 4 Pretty Waterfalls)

The South Lawson Waterfall Circuit Walk is a scenic bushwalking trail that takes in four small but pretty waterfalls in the southern part of Lawson.

It’s also one of the few dog-friendly walks in the Blue Mountains where your furry friend is more than welcome to enjoy this exciting hike with you.

In this article, we will share the highlights of this enjoyable walk, including pictures and how best to get there.

There are two starting points for the South Lawson Waterfall Circuit Walk, both on Honour Avenue and both with car parks, as indicated in the map below.

The main starting point of the circuit walk is less than 1 km south of the train station (see map location). If that car park is full, park somewhere on the side of the road, or try the second car park further south.

The train station is within walking distance of the trailhead, so public transport is an excellent alternative to travelling by car.

Also note that if you’re visiting with your dog, the circuit walk runs past the former Lawson golf course, which now functions as a large dog park. Visit the council website for more details.

Map

Below is a map of the South Lawson Waterfall Circuit, including the following four waterfalls:

1. Adelina Falls
2. Junction Falls
3. Federal Falls
4. Cataract Falls

Even though the South Lawson Waterfall Circuit Walk has been around for over a century, it is usually pretty quiet, as it’s not a well-known tourist walk.

The best time to do this walk is after a period of rainfall when the waterfalls are the most impressive. Just be mindful that the track can get quite muddy, so we recommend wearing proper hiking shoes.

The Start

The start of the circuit walk is sign-posted at the corner of Honour Ave and Livingstone Street.

The old map at the start of the trail is quite helpful as it gives you a good sense of where the waterfalls are located.

Although it’s a circuit walk, there are a few intersections where things may get a bit confusing, so it’s a good idea to have a closer look at the map before you start the walk.

The trail starts with a descent via steps until it arrives at the first intersection. To continue on the main trail, go straight ahead at that intersection. Otherwise, if you’d like to visit the dog park, turn right.

The Waterfalls

The first waterfall, Adelina Falls, is not too far away from that intersection.

To get there, you’ll need to do a short detour through a beautiful gully-type environment. Adelina Falls is perhaps the prettiest of the waterfalls along the trail, with great photo opportunities.

After Adelina Falls, there are three more waterfalls to be discovered along this pleasant bushwalking trail: Junction Falls, Federal Falls and Cataract Falls.

They are not very big or overwhelming by any means, but they are beautiful and somewhat unpretentious waterfalls.

All of these waterfalls can be accessed via short side trails off the main track. While the signage is generally pretty good, it’s still easy to miss one if you don’t pay attention.

It’s also worth mentioning that there are two waterfalls close to one another that are both referred to as Junction Falls, just to make things a little more confusing.

These two waterfalls are separated by a footbridge crossing Lawson Creek, and you won’t miss them.

Another thing to watch out for is the Federal Falls and Cataract Falls junction. This is signposted, but it’s not entirely clear that the path to Federal Falls is actually a detour and not the main walking path.

In other words, do Federal Falls first before going to Cataract Falls.

The last waterfall, Cataract Falls, can be reached by going up the stairs at the junction with the detour to Federal Falls.

Note that there is a lower Cataract and an upper Cataract Falls, and both are very much worth visiting as they are quite different.

Cataract Falls is very close to Honour Ave, and once you’ve made it back to the streets, there are two ways to return to the starting point.

The Return

You can either return by walking on the side of Honour Ave, or you can choose to follow the fire trail that runs parallel to the street.

We recommend this second option because it’s a lot more exciting than walking alongside the road.

Keen to discover more great hikes? Check out our guide to the best walking tracks in the Blue Mountains for a list of ideas.