The South Lawson Waterfall Circuit is a scenic bushwalking trail that passes by four small but picturesque 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 join you on this enjoyable hike.
| South Lawson Waterfall Circuit | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 2.5 km (loop) |
| Duration: | 1.5 hours |
| Grade: | Easy / moderate (steep sections) |
| Dogs: | On a lead |
Getting There
There are two starting points for the South Lawson Waterfall Circuit, both located on Honour Avenue and each with its own car park, as shown on the map below.
The main starting point is less than 1 km south of the train station (see map). If that car park is full, you can park along the road or use the second car park further south.
The train station is within walking distance of the trailhead, making public transport a great alternative to driving.
If you’re visiting with your dog, note that the circuit passes the former Lawson golf course, which now serves as a large off-leash dog park. Visit the council website for more details.
Map
Below is a map of the walk along the following four waterfalls:
- Adelina Falls
- Junction Falls
- Federal Falls
- Cataract Falls
Track Notes
Although the South Lawson Waterfall Circuit has been around for over a century, it’s usually fairly quiet, as it’s not a well-known tourist track.
The best time to do this walk is after rainfall, when the waterfalls are at their most impressive. Just keep in mind that the track can get quite muddy, so it’s best to wear proper hiking shoes.
The Start
The circuit walk begins at the corner of Honour Avenue and Livingstone Street, where it is clearly signposted.
An old map at the trailhead is quite helpful, giving a good overview of where the waterfalls are located.
Although it’s a circuit, there are a few intersections where the path can be a bit confusing, so it’s worth taking a moment to study the map before setting off.
The walk starts with a descent via steps and soon reaches the first intersection. To stay on the main trail, continue straight ahead. If you’d prefer to visit the dog park first, turn right instead.
The Waterfalls
The first waterfall, Adelina Falls, is not far from the intersection.
To reach it, you’ll need to take a short detour through a beautiful gully-like setting. Adelina Falls is arguably the prettiest of the waterfalls along the trail and offers some great photo opportunities.
After Adelina Falls, the track continues past three more waterfalls: Junction Falls, Federal Falls and Cataract Falls.
They’re not particularly large or dramatic, but they are lovely, unpretentious waterfalls nestled in a peaceful bush setting.
Each waterfall is accessible via short side trails off the main track. While the signage is generally quite good, it’s still easy to miss one if you’re not paying close attention.
It’s also worth noting that there are two waterfalls near each other that are both referred to as Junction Falls, just to make things a little more confusing. The two are separated by a footbridge over Lawson Creek, and you’re unlikely to miss them.
Another thing to watch out for is the junction to Federal Falls and Cataract Falls. While it is signposted, it’s not entirely clear that the path to Federal Falls is a detour rather than the main walking track.
In other words, it’s best to visit Federal Falls first before continuing on to Cataract Falls.
The last waterfall, Cataract Falls, is reached by heading up the stairs at the junction near the Federal Falls detour.
Note that there is both a Lower and an Upper Cataract Falls, and they’re well worth visiting, as each has a different feel.
Cataract Falls is located close to Honour Avenue, and once you’re back on the street, there are two ways to return to the starting point.
The Return
You can return by walking along the side of Honour Avenue, or take the fire trail that runs parallel to the street.
We recommend the second option, as it’s a much more enjoyable alternative to walking next to the road.
Keen to explore more great hikes? Check out our guide to the best walking tracks in the Blue Mountains for ideas and inspiration.
I agree with Hazel. In no way should this be graded as easy! It is far from easy, with many many steep steps, most without a railing. Yes, some short flat sections, but overall steep, many steps and a fair bit of clamouring over rocks.
Fair call!
Love waterfalls, can’t wait to visit this one. Thank you.
Thanks Nisha, you’re definitely going to enjoy the waterfalls in South Lawson, they’re all very pretty.
Best place to park? And also are there toilets anywhere on this walk?
Hi Kelly, there’s lots of street parking close to the start of this walking track. I don’t think there’s public toilets nearby though, so you’d probably need to head into Lawson for that.
Can you take a pram through?
Hi Safiye, definitely not. It’s still a bush walk with uneven surface and some steps.
Is this walk suitable for kids? And what age group is it suitable for?
Hi Joy,
Yes this is a family friendly walk, and kids will love it too. It’s hard to give an exact age group though, because all children are different. But ultimately, this is a bushwalk with waterfalls and a bit of a climb, so kids will need to be ready for that.
Lovely walk which I did recently during a wet spell as I read your recommendation before. I think it is misleading to say it is easy. It is not an easy walk for everybody. I started the walk first from the north car parking, but the initial descent looked too steep and nothing to hold on, along with the track being slippery because of the rain. So I went to the south car parking and started the walk here and the descent though steep was a lot easier. Steep steps throughout the circuit, you had to be careful not to slip and I was nervous about a jump across two rocks with water gushing in between.
So wrong to say it is easy. Easy to me is when it is a flat walk and easy for all age groups.
Hi Hazel, glad to hear you enjoyed the walk. You are making a fair point, so we’ve adjusted the grade. Thanks for the feedback!