Dog friendly walks Blue Mountains

Looking to head somewhere picturesque and fun with the pup this weekend? Since the majority of the Blue Mountains is a National Park, it’s easy to assume that automatically means no hiking with the family pooch. If you know where to look though, there are some fabulous bushwalks in the Blue Mountains that are 100% dog friendly because they are technically on Council land.

Now I’m not a dog owner myself, and I can’t see my cats being keen on the idea, but my regular hiking buddy is so we are always on the lookout for the great spots we can bring the dogs along! A number of these also feature waterfalls that your dog will love on a hot summers day.

I’m always on the lookout for dog friendly Blue Mountains walks so expect this list to grow!

Remember all dogs should be on a lead at all times, and don’t forget to carry some bags for any ablutions!

 

Dog friendly walks in Springwood

 

Birdwood Gully

One of my local bushwalk routes, I actually used to run this route a long time ago in my very much younger days! It’s still lovely and popular with dog owners and non-dog owners alike. It is an easy track which roughly follows along Springwood Creek until it meets up with Shelley’s Creek and follows it for a while.  It’s a great walk for the kids too, download a map and activity guide for the kids to follow along, with the creeks, water crossings, a cave, a small waterfall, and plenty of native foliage there is plenty for them to check out while the pup is splashing around!

 

How to find Birdwood Gully

There are actually three access points onto the Birdwood Gully track, from Bednal Road, Boland Road and Lucinda Avenue. Boland Road and Lucinda Avenue are both residential streets, and the entry on Boland is on a blind bend of a steep hill. I would recommend parking in Plateau Road and walking the short distance to either Lucinda or Boland to commence the walk. I generally start from Boland and walk out at Lucinda. There are some steps out.

Length: Less than 3 kilometres

Duration: Approximately 1 hour

 

Dog friendly walks in Hazelbrook

 

Horseshoe Falls Walking Track

Also known as Burgess Falls walking track, this lovely walk featuring a total of five waterfalls is easily one of my favourite Blue Mountains Bushwalks. It’s great for the kids and dogs alike, most of the track is fairly flat, with a short climb down from the main track to reach each of the falls.

Being low and well shaded it is also nice and cool, it should be a lovely spot in the Summer months. The dog will no doubt enjoy a splash in the water but unfortunately the pools aren’t deep enough for a swim.

For the photographers, the super cool thing about two of these falls is the cave behind the water flow, which offers some great photo opportunities. The first cave is also full of glow worms if you head there after dark.

How to find Horseshoe Falls

The entry to the track is approximately one kilometre down Oaklands Road, Hazelbrook, on the right hand side. It’s right on a bend so I would recommend turning around in Brook Street in order to park in the clearing before the track.

The entry to the track is signposted and is right beside the metal fence over the creek on the footpath. Don’t do what I did on my first trip and wander off on a fire trail in search of it!

Length: Less than 3 kilometres

Duration:  Signs say 2 hours return if you go right to Burgess Falls, but I’ve done it in not much more than that and spent a lot of time taking photos!

 

Terrace Falls Walking Track

Another lovely dog friendly walk in the Blue Mountains is on the other side of the highway at Hazelbrook, Terrace Falls walking track is a crescent off a local fire trail. One end of the track starts with Terrace Falls, a natural stone terrace waterfall that offers fabulous photo opportunities after some rain, and Victor Falls a short walk away.

At the other end of the track Bedford Pool is a short deviation from the main track, a large swimming hole complete with beach that will be a lovely picnic spot in summer.

 

How to find Terrace Falls

There are access points at both ends of the fire trail, on Lake Road and Valley Road. On Valley Road park your car at what resembles the triangle roundabout and you will see the beginning of the trail a short distance away. It is approximately a 20 minute walk to get to the Terrace Falls end, and you will pass the Bedford Pool entrance on the way. The fire trail isn’t difficult but it is deceptively steep so its harder than it looks walking out!

I haven’t taken the Lake Road entrance, but it is apparently longer

Length: A little over 4 kilometres

Duration: Approximately 2 hours

 

Dog friendly walks in Lawson

 

Waterfall Circuit

Another of the mid-mountains dog friendly bushwalks is the Lawson Waterfall Circuit. This easy walk, with an ascent/descent at either end, passes through some lovely vegetation and features four waterfalls, a couple of which the dogs will happily be able to splash around. This is one of my go-to routes for an easy walk and it is quite popular, and it is not uncommon to see a number of dogs along the track.

How to find Lawson Waterfall Circuit

Both ends of this circuit come out on Honour Avenue in Lawson. There is only a small amount of parking available so if you aren’t planning to be there early you may need to find a parking spot on the street.

Length: 3 kilometres

Duration: Approximately 90 minutes

 

Dantes Glen

On the other side of the Highway in Lawson there is another dog friendly walk. This is a shorter walk through Dante’s Glen to St Micheal’s Falls and back again. It does form part of a longer route called Empire Pass, but this crosses into National Park where dogs are not permitted. Indeed I even found online that dogs were not allowed on this walk, but the sign upon entry states that they are. A good map of this park can be found here.

This is a well maintained track, at least as far as Dantes Glen, with large sandstone steps installed.

How to find Dante’s Glen

I have seen a few conflicting instructions to find this walk, but it’s actually not too hard. It’s on St Bernards Drive – essentially just head for Lawson Pool and keep on driving around the back of it until the road runs out. The track will start from here.

Dantes Glen is easy to find, but if you are heading to St Michael’s Falls also this can be confusing. You will need to take the track that continues on from Dantes Glen, and when you reach the ‘No Through Path’ sign on the track look for the path on the other side of the creek.

Length: I haven’t been able to conclusively find reference to how far this route would be, but based on my smartwatch recordings I believe it would be less than 2 kilmetres down and back.

Duration: Less than an hour.

 

Dog friendly walks in Katoomba

 

Minni Ha Ha Falls

Closed for an extended period of time for repairs, this dog friendly Blue Mountains walk has recently reopened with temporary fencing installed along the part of the walk that follows the top of the gorge.

It’s not a difficult walk down, and offers spectacular views of Minni Ha Ha Falls and the valley as you follow the cliff line to the stairs down. This is one of the larger waterfalls in the mountains, and it lands in the best swimming hole I’ve found so far up here. You literally cannot see the bottom, and I have seen it referred to as bottomless. I’m told the water is pretty cold though, so a swim is definitely something to save for a warm day!

Unfortunately due to one of the sets of stairs being effectively a ladder down, it isn’t practical to get right to the bottom with a normal sized dog. However they will be able to paddle in the stream that feeds the falls at the top.

 

How to find Minni Ha Ha Falls

The first time I punched this one into Google I ended up at some dubious looking properties, so make sure you head to Minni Ha Ha Road. You can park at the reserve at the end. There isn’t a huge amount of parking though and I would expect this spot to get pretty busy in Summer so this is probably one to head to early.

The walking track commences to the left of the information sign.

Length: 1.2 kilometres

Duration: You’ll want to wander round at the bottom for a bit, but this is one you could do in under an hour.

 

Blue Mountains Bushwalking Safety

Don’t be one of the 130 bushwalkers that get lost or require rescuing every year. Check out these safety tips and essentials and be prepared.

 

Dog friendly accommodation Blue Mountains

If you’re traveling with your dog, Airbnb has oodles of accommodation on offer where the pup is welcome!

Book your dog friendly Airbnb now

 

My Photography Equipment

If you are interested in what photography equipment I use and recommend, check out some of the results in my Photography Equipment List.

 

I hope you enjoy exploring the beautiful Blue Mountains with your four-legged friend!

If you liked this, please share!