Pyes Creek swing bridge

The Pyes Creek swing bridge is the centrepiece of a short bushland loop on the boundary of Dural and Cherrybrook, in Sydney's Hills District. The 50-metre pedestrian suspension bridge, opened in 2023, carries the track over Pyes Creek and links the Dural and Cherrybrook sides of the gully. It is a quick, scenic walk that dogs can join on a lead.

The walk

The core loop is short, roughly 800 metres to a kilometre by Hornsby Shire Council's guide, though adding adjoining tracks stretches it closer to a couple of kilometres. The grade is easy to moderate: some sandstone stairs down into the gully, sandy patches, uneven rocks near the creek and an elevated walkway section. Allow half an hour or so at a gentle pace. The bridge itself sways underfoot, which is the fun part for most people but worth knowing if your dog is easily spooked.

Leash status and water

Dogs are welcome on a lead throughout the bushland and across the bridge. This is a sensitive wildlife corridor with birdlife, echidnas and brush turkeys, so stay on the formed track and keep your dog close. There are no taps or facilities on the track, so carry water and waste bags and take everything out with you. There are spots where a dog can reach the creek for a paddle, though the crossings turn muddy after rain.

Max: after rain the steps and leaf litter get slick, so take the stairs slowly, and give the bridge a miss if a school group is bouncing across it.

When to go

Weekends and sunny weekday mornings are the busy stretches, and the bridge only takes a small group at a time, so go early or midweek for a calm crossing. Heavy rain can leave sections muddy or briefly impassable, so pick your day.

Getting there and parking

Access is from Fallon Drive Reserve on the Dural side, where a small sign and stairs mark the descent, or from Keighran Place on the Cherrybrook side. Both are reached via New Line Road or Castle Hill Road, and parking is on the residential streets at either end, so park considerately. There is a playground near the Fallon Drive entry, and public transport is limited to buses, so driving is easier.

Close by with the dogs

For a proper run off the lead afterwards, Greenway Park Fenced Dog Park in Cherrybrook and Ruddock Park Fenced Dog Park in Westleigh are both short drives away, and Benzin Cafe in Dural covers the coffee stop.

More options are on the NSW trails guide and the Dural destinations page.