Lesmurdie Falls

Lesmurdie Falls drops off the Darling Scarp with a lookout over the whole Swan Coastal Plain, half an hour east of Perth, and it is one of the rare Perth waterfall walks where dogs are welcome. The main circuit, the Valley Loop, runs about 3 km, graded moderate with uneven gravel sections; walkers commonly log closer to 3.5 km and just over an hour. It is a genuine loop taking in the falls, the lookouts and the valley floor, and shorter options branch off the same network: the Falls Trail at 640 m return, the Shoulder Trail at 1.5 km return and the 2 km Foot of the Falls Trail down to the base.

Leash status

On-lead at all times, with the leash doing real work here: the trails protect local wildlife including quendas, and the granite around the falls stays slick for days after rain. The detail to watch is boundaries. The wider trail network crosses between Mundy Regional Park, where DBCA permits leashed dogs, and the adjoining Lesmurdie Falls National Park, where the rules are not the same, so read the signage at whichever trailhead you start from rather than assuming one rule carries across. Pack waste out; there are no bins on the trails.

Water and hazards

Bring your own drinking water; there is none at the picnic area. The falls themselves are seasonal and the land manager is blunt about it: usually dry through summer and most of autumn, flowing properly from late winter and through spring. Underfoot, expect steep sections with loose gravel and rock steps, and heat that compounds fast on the exposed scarp face in summer, because there is no reliable shade or water on the trail.

Getting there and parking

Two access points, and they are not interchangeable. The Falls Road car park at Lesmurdie sits at the top, closest to the lookouts, with toilets, a shade shelter and picnic tables. The Palm Terrace car park at Forrestfield is the bottom entrance and the better start if you want to climb to the base of the falls. The top car park fills fast at weekends, so arrive early or start from below.

Max: Two car parks, two starting points, and the trails join in the middle. Note which reserve you are in at the sign before the walk takes you somewhere else.

More walks nearby

Whistlepipe Gully Walk in the same ranges is the gentler creek walk, and Lesmurdie Brook Loop is a short, soft circuit for dogs that prefer flat bush track. Palm Terrace Walk extends the lower network for a longer workout. Afterwards, Mason and Bird at Kalamunda does the coffee, and Hartfield Park Dog Exercise Area is the spot for off-lead time.

When to go

August to October is the prime window, with the falls running and the wildflowers out along the valley. Weekday mornings beat the weekend crowds at the top car park. More Hills walks in our guide to dog friendly trails in WA, and other dog-friendly options around Forrestfield.