Lesmurdie Falls

A waterfall on the Darling Scarp with a lookout over the whole Swan Coastal Plain, half an hour east of Perth. The main circuit, the Valley Loop, runs about 3 km and is graded moderate. Dogs are permitted on lead in Mundy Regional Park, which is worth saying clearly, because in Western Australia regional parks and national parks do not carry the same dog rules and the two sit side by side here.

The walk. The land manager marks the Valley Loop at 3 km and warns that uneven, gravel sections are to be expected; walkers commonly log about 3.5 km and just over an hour. It is a genuine loop, taking in the falls, the lookouts and the valley floor. Shorter options run from the same area: the Falls Trail is 640 m return, the Shoulder Trail 1.5 km return, and the Foot of the Falls Trail 2 km return down to the base and back.

The rules. On lead, and pick up after them. The land manager is the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. The detail to watch is boundaries. Parts of the wider trail network cross between Mundy Regional Park and the adjoining Lesmurdie Falls National Park, and those two reserve types are not governed the same way, so read the signage at whichever car park you start from rather than assuming the rule carries across.

Water. Bring your own; there is no drinking water at the picnic area. The falls are seasonal and the land manager is blunt about it: usually dry in summer and most of autumn, flowing properly in late winter and through spring.

Hazards. Rock and gradient. The trails are steep in places with loose gravel underfoot, and the granite around the falls stays slick for days after rain. Summer heat on an exposed scarp face is the other one, and with no water on the trail it compounds quickly.

Getting there. Two access points. Falls Road at Lesmurdie is the top car park, closest to the lookouts, with toilets, a shade shelter and picnic tables. Palm Terrace at Forrestfield is the bottom car park and the better start if you want to walk up to the base of the falls. The top car park fills fast at weekends.

Nearby with the dogs. Whistlepipe Gully Walk in the same park is the gentler water walk, and Lesmurdie Brook Loop is a short family circuit. Palm Terrace Walk and the Valley Loop trailhead cover the rest of the network. Afterwards, Mason & Bird in Kalamunda, or Hartfield Park Dog Exercise Area for off lead time. Possum Creek Lodge is the local stay.

When to go. August through October, when the falls are running and the wildflowers are out. Early morning at weekends, or any weekday. Summer is the season to skip unless you go at dawn. Good for big runners; the loose gravel makes it a harder ask for seniors.

Sources

• Mundy Regional Park | Explore Parks WA · exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au
• Lesmurdie Falls Picnic Area | Explore Parks WA · exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au
• Valley Loop, Lesmurdie Falls, Mundy Regional Park | Trails WA · trailswa.com.au

Compiled from public sources and verified listings. Always confirm current rules with the venue or council before you travel.