Valley Loop Trailhead - Forrestfield

The Valley Loop is a moderate walk in Mundy Regional Park starting from the Lewis Road side in Forrestfield, linking into the Lesmurdie Falls area on the Darling Scarp. Roughly 3km of fire trail and narrow rocky path delivers valley views and, on clear days, the Perth skyline laid out below. Dogs are welcome on lead, and this is one of the foothills walks where the rangers do enforce it.

Leash status

Dogs must be on a lead at all times in Mundy Regional Park. The park protects quendas and ground-nesting birds, and the escarpment edges are unfenced, so the rule is about safety as much as wildlife. The area is patrolled and fines apply for off-lead pets. Keep to the formed path, and carry your own bags because there are no bins on the trail.

The walk

Expect gravel fire trail giving way to rockier, steeper sections as the loop climbs, graded moderate with some rock hopping. It links naturally with the falls network, so you can shorten or extend the day depending on how the dog is travelling. The terrain suits fit dogs comfortable on rocky ground rather than those better on smooth paths.

Max: do the loop clockwise so the climb comes early while the dog is fresh, then finish on the long downhill fire trail.

Getting there and parking

Drive via Tonkin Highway then Welshpool Road East, turning onto Lewis Road in Forrestfield, where a small gravel carpark sits at the end of the street. It fills quickly in winter and spring, so arrive early on weekends. There are no toilets or drinking water at the trailhead, and public transport does not reach it directly, so this is a drive-in walk.

When to go

July through October is the sweet spot: flowing water in Lesmurdie Brook and wildflowers along the margins. Summer and autumn can be very hot and shade is limited in places, so skip hot afternoons entirely with a dog. Weekday mornings give you the quietest trail and the easiest parking.

Close by with the dogs

Whistlepipe Gully Trailhead starts from the same Lewis Road end for a shaded creek-side alternative, and Lesmurdie Falls covers the main waterfall walks up the hill. For an off-lead run closer to suburbia, Hartfield Park Dog Exercise Area is the local option.

More walks are on the Western Australia dog friendly trails guide and the Forrestfield destinations page.