Samuel King Loop

Samuel King Loop is a 4.7 km circuit through the bushland above Lovers Jump Creek at North Turramurra, on Sydney's upper North Shore. It is Ku-ring-gai Council bushland rather than national park, and that distinction decides the day: dogs are welcome here on lead, where the national parks on this side of Sydney close their gates to dogs entirely.

The walk

AllTrails puts the loop at 4.7 km and grades it easy, about an hour to an hour and a half at a dog's pace, mostly on wide fire trail with a firm surface. It dips through forest and fern gullies as it drops toward the creek, and because it returns to the start you can turn back anywhere without committing to the full circuit.

For a longer day, the Lovers Jump Creek and Samuel King Loop route covers the same country at greater length.

Leash status

Dogs must be on lead throughout, with Ku-ring-gai Council permitting dogs in its bushland reserves under effective control and asking walkers to stay on the formed track. Council also excludes dogs from designated wildlife protection areas, so read the signs at whichever trailhead you start from.

Watch the boundaries too. Dogs are not permitted once you reach Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park signage, and the Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden nearby prohibits them completely.

Water

Lovers Jump Creek runs alongside the lower part of the loop and gives a leashed dog somewhere to stand and cool down. Flow drops away in a dry spell, so carry water rather than counting on the creek.

Watch outs

This is snake and tick country through the warmer months, and the fire trail turns greasy after rain, with leeches in the wetter gullies. Give it a day or two to dry out after heavy rain.

Getting there

The main access is the small parking area at Samuel King Park on Bobbin Head Road, with further entries at Burns Road and McRae Place that hold only a couple of cars each. There are no toilets at the trailhead. Turramurra station is the nearest rail, with local buses running out along Bobbin Head Road.

Pair it with

The North Turramurra Dog Park on Du Faur Street is minutes away for a proper off lead run, and the Karuah Park off leash area is the next closest. Replay Espresso opposite Turramurra station has outdoor seating for the after walk coffee.

More options are on the New South Wales trail guide and the North Turramurra destination page.

Max: check ears, armpits and between the toes back at the car. Ticks on this part of the North Shore are a real problem, not a theoretical one.

When to go

Weekday mornings are quietest, and the gullies hold their shade well into a warm afternoon. It suits steady walkers who want bush without a serious climb.