The Best Hikes in Perth – 10 Awesome Hiking Trails Near Perth

Perth is blessed with great weather for most of the year, so what better place to get out and stretch your legs. Going for a hike is definitely one of the best things to do in Perth.

No matter the season you’ll find hikes in Perth to suit. From beaches in summer to wildflowers in spring and waterfalls in winter, Perth’s national parks have no shortage of pristine natural beauty.

We’ve put together and personally tested this list of amazing hikes in Perth. There are trails of all different lengths and difficulties so there is something to suit everyone. Trails are sometimes one-way returns and sometimes loops which are denoted by ‘return’ or ‘loop’ in the initial information.

To find and navigate some of these Perth hikes we used the Alltrails app. You can download this app for free and it includes thousands of hiking trails all over the world. Each hike has a map with the route marked so that you can easily follow the route with your phone’s GPS. Make sure to pre-download the map before entering an area with no mobile reception.

10 Awesome Hikes in Perth for the Perfect Day Out

John Forrest National Park

This beautiful national park on the eastern outskirts of the city is one of my favourite places to go for a hike in Perth. This is the perfect place to visit to get a taste of the Australian bush. The hikes even finish at a pub replete with kookaburras and friendly kangaroos, what more could you want?

There are several different hikes that can be done in the national park. Our favourite thing to do is to hike the eagle view trail until the lookout and then turn back the same way we have come. You can continue to complete the full 16km hike but it can get a little repetitive after the lookout.

National Park Falls Trail

Loop – 2.5km – 1hr – Easy

This flat and easy trail just takes you a short distance from the carpark to the nearby waterfall. The falls are only active in winter and spring (dependent on rainfall) but are fairly extensive and look great in flow.

The longer trails will still take you past here so you can still see the falls as part of a longer hike. If you are just here for the picnicking and/or pub then this is a good short walk to take.

Wildflower Walk

Loop – 4.5km – 2hr – Moderate

This trail is designed to take advantage of the best areas for wildflowers during the tail end of winter and the spring. The return loop will take you past Hovea Falls.

If you want to add a little extra distance and see both falls then you can follow the National Park Falls trail first. After visiting here you can back-track halfway down the trail to the turn off for this loop.

Eagle View Walk Trail

Loop – 16km – 5hr – Moderate/Difficult

(Or return – 4.5km – 2hr to lookout)

This is our favourite trail and one of our favourite hikes in Perth. This is mostly due to the beautiful views over both the national park and city from the lookout at the top of the hill. You brush past the National Park Falls on the way and can have a look prior to climbing the hill.

We often climb up to the Eagle View lookout and then come back the same way as we have done the longer trail and it can become a little tedious and repetitive. In spring the longer trail can be really nice as it passes through some beautiful sections of wildflowers.

If you complete the entire loop you will also pass by Hovea Falls on the final stretch.

Christmas Tree Creek Trail

Loop – 10.5km – 4hr – Moderate/Difficult

This trail follows the above however it cuts off to the right and through the middle of the park. This allows you to see both falls and the eagle view lookout and enjoy a longer hike without committing to the full 16km.

This is a great option in the spring and is the best trail in the park during that season.

Location:

John Forrest National Park is located in the Perth hills on the eastern flank of the city. It can be reached in about a 30 to 40 minute drive from the city making it an easy day trip from Perth.

There are three entrances to the national park and if you want to access the walk trails and pub then you want to enter via the second entrance. The best thing to do is enter ‘John Forrest Tavern’ into your GPS.

The first entrance will still take you there but via the scenic route, this is a great option if it is your first time visiting the park.

Being a national park an entry fee will apply of $15 per vehicle or free with a national parks pass.

Amenities:

The park has BBQs, toilets and picnic tables. As of 2022 the government has awarded contracts for redevelopment of the park with a café and new amenities. They have stated that there will be food trucks there in the meantime with details to be confirmed.

Ellis Brook Valley Reserve (60 foot falls)

There are 3 separate trails here with varying length and difficulty. The waterfall loop is the highlight however the name is kind of deceiving as there is generally no water running except shortly after a large rainfall. Don’t let that put you off however as it is still a great hike.

Blue Wren Ramble (Valley walk)

Return – 2.8km – 45mins – Easy

This hike takes you between the two carparks and along the river. It is shaded and fairly flat, so good for all ability levels, however it isn’t a loop so you will have to double back at the end. It is heavily forested and is nice in spring when birds fill the trees and wildflowers brighten the undergrowth.

Eagle view

Return – 860m – 20mins – Easy/Moderate

This is a short but fairly steep trail starting from the honeyeater hollow parking lot. You ascend a small hill to find some benches with great views of Perth and the hills. Unfortunately we didn’t see any eagles but it’s worth a look! There are toilets and barbeques at the bottom.

Sixty Foot Falls

Loop – 2km – 1hr – Moderate/Difficult

This is the best trail of the bunch. Situated at the end of the Ellis Brook Valley is a large wall of stone, if you are lucky enough to get here after a large rainfall then this becomes a beautiful waterfall.

The hike takes you for a fairly steep climb up one side of the valley and to the top of the waterfall. There are a couple of viewing platforms along the way and the views back down the valley from the top are brilliant.

On the way down the other side of the valley you will come across the Barrington Quarry with its sheer granite walls and artificial lake.

Location:

Rushton Rd in Gosnells at the foot of the hills. There are two carparks here depending on which walk you wish to take. The first carpark is at the location marked ‘honeyeater hollow’ on google maps. This is for the eagle view and valley trails. Further down the road is the valley head carpark where you start and end the waterfall loop.

Amenities:

BBQs, public toilet

Bell’s Rapids

This beautiful location in the Swan Valley is one of the more picturesque hikes in Perth and is also a great place to just relax near the river and watch the white water kayakers flow by.

There are two trails across the river from Bell’s Rapids car park, both are of similar length however one is along the river and easy and the other has very steep sections and is more difficult. There is also an additional trail on the carpark side of the river that leads to Bell’s Lookout and Bell’s Falls.

Short Walk (River Walk)

Return – 2.5km – 45mins – Easy

This trails is accessed by crossing the bridge across the river and turning left almost immediately. It is well signposted and leads you on a very pleasant stroll down the river, shaded by large trees and with beautiful wildflowers all around if you are here at the right time. This is not a loop so you come back the same way.

Goat Walk Circuit

Loop – 3km – 1.5hr – Moderate/Difficult

This is a loop trail and starts from the same place as the previous hike, just across the bridge from the carpark. You can choose to go left or right at the beginning but I usually go right as I think the views are better when hiking counter clock-wise. There is a fair amount of up and down on this hike and the first incline is very steep as well as the descent near the end. From the top you will enjoy beautiful views of the river valley as well as across the valley to Bell’s Falls.

Location:

Bell’s Rapids Park is at the end of Cathedral Ave after a beautiful drive through the swan valley. Just enter the name of the park into your navigation device for the easiest way to find it. There is a huge area in which to park cars and this place does get very busy on weekends but you should always find a spot.

Amenities:

Toilets. On weekends there are sometimes food vans selling snacks and drinks.

Lesmurdie Falls

Lesmurdie Falls has to be the most popular spot to hike in Perth. This beautiful national park in the hills offers two main trails as well as viewing platforms, picnic areas and a convenient location.

The hikes listed below assume that you start at the main car park at the top of the falls. We actually combined the hikes into one, doing the Foot of the Falls Trail and then continuing on to the Valley Loop Trail. Note that the falls are best to visit in winter and spring.

The Foot of the Falls Trail

Return – 2km – 1hr – Easy/Moderate

This trail takes you past the viewing platforms at the top of the falls and then down one side of the valley until you reach the river. From here you follow the river a short distance to the foot of the falls. This is a one way hike so after relaxing by the beautiful falls you will return via the same route. If you want to complete a loop then you can backtrack from here until you see the pink sign then cross the river and continue on the Valley Loop Trail.

The Valley Loop Trail

Loop – 3km – 2hr – Moderate

This trail follows the same route initially as the previous but instead of following the river to the falls you cross the river and continue up the other side of the valley. This takes you to the ‘shoulder’, which offers a brilliant view of the city and hills. We found that the best trek is a combination of the two, with a side-track to the foot of the falls. At the end of this hike you can also visit some smaller falls near the Wier car park.

Location:

The best place to start the hikes is from the Lesmurdie Falls Car Park which is on Falls Road. This is not a large car-park and gets busy on weekends but there are two more car-parks nearby if needed, the Weir and Terraces Car Parks. There is also a Lower Lesmurdie Falls Car Park which is close to the bottom of the falls, this is on Palm Terrace.

Amenities:

BBQs, picnic tables, toilets, viewing platforms, coffee van on weekends.

Whistle Pipe Circuit

Loop – 3.5km – 1hr – Easy/Moderate

A fairly short hike but a good one none the less. This circuit starts along a pretty, gently flowing creek with several small waterfalls. You ascend a reasonably gentle hill to an open space offering great views over the foliage to the city in the distance.

The trail continues to follow the winding creek into ever more dense forest which eventually becomes a small area of really lush and beautiful undergrowth which is almost jungle-like in appearance.

There are lots of wildflowers and birds around this area which makes for a relaxing and very enjoyable short hike if you aren’t feeling up to a big time commitment.

Location:

This hike is located in Mundy Regional Park as is the Lesmurdie Falls Hike above. It is quite easy to combine the two into one day of hiking if you have the energy and motivation!

You can enter ‘Whistlepipe Gully, Kalamunda’ into your GPS and it should take you to the correct location which is at the end of Lewis Road.

Amenities:

None.

Mason Bird Heritage Trail & Victoria Dam

Return – 6.3km – 2hr – Easy/Moderate

This hike can be started from a couple of different locations depending on which day you are here. On weekdays the access road to the dam is open to the public and you can park at the dam itself.

On weekends the gate is closed however there is a gravel parking lot just before the gate and the trail connects right to it. We started from here and hiked anti-clockwise which is probably the best way to do it as when you reach the dam you have completed at least 2/3 of the hike and can have a rest while you take in the views.

If you do it this way then you will follow the Mason and Bird Heritage Trail until you come to a 3 way junction with a ruined wooden bridge and some large pipes. Here you turn left onto a better maintained trail which is not signposted but is the Victoria Dam Walking Trail.

Follow this all the way to the dam, there are a couple of signs further up this trail that direct you towards Victoria Dam. Once at Victoria Dam you will arrive at the bottom where you can find toilets and a picnic area.

Continue uphill to reach the top of the dam and the lookout. The trail continues from the top of the lookout and takes you back to the carpark where you started. If you began from the dam itself then you can follow the same route however it might be easier to reverse these directions and follow it clockwise.

Location:

The turnoff to the dam is from Masonmill Rd in Carmel. If you enter Victoria Dam into your GPS it should route you to the correct location.

Once you turn off Masonmill Rd the first car-park mentioned is just to the right. If it’s a weekday you may continue down this road all the way to the dam.

Amenities:

There are toilets located at the bottom of the dam. There is one picnic area at the top of the dam and one at the bottom. BBQs are also available for use.