Lesmurdie Falls: Locals Complete Guide 2023

Lesmurdie Falls, Perth’s best waterfall, has numerous walking trails for all fitness levels.

As a proud Perth local, I’ve had the privilege of experiencing Lesmurdie Falls and the trails within Lesmurdie Falls National Park at different times of the year.

In this article, I share details of the trails of Lesmurdie Falls, the flora and fauna that call it home, and the awe-inspiring views that make it a must-visit destination for anyone in Perth.

Location of Lesmurdie Falls

Lesmurdie Falls are part of Mundy Regional Park, in the Perth Hills.

I would like to respectfully acknowledge the Beeloo people, the Traditional Owners, and the first people of these lands. I would like to pay my respect to the Elders past, present, and future, for they hold the memories, the traditions, the culture, and hopes of the Beeloo people.

Lesmurdie Falls Parking

There are two main car parks for Lesmurdie Falls. The one at the end of Palm Terrace is small, but cars park along the side of the road. There are a couple of picnic tables at the Lower Lesmurdie Falls car park but no toilets.

The larger car park is on Falls Road with shaded picnic tables and toilets, which are fully accessible. 

When is the best time to visit Lesmurdie Falls?

My favourite time of year to visit Lesmurdie Falls is early spring. The falls should be flowing after the winter rains, and the pretty wildflowers will be in bloom.

Spring is the most popular time of year to visit the falls, so the walking trails, picnic areas, and trails will be busy. If you can visit during the week, it will be quieter.

Lesmurdie Falls Walk Trails

The Falls Trail 640m return, Class 2, allow 45 min.

From the trail head at Falls Rd car park, it’s an easy short return walk to Lesmurdie Falls. The trail follows Lesmurdie Brook with lookouts along the way. The views are lovely across the foothills to the city of Perth and the coastal plain.

The Shoulder Trail 1.5km return, Class 3, allow 1hr. 

The Shoulder Trail takes you across the footbridge and an easy climb on pavers. Near the junction with the Valley Loop Trail, the trail becomes uneven. 

Foot of the Falls Trail 2km return, Class 3, allow 1hr. 

The Foot of the Falls trail can be started from either car park. It takes you along the brook to the foot of the falls and up to the lookouts.

Lesmurdie Brook Loop 1.5km return, Class 2, allow 1hr.

Lesmurdie Brook Loop doesn’t take in the falls but follows Lesmurdie Brook upstream, passing beautiful bridges.

Valley Loop. 3km return Class 3, allow 2hrs. 

The Valley Loop is our favourite trail in Lesmurdie Falls National Park as it incorporates all the walking tracks. You get to see the falls from the bottom and the top plus the lookouts and The Shoulder.

We started at the Palm Terrace car park and followed the brook upstream. The dirt path runs along Lesmurdie Brook and through forest. The wildflowers were out, so the walk took quite a bit longer than anticipated 🙂

The falls aren’t seen until the last moment when you turn a corner. To get good photos, it does require a bit of rock scrambling. It was packed with people trying to take selfies and children climbing all over the rocks, but I managed to find a quiet spot to take some photos. I wasn’t carrying a tripod with me, so I had to rely on balancing my camera on my legs.

After photographing and taking in this stunning waterfall’s beauty, we took the goat path onto the main track to carry on our walk.

The trail is well maintained and has steps leading up to the lookouts.

There are two viewing platforms to see the falls from. The first one has stunning views of the side of the falls and across the Swan Coastal Plain to Perth. This lookout is a great place to be at sunset.

The Head of the Falls lookout overlooks the spectacular waterfall with Lesmurdie brook tumbling over the Darling Range Escarpment.

We then walked up to the Cascades, a picturesque area where the brook cascades over the rocks.

Crossing the bridge, we then headed to the Shoulder and back down to where we started.

The track on this side wasn’t as good but manageable. However, it wasn’t well signposted, and we weren’t sure if we were on the right trail. We did, however, make it back down to the bottom of Lesmurdie Creek, where we had to cross back over to the car park.

Lesmurdie Falls Scenic Sunset Guided Hike

If you want to be part of a group, this tour by the Off the Beaten Track is perfect. The hike lasts around two hours and is suitable for beginner and intermediate hikers.

The 4 km guided hike incorporates a gorgeous sunset view over the Swan Coastal Plain and a glass of bubbles with cheese as a sundowner.

Tips for visiting Lesmurdie Falls

• Rocks can be slippery when wet so pay attention to where you are walking
• Watch children carefully
• Take plenty of water with you
• Wear sun protection
• Take a picnic or visit a café in Kalamunda
• The trail on the Valley Loop isn’t well marked so I suggest taking a phone with GPS

Accommodation near Lesmurdie Falls

If you want to see the sunset from Lesmurdie Falls or make an early start, I recommend staying close by.

Discovery Parks – Perth Airport is only a 5-minute drive to Palm Terrace car park. There is a range of cabins available, and the park is family-friendly. We are looking to book a night here to see the falls at sunset.

Lesmurdie Falls FAQ

Other Perth Waterfalls

Perth waterfalls may not be up there with New Zealand or Queensland, but there are still some beautiful falls and spectacular hikes. Some other waterfalls around Perth are:

• Bells Rapids
• 60 Foot Falls
• Serpentine Falls
• Noble Falls