The 30 Best Hikes & Walking Trails In Perth

Guide To Best Perth Walking Trails
Get active this Spring with our guide to discovering the best Perth hikes and walking trails to stretch those legs.

The 30 Best Hikes & Walking Trails In Perth

Get active this Spring with our guide to discovering the best Perth hikes and walking trails to stretch those legs.
Guide To Best Perth Walking Trails
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Perth has more sunny days than any other capital city in the world. With our stunning coastlines, the Swan River, and the fresh air of the Perth Hills — not to mention amazing weather — some might say the best way to experience Perth would be to do so by foot. So why not make the most of it and get out and explore Perth and its surrounds by throwing on your runners or walking shoes and taking on some of Perth’s best hiking trails?

But where are the best trails? How long will the hike be? How hard will it be? To help, we’ve put together a list of the best Perth walking trails for you to explore.

Here are the best Perth hikes, in no particular order:

Bells Rapids Walk Trail

Bells Rapids Walk Trail
Bells Rapids | Photo: John Daws / Trails WA

Bells Rapid Walk Trail is a scenic walk along the Swan River and home to the renowned Avon Descent. The trail is well known mostly for its majestic boulders and speeding waters in the winter.

Bells Rapids additionally is the habitat of the grey kangaroo, which may be seen in abundance at certain times of the year. If you enjoy or want to experience rural scenic views and coastal plains, this distinctive circuit is the trail for you.

  • Distance: River Walk 2.5km or Goat Walk 3km
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Location: Swan Valley

Matilda Bay Reserve Walk

Matilda Bay Reserve Walk
Matilda Bay Reserve | Credit: AllTrails

The UWA Boat Shed is not only a Perth icon but also a great starting point for the Matilda Bay Reserve Walk. This trail runs down to Pelican Point, west to J.H. Abrams Reserve to the boat ramp, then leads back north along the road past Australia II Drive and along Hackett Drive.

  • Distance: 4km (loop)
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Location: Crawley

Burswood Loop Trail

The Burswood Loop trail takes you around the banks of the beautiful Swan River, allowing you to take in the sights of East Perth and, more specifically, Claisebrook Cove — we definitely recommend stopping in for a refreshment at Toast or The Royal. However, the highlight of this trail, without a doubt, is Heirisson Island.

While on this route, stop off on Herisson Island under the Causeway and if you’re lucky, you might be able to spot a few western grey kangaroos, which can be found in the southern enclosure of the island and are best sighted in the early morning or evening.

  • Distance: 6.2km (loop)
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Location: Burswood

Law Walk

Law Walk Kings Park
Law Walk Kings Park | Credit: Hike Collective

Hands down (feet down?) one of the best hikes in Perth.

Law Walk takes you through the bushland and the Lotterywest Federation Walkway in the heart of the Botanic Garden in Kings Park. Enjoy the amazing gardens and views of Kings Park and then transition to the natural bushland, providing a glimpse of what Perth was like more than 200 years ago.

  • Distance: 2.5km (loop)
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Location: Burswood

Scarborough-Trigg Heritage Trail

Distance: 7.3km (loop)

The Scarborough-Trigg Heritage Walk provides a unique Perth walking trail experience combining the stunning coastline of Scarborough and Trigg beaches with the bush trails of the Trigg Bushland Reserve.

The walk consists of three loops:

Scarborough Coastal Loop — Red (1.2 km)

Explore the unique history of the Scarborough beachfront, the hub of the Sunset Coast. At a leisurely pace, this loop takes approximately 30 minutes.

Trigg Coastal Loop — Blue (2.9 km)

From fishermen to settlers, surfers, and swimmers, take a walk back in time to Trigg Island. At a leisurely pace, this loop takes approximately one hour.

Trigg Bushland Reserve Loop – Green (3.2 km)

Discover unique wildflowers — enjoy spectacular coastal views and sightings of birds and reptiles. At a leisurely pace, this loop takes approximately one hour.

Ellis Brook Valley

Ellis Brook Valley
Ellis Brook Valley | Credit: @naturebynathan

Arguably the best view in Perth can be found at Ellis Brook Valley.

A walk along the ‘Sixty Foot Falls Circuit’ — a short 2km loop but the steep trail will see you climb to the top of the spectacular Sixty Foot Falls, where you will take in sweeping views across Perth, before descending past the Old Barrington Quarry.

  • Distance: 2km (loop)
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Location: Ellis Brook Valley

Bibbulmun Track

If you’re an avid hiker, then the Bibbulmun Track is for you. It spans 1,000km from Kalamunda to Albany, but if you wish to start smaller, then there is the Mundaring Weir Hotel to the Golden View lookout trail (7.4km).

The trail takes walkers through a mix of jarrah, marri, and wandoo forests; the latter providing open woodlands giving walkers an immense sense of space and a taste of bush life.

  • Distance: 1,000km
  • Difficulty: Hard
  • Location: Kalamunda

Bold Park

This is a choose-your-own-adventure style Perth hike.

With over 15km of walking trails and 10 different lookouts with expansive city and coastal views, Bold Park gives you a very memorable experience at any time of the year.

Spanning over 436 hectares, Bold Park is home to some 300 different species of native plants and despite its proximity to the city, there’s also an abundance of wildlife including different species of birds, reptiles, mammals, amphibians, and invertebrates.

If you’re looking for an inner-city bush walk with beautiful views, there is simply none better than Bold Park.

  • Distance: 15km (varying)
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Location: City Beach

Lake Monger

Lake Monger Sunset
Lake Monger Sunset | Credit: @sunsetcoastlife

Lake Monger is a conservation wetland ringed by a shared path for cycling, walking, and jogging. Lake Monger is also one of the most family-friendly walking tracks both for the kids and fur babies. There’s a brand new playground area that will help burn off any extra energy the kids have left, plus there are open spaces for the pups to run and chase a ball.

Lake Monger is also stunning at sunrise and sunset.

  • Distance: 4km (loop)
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Location: Wembley

Warnbro Sound, Warnbro

With its attractive native gardens, beautiful white sand, and stunning blue water, Warnbro Beach provides the perfect backdrop for a hike as you walk through the dunes. There are a number of different car parks along the coastal trail where you can begin and end your trip if you don’t want to take on the whole 6.4km.

  • Distance: 6.4km (one way)
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Location: Warnbro

Herdsman Lake

Herdsman Lake is Perth’s largest inner-city wetland and is definitely one of the ‘must do’ Perth walking trails.

With the walking trail on the water’s edge, Herdsman Lake makes for an enjoyable and relaxing walk. The trail provides a diversity of landscapes ranging from expansive views over open waters to dense wetland rushes, bushland, and open grass parklands.

  • Distance: 7.7km (loop)
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Location: Churchlands

Rottnest Island

Rottnest Island
Rottnest Island | Credit: Perth Hike Collective

Our Perth hikes list isn’t just limited to the mainland.

No doubt, you’re used to getting around Rottnest Island on a bike — but did you know there is a dedicated walking trail you can explore?

This Rottnest walking trail network is broken down into five sections, each with a unique opportunity to discover the island like never before. We partnered up with the Island’s only walking tour operator, The Hike Collective, to bring you the lowdown on the most interesting hiking trail network to hit Western Australia and what you need to know to explore the island by foot.

Rottnest walking trail:

  • Bickley Batter (Ngank Yira Bidi) — 9.4km (one way)
  • Salt Lakes (Gabbi Karniny Bidi) — 9.7km (loop)
  • Salmon Bay (Wardan Nara Bidi) — 10km
  • Northern Beaches (Karlinya Bidi) — 5.9km
  • West End (Ngank Wen Bidi) — 7.6km (loop)

Piesse Brook Interpretive Trail 

Time to head for the hills, as we escape the city limits and adventure into the rugged landscape of the darling escarpment. The Piesse Brook interpretive trail is the perfect introduction to hiking in the hills, with some undulations on the trail, and the most stunning destination with a halfway stop at the iconic Rocky Pools.

This is best enjoyed in winter and spring, when the water is flowing in the pools.

Pack a picnic to enjoy at this hotspot, and take your time to read the educational plaques dotted along the trail. 

  • Distance: 3.5km
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Location: Kalamunda

Blackwall Reach 

The beautiful cliff’s edge walk takes you from the Bicton Baths along the Jenna Biddi Yorga — which means “women’s feet walking on the path” in Whadjuk Noongar — to Point Walter Reserve. With fantastic river views and hints of native bushland, it’s the perfect spot to get started with a beginner walk close to the city. Stop at the halfway point to visit the local cafe or sit by the river for a moment to relax before heading back.

In Aboriginal culture, it was traditionally a place for women and children so we ask that walkers respect the land and its history when visiting Blackwall Reach and Point walter. 

  • Distance: 4km (loop)
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Location: Point Wallter

Serpentine Falls 

The Serpentine Falls is a popular summer spot for picnicking and swimming — although arguably the falls in winter takes the cake.

You’ll be sure to find a trail to enjoy on your visit to the Serpentine Falls, with a 6km Baldwins Bluff adventure, named after the original homeowners of the house at the base of the bluff.

  • Distance: 6km
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Location: Point Wallter

Whistlepipe Gully

Whistlepipe Gully
Whistlepipe Gully | Credit: @jasechong

A visit to this prominent piece of heaven on earth is a rite of passage for any Perthie and is a must have on our best Perth walking trails, with magical city views, old house ruins, and beautiful springtime wildflowers to be found at Whistlepipe Gully.

Channel your inner child and get adventurous on the many rocky outcrops and bridge crossings, as you enjoy this spectacular trail of granite outcrops and city views.  

  • Distance: 3.5km
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Location: Mundy Regional Park

Mundaring Weir Walk

Tucked away near the Mundaring Weir at the Perth Hills Discovery Centre is the perfect beginner-friendly Weir Walk loop.

It will take you to a beautiful little lookout over the Mundaring Weir, and with clear markers to guide you, it gives you a taste of walking on bush tracks such as the Bibbulmun Track. In fact, it crosses onto the Bibbulmun Track for about half of the walk.

You can extend this trail by heading onto one of the many other trails in the Mundaring Weir area for a bit more of a challenge. 

  • Distance: 1.2km
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Location: Perth Hills Discovery Centre

Wetlands Walk Trail 

Take a trip to Yanchep National Park for the day, and enjoy a super easy wetlands walk around Loch McNess. With so many adventures on offer at Yanchep, you’re sure to find plenty of things to fill in the day such as a visit to the adorable koala boardwalk, the treetop adventures, or a tour of the iconic caves once you are finished.

Distance: 2km
Difficulty: Easy
Location: Yanchep National Park

Eagle View

With a name like Eagle View, you would expect to see beautiful views, wildlife, and maybe some eagles.

Well, you won’t be disappointed with this Perth hike — the magnificent Eagle View Trail in John Forrest National Park is a 15km bushwalkers delight that showcases magnificent views, a variety of terrain and walking conditions, and boasts spectacular wildflowers in the spring.

Distance: 15km
Difficulty: Hard
Location: John Forrest National Park

Numbat Trail

Numbat Trail
Numbat Trail | Credit: Hike Collective

Located in the magnificent Paruna Wildlife Sanctuary in Gidgegannup, the Numbat Trail is a 12km trail providing a wonderful challenge for experienced walkers and will reward you with a wide variety of natural beauty from creek lines to wildflower displays.

Although not the longest trail on this list, the Numbat Trail will take an average of four to five hours to complete with its challenging inclines and staircases.

The sanctuary itself is characterised by extremely steep slopes, numerous streams and creek lines, and areas of exposed granite. Although Paruna is open to the public, it is by appointment only and is only accessible from May to October each year.

Distance: 12km
Difficulty: Hard
Location: Gidgegannup

Rocky Pool

This 5km short but feisty loop is located at the end of Spring Street, just out of Kalamunda, and will challenge your downhill abilities on tricky gravel terrain.

Get ready for downhill slopes sure to test even the most steady of hikers. In the winter months, this is a highlight for locals and visitors but quickly dries up in summer.

Distance: 5km
Difficulty: Hard
Location: Kalamunda

Mt Cooke

This intense day hike takes you to the top of Mt Cooke and back, to one of the highest points on the Darling Scarp at 582 metres.

Starting at Sullivan Rock, this beautiful section of the Bibbulmun Track journeys along rocky outcrops, and winding trails, where every step may leave you gasping for air. As you reach the summit. you’ll be amazed by the space and serenity of Mt Cooke.

The exploring doesn’t stop there, and if you’re lucky enough to know where to go, you might stumble upon the elusive Mt Cooke Cave. This is not part of the Bibbulmun Track, and can’t be easily found, so we recommend joining the experts to get the full experience.

  • Distance: 22km
  • Difficulty: Hard
  • Location: Jarrahdale

King Jarrah Loop

If you have a bit of time on your hands, then head out to Dwellingup for a full day of adventure bliss on the King Jarrah Loop Trail.

At 18km, it’s worth every step as you find yourself exploring steeply forested valley slopes and rock-rimmed pools of the Murray River on your way to visit the magnificent 250-year-old Kings Jarrah Tree.

This hike weaves through narrow forest passageways and also traces the former transportation routes of the once vibrant timber industry.

With all trail adventures, we always recommend letting someone know where you are at all times, and make sure you have enough water. These more intense trails require a little more prep to make sure you get the most out of your day out in nature.

  • Distance: 18km
  • Difficulty: Hard
  • Location: Dwellingup

Lesmurdie Falls

Lesmurdie Falls
Lesmurdie Falls | Credit: @roh_solalinde and TrailsWA

One of the best Perth hikes is, of course, Lesmurdie Falls in Mundy Regional Park, which is a must for any Perth hiker.

This walking trail will reward your hard efforts with sublime views of the Swan Coastal Plain, Perth’s skyline, and neighbouring suburbs, plus of course a gram-worthy waterfall.

There are several trails within the park to suit varying different degrees of fitness and difficulty levels however the walks generally take between one and three hours. 

  • Distance: 1.5km
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Location: Mundy Regional Park

Noble Falls

A small but precious waterfall, Noble Falls is one of the first to fill and flow with a drop of rain, so if you want an easy-access waterfall, this child-friendly spot ticks the box.

Meander next to Wooroloo Brook on a 2km loop and enjoy this peaceful and beginner-friendly waterfall wander.

Another bonus? The trail is dog-friendly.

  • Distance: 2km (loop)
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Location: Gidgegannup

Hovea Falls and National Park Falls 

Only 20 minutes south of Noble Falls, we hit John Forrest National Park and the most diverse option of trails on offer.

You can access the park from the east, west, and through the main entrance to the National Park — we recommend heading to the main hub to find the start point of multiple trails.

John Forrest National Park holds a rich history and is WA’s first National Park. It is home to two waterfalls on the Jane brook, as well as the Glenbrook Dam, and the iconic Swan View Tunnel to add to your adventures.

Hovea Falls transverses over smooth granite rock and flows downstream to the steeper National Park Falls. You can walk from one to the other with just a 2km distance between them, and it’s a beautiful wander along the Railway Reserves Heritage Trail.

  • Distance: 2km
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Location: John Forrest National Park