South Lawson Waterfall Circuit Walk

Last updated: March 27, 2024

The South Lawson Circuit Walk is a scenic bushwalk that takes in four small but pretty waterfalls in the southern part of Lawson, a quiet town located 14 km east of Katoomba in the Blue Mountains.

It’s also one of the few dog-friendly walks in the Blue Mountains where your furry friend is more than welcome to join and enjoy this exciting hike.

In this article, we will share the highlights of this enjoyable walk, including pictures and how best to get there.

There are two starting points for the South Lawson Waterfall Circuit Walk, both on Honour Avenue and both with car parks, as indicated in the map below.

The primary starting point of the circuit walk is less than 1 km south of the train station (see map location). If that car park is full, park somewhere on the side of the road, or try the second car park further south.

The train station is within walking distance of the walk as well, so using public transport is an excellent alternative to travelling by car.

Also note that if you’re visiting with your dog, the circuit walk runs past the former Lawson golf course, which now functions as a large dog park. Visit the council website for more details.

Map

Below is a map of the South Lawson Waterfall Circuit, including the following four waterfalls:

1. Adelina Falls
2. Junction Falls
3. Federal Falls
4. Cataract Falls

Even though the South Lawson Waterfall Circuit Walk has been around for over a century, it is usually pretty quiet, as it’s not a popular tourist walk.

It’s a refreshing bushwalk with a somewhat authentic atmosphere. The best time to do this walk is after a period of rainfall when the waterfalls are the most impressive. Be mindful though that the track can get a bit muddy, so it’s best to wear proper hiking shoes.

The Start

The start of the circuit walk is sign-posted at the corner of Honour Ave and Livingstone Street.

The little map that you can find at the starting point is quite helpful as it gives you a good sense of where the waterfalls are located.

Although it’s a circuit walk, there are a few intersections along the way where things can get a bit confusing, so it’s a good idea to have a closer look at the map before you start the walk.

The first intersection comes up around five minutes into the walk. To visit the dog park, turn right at that intersection. Otherwise, keep going straight!

The Waterfalls

The first waterfall, Adelina Falls, is not too far away from that intersection.

After Adelina Falls, there are three more waterfalls to be discovered along this pleasant bushwalking trail: Junction Falls, Federal Falls and Cataract Falls.

They are not very big or overwhelming by any means, but they are beautiful and somewhat unpretentious waterfalls.

All of these waterfalls can be accessed via short side trails off the main track. The signage is pretty good, but it’s still easy to miss them if you don’t pay attention.

Federal Falls, in particular, is easy to miss because the side trail to that waterfall is a bit longer than the others.

Cataract Falls is very close to Honour Ave, and once you’ve made it back to the streets, there are two ways to return to the starting point.

The Return

You can either return by walking on the side of Honour Ave, or you can choose to follow the fire trail that runs parallel to the street.

We recommend this second option as it’s a bit more exciting than walking on the side of the road.

Keen to discover more great hikes? Check out our guide to the best walking tracks in the Blue Mountains for a list of ideas.