Bells Rapids Park Waterfall — Local services in Brigadoon

This route isn’t listed on TrailsWA and doesn’t have a very clear path on AllTrails or Strava, but it’s definitely worth exploring! There are two swings along the way that make great photo spots, and hiking shoes are highly recommended for grip and comfort.

You can reach the waterfalls either from Bells Rapids Lookout or the Bells Rapids car park. I used strava global walk to guide. In my opinion, starting from the car park is safer and less steep. If you go clockwise from the car park, you’ll encounter a trespassing warning when trying to cross the train track. We chose the anticlockwise route (as shown in the figure), which passes under the train track through a tunnel instead.

After the tunnel, the trail continues uphill along a wide natural road. It’s a fairly long climb, with some loose small rocks that can be slippery when dry (and probably when wet too!), so proper hiking shoes are a must. Once you reach the top and start heading downhill, you’ll spot the first swing, a perfect rest and photo spot. Keep following the path downhill, there are a few branching tracks, so just pick the safest and most stable one.

At the bottom of the waterfall, you’ll find the second swing. From here, you can either climb up along either side of the waterway or walk close to the stream itself, which is less steep (can't upload the video here, don't know why). After this section, there’s one more uphill walk along a wide road that loops back to the path you started on. Go through the tunnel again, and you’ll arrive back at the car park.

The water flow wasn’t very strong when we visited, and it might decrease over the next few days. Since there isn’t much tree cover, it’s best to go early in the morning to avoid heat exposure. The riverside car park (unlike the lookout car park) has shade from trees, toilets, picnic areas, and bins. There were even food trucks selling donuts and ice cream, not sure if they’re always there or just for the TrailsWA event!

Overall, it’s a challenging but rewarding hike. The paths can be slippery, especially if you’re wearing running shoes (like I did, haha), and some parts are quite steep, but it’s absolutely...

For many years I’ve come to this sneaky little getaway, with the expansion of residential developments there is far more traffic here than there used to be both on surrounding roads and within the park itself. As a result there is much more noise, significantly more rubbish/litter and a larger minority of delinquents trashing the place.

None the less it’s still a great location and offers a chance to catch some beautiful scenery of the surrounding hills, some great natural geological features and plenty of furry creatures.

The park has many options for explorers of all levels wether you’re on a relaxed walk with the dog or hardcore bushwhacking off the beaten track you’ll find something to entertain you.

Best of all, it’s...

Honestly, you have to come here! You have a beautiful view of the city and the rapids at the bottom. If you're feeling adventurous, you should walk down to where the waterfall is. There is a swing with great photo opportunities. Don't miss this place for a family outing or a date idea you won't be disappointed. These photos should give a glimpse of the beauty of what Western Australia has to offer right at...