Horseshoe Falls Reserve offers a remarkably rich waterfall experience packed into a compact, dog-friendly loop in Hazelbrook. Descending from Oaklands Road into a cool rainforest gully, the trail strings together a series of distinct cascades—including Fairy, Horseshoe, Oakland, and Burgess Falls. With massive sandstone overhangs, picturesque waterfalls and the potential for bioluminescent glow worms, it’s a brilliant option for maximum scenery with minimal crowds.
Horseshoe Falls Reserve
📍 BLUE MOUNTAINS
Distance4.6 km
Duration01:42 hrs
Elev Gain+175 m
Elev Lost-177 m
Date
19 July 2026
Starting Point
Oaklands Road
Difficulty
Easy
Pace / Gear
4.4 km/h — Water
Highlights
Fairly Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Oakland Falls, Burgess Falls
🗺️ Interactive Route MapPinch or use wheel to zoom
Tucked away on the quieter northern side of Hazelbrook, Horseshoe Falls Reserve is one of the mid-mountains' hidden gems. While many visitors head straight for the high-profile lookouts further up the Great Western Highway, the damp, fern-filled gullies of this local reserve conceal a surprisingly dense collection of picturesque waterfalls. Falling outside the bounds of the national park, it also stands as one of the region's few dog-friendly bush walking tracks, making it a favourite among local bushwalkers.
Horseshoe Falls Reserve
Unofficial parking can be found just behind a sweeping bend on Oaklands Road, allowing you to start right at the reserve entry. While there are other access points, this one is the most popular. The signposted trailhead quickly drops away from the road, descending steadily via wide timber-and-dirt steps toward the cool, sheltered floor of the creek. As you lose elevation, the temperature drops noticeably; dry ridge vegetation gives way to blue gums, moss-covered boulders, and lush tree ferns - classic Blue Mountains gully vegetation.
Entering the reserve from Oaklands Road
Descending to the gully
Some minor trickles along the way
Fairy Falls
Almost immediately, you'll find a brief detour along a faint side trail leading to the first cascade: Fairy Falls. Though un-signposted, this waterfall is one of the tallest along the route. Positioned higher up the gully, it catches the most natural light through the canopy. While its mossy rock ledges demand careful foot placement across slippery surfaces, it makes for a fantastic first stop after recent rainfall.
Fairy Falls
Fairy Falls
Horseshoe Falls & Glow-Worm Nook
Following the track further downhill leads to Horseshoe Falls. True to its name, the broad, undercut sandstone amphitheatre allows you to walk completely behind the curtain of falling water. Under the cover of darkness, this cavernous overhang transforms into one of the Blue Mountains' most impressive bioluminescent displays, with thousands of glow worms (fungus gnat larvae) twinkling across the dark, damp rock walls. Ascending the cut stone steps on the far side of the waterfall leads up to Glow-Worm Nook Falls, a smaller cascade tumbling over mossy boulders along an upper tributary.
The lush rainforest gully
The overhand leading to Horseshoe Falls
Horseshoe Falls
Horseshoe Falls
Oakland Falls
Pushing further along the main path for another 200m or so brings you to Oakland Falls. Accessing the base requires a short scramble down a steeper rock incline, but you are rewarded with a tranquil amphitheatre wrapped in deep green moss. Like its predecessor, Oakland Falls features a wide overhang that allows you to pass behind the water veil, with an equally dense glowworm colony waiting in the shadows for evening explorers.
Oakland Falls
Oakland Falls
Below Oakland Falls
Burgess Falls
Leaving Oakland Falls takes you around the end of a board ridge, linking up with Hazelbrook Creek at the bottom. This then leads to Burgess Falls. Set deep within a quiet rock amphitheatre surrounded by giant tree ferns, the multi-tiered falls are quite beautiful; much like the preceding ones. Keep an eye on the plunge pool at the base, where giant spiny crayfish can often be seen navigating the clear mountain water.
Burgess Falls Walking Track
Hazelbrook Creek
Burgess Falls
Burgess Falls
Rather than retracing our steps through the gully, we opted to turn the track into a true circuit. From Burgess Falls, a short climb carries you out of the reserve's dense canopy and onto Winbourne Road. From here, it’s a peaceful suburban stroll along Alexander Avenue to loop directly back to the parking area on Oaklands Road. While it swaps ferny creek beds for pavement, this easy street section is a great way to cool down—and a perfect reminder of just how much spectacular natural beauty is hidden right in the backyards of the mid-mountains.
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