The Wentworth Falls Lake Walk is a tranquil walk in the Blue Mountains. Also known as the Wentworth Falls Lake Loop Walk, the trail circles the breathtaking and heritage-listed Wentworth Falls Lake. Sure, this walk may not be as epic as other walks in the Wentworth Falls area. But, it’s an excellent option for those who want to do a shorter, easier and flatter walk during their trip to the Blue Mountains.
In this article, we’ll tell you everything to know about the Wentworth Falls Lake Walk in the Blue Mountains. For completeness, we’ll also cover details about other things to do at the lake and other places to visit in the area.
Table of Contents
Wentworth Falls Lake Walk: An Overview
Undoubtedly, the main attraction of the Wentworth Falls Lake Walk is, well, the sublime lake! Interestingly, it was built in 1878 by damming Jamison Creek to supply water for the steam railway. These days, the lake functions as a recreational space and is managed by the Blue Mountains City Council. The adjoining park features a picnic area, sheltered BBQs, public toilets and a playground, so it’s a popular place for families to visit.
The lake is also home to introduced waterfowl, native fish and water bugs such as freshwater crayfish and dragonfly nymphs. Certainly, by doing the walk around the lake, you’ll see plenty of ducks and other waterbirds.
Below, we’ll look at some specific information about the walk.
Wentworth Falls Lake Walk: Details
- Type: Loop
- Distance: 3.7km
- Time: 1–1.5 hours
- Accumulated elevation gain: 85 metres
- Difficulty: Easy
- Trailhead: Wentworth Falls Lake Park
- Map: AllTrails
Starting at Wentworth Falls Lake Park, the walk simply goes around the lake in an anticlockwise direction. You’ll then return to the park via some bushwalking and road walking.
Overall, we’ve rated the Wentworth Falls Lake Walk difficulty as easy. That’s because the walk is relatively short and flat. Albeit, trail navigation can get a little tricky during the second half of the walk, as there are no signposts west of the lake. To ensure you stay on track, we recommend using this AllTrails map for Wentworth Falls Lake Walk directions.
Looking For Other Things to Do in Wentworth Falls?
Have you thought about canyoning at Empress Falls in the nearby Valley of the Waters? Learn more about the exhilarating experience.
Wentworth Falls Lake Walk: Our Experience
The walk takes place at a serene location, which is peaceful and calming. Beck and I had a very pleasant experience doing this walk. For sure, if you want a short and easy stroll to do in the Blue Mountains, that’s nice and relaxing, we highly recommend this walk. Below, we’ll tell you about our experience following the route.
Wentworth Falls Lake Park
Starting at the park, you’ll take paved paths that pass by the popular playground and scenic picnic area. You’ll soon turn right, following the paved path to commence circling the lake in a counterclockwise direction. Within the park, there are lakeside sculptures, which actually form part of a different walk in the park called the Wentworth Falls Lake Sculpture Walk. Along these paved paths, you’ll enjoy stunning views of the lake.
Soon enough, you’ll walk along a faint trail across the grass. This trail quickly joins a part of the walk called the Stanley Bignell Walkway.
Stanley Bignell Walkway
Essentially, the Stanley Bignell Walkway covers the section of the walk that transitions from the park to the surrounding bushland and swampland. In reality, the Stanley Bignell Walkway only makes up a short section of the entire walk. But, perhaps, the Stanley Bignell Walkway is the best part of the whole walk.
Running parallel to the northeast side of the lake, the walkway consists of steps, bridges and boardwalks, which provide excellent views of the lake. This part of the walk also includes some bushwalking, which brings a lovely natural ambience.
For Beck and I, the Stanley Bignell Walkway was our favourite part of the whole circular walk. Indeed, some people only complete the Stanley Bignell Walkway as a return walk from the park. This is certainly a good option if you’re short on time. The walkway is also a popular spot for fishing.
Bushwalking and Road Walking
Eventually, the Stanley Bignell Walkway ends at Waratah Road. At this point, the Wentworth Falls Lake walking track continues through the bushland at the northern tip of the lake. Along this part of the walk, you’ll pass a section of the lake called Wentworth Falls Lake Beach. This is a great spot for a picnic and a popular place to swim. Around this part of the walk, you’ll pass plenty of hanging swamp terrain.
After following bush trails north of the lake, you’ll soon merge onto Banksia Road. From this point on, it’s a combination of walking on Banksia Road and briefly leaving the road to follow bush trails. This is the part of the walk that isn’t signposted and can get a little confusing.
Admittedly, the road walking and bushwalking element of the walk parallel to the northwest and west sides of the lake is a downside of the walk. This part of the walk actually strays quite far from the edge of the lake. Eventually, a bush trail re-joins the Wentworth Falls Lake Park, running parallel to Sinclair Crescent. Soon enough, you’ll have completed the walk.
Apparently, there are plans to build a boardwalk that will shorten the walk and keep the walk closer to the southern tip of the lake. For sure, this would improve the walk overall!
Other Things to Do at Wentworth Falls Lake
Other than doing the walk we just described, there are plenty of other things to do to keep you busy at the lake. Below, we’ll cover the most popular activities at the park and lake.
Wentworth Falls Lake Sculpture Walk
You’ll find carved sandstone structures scattered throughout the park. These were created in 2000 as part of the Wentworth Falls Lake Sculpture Project. By doing the sculpture walk within the park, you can check out all of the unique sculptures.
Fishing at Wentworth Falls Lake
Bait fishing at Wentworth Falls Lake is one of the most popular things to do there. The most popular place to fish at the lake is at the northern tip, either from a jetty or side of the lake. At the lake, you can fish trout, Redfin Perch and small yabbies.
Wentworth Falls Lake Playground
The adventure playground at Wentworth Falls Lake spans across the park. For sure, the kids will enjoy playing on the varied playground equipment on offer. Indeed, it’s one of the best parks in the Blue Mountains for kids.
Other Things to Do at Wentworth Falls
Of course, the Wentworth Falls area in the Blue Mountains is best known for its waterfall. Wentworth Falls is an incredible waterfall in the Blue Mountains. Certainly, if you’re in the area, you’ll have to explore the waterfall.
Yet, the Wentworth Falls area is full of many other amazing waterfalls other than just Wentworth Falls. In the Valley of the Waters, there are loads of breathtaking waterfalls to chase, such as Empress Falls and Sylvia Falls. While Water Nymphs Dell is a lesser-known waterfall that’s hidden and truly mesmerising.
As you can see, the Wentworth Falls area is full of natural attractions. In reality, you’ll need a full day or even a whole weekend to visit all of the best places in the area. To help you plan your trip, we’ll list some of the guides that we’ve written about attractions in the area.
- Wentworth Falls Lookout: Everything You Need to Know
- The 5 Best Wentworth Falls Walks For Chasing the Waterfall
- Empress Falls: The Walk, Extra Waterfalls Nearby and Canyoning
Read about the best walks and waterfalls in the Blue Mountains
How to Get to Wentworth Falls Lake (Directions)
It’s possible to use public transport to get to the lake. Very simply, you’ll catch a train to Wentworth Falls Station. From there, you can walk approx. 1km to reach the lake. We recommend using the Transport NSW Trip Planner or app to help plan your journey.
Of course, the quickest and easiest way to get to the lake is to drive there. Below, we’ll show you where to park to do the walk.
Car Hire
If you don’t have your own car, you should hire one using Discover Cars. Personally, we use Discover Cars and highly recommend them for finding your ideal car hire at an affordable price. Booking online is super easy and the free cancellation policy is great.
To find out more about renting a car with Discover Cars, read our Discover Cars review and Discover Cars Insurance review.
Wentworth Falls Lake Walk Parking
There is loads of free roadside parking along Sinclair Crescent. This parking area is located opposite the park. From the parking area, you’ll simply cross the road to get to the park to commence the walk around the lake.
Accommodation in Wentworth Falls
To see all of the attractions in the Wentworth Falls area, you may want to consider staying in the town. For sure, Wentworth Falls is a great place to stay in the Blue Mountains. With this said, the town has some outstanding accommodation options. Below, we’ve listed the three best accommodation options in Wentworth Falls.
To check current rates and availability as well as find out more information about these accommodation options, including checking lists of facilities and amenities, looking at more photos or reading reviews, head straight to Booking.com.
Read about the best Blue Mountains accommodation
FAQs
Below, you’ll find the most frequently asked questions about the lake and the walk described in this guide.
Where Is Wentworth Falls Lake?
The lake is located in the Wentworth Falls area of the Blue Mountains in New South Wales. This area is around a two hour drive from Sydney.
How Long Is the Wentworth Falls Lake Walk?
The Wentworth Falls Lake Walk distance is approx. 3.7km and takes around an hour to do.
Can You Swim at Wentworth Falls Lake?
Swimming in Wentworth Falls Lake is allowed. For sure, in the warmer months, you’ll see people swimming in the lake. Albeit, in 2023, testing proved that the water quality was ‘poor’, so swimming isn’t recommended for this reason.
Can You Eat Fish From Wentworth Falls Lake?
Given the water quality issues, you shouldn’t eat large amounts of fish caught from this lake.
Can You Kayak on Wentworth Falls Lake?
Yes, canoeing and kayaking at Wentworth Falls Lake is allowed. There is a boat ramp at the lake that you can use to launch but motorised watercrafts and boats aren’t permitted.
Is There Camping at Wentworth Falls Lake?
There are no campsites or camping grounds at the lake.
Read about the best tours in the Blue Mountains.
We acknowledge and respect the First Nations people as the Traditional Custodians of the land/water that we visited and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.
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