A day with your dog is a day well spent, so why not make the most of a glorious sunny day and explore one of many dog-friendly trails that fall within 60 minutes of Perth’s CBD. From relaxing 1 hour walks through stunning WA bushland, to tracks for avid hikers and high energy pooches, there is a walk for every four-legged friend and their human to enjoy. Whilst some of these trails feature streams and creeks, a water bottle and snack for you and your pup is sure to go down a treat.
Image Credit @thekarmachronicles
Whistlepipe Gully Walk, Mundy Regional Park
Nestled in the hills of Forrestfield, the Whistlepipe Gully Walk is a stunning trail that runs alongside a bubbling creek through pristine bushland with a few small waterfalls to enjoy on the way.
This 3.4km loop trail follows clearly defined tracks and offers scenic views of Perth cityscape on the route. There are no amenities on location and during peak hours over weekends and holidays, the Lewis Road Cark Park can fill up quickly so it pays to start early. A towel in the car will come in handy should your dog take a quick dip or two to cool down along the hike.
Image Credit @pearse_dillon
Sixty Foot Falls Track, Ellis Brook Valley Reserve
Whilst the name is off-putting for any height fearing human, Ellis Brook Valley Reserve is a much loved and well-worn 3km loop trail in the Perth Hills. Located just 35 minutes from Perth CBD, if you and your furry friend enjoy the thrill of heights and the opportunity to get your heart rate pumping with steep inclines and stairs, this may be the hike for you.
The paths are clearly labelled and well maintained making it a great track for those who are good at getting lost. The carrot at the end of this hike is the Ellis Brook Falls waterfall. The best time to take this trail is after good rainfall for picture-perfect views of cascading water and babbling brooks, best viewed from the platform at the top of the waterfall. Be mindful though that some of the trails can become slippery after rain so wear your reliable footwear and leave those sandals at home.
Image Credit @missmila_bordercollie
Lesmurdie Falls, Mundy Regional Park
Time to pull out your camera and take a few selfies with your pawed pal for this epic trail complete with wildflowers and waterfalls. A short 35-minute drive from the CBD into the Perth Hills, offers a number of tracks ranging from 45 minutes to 2 hours.
Leading you to an impressive lookout above the falls, winding down beside the brook and ending at the base of the cascading Lesmurdie Falls, the ‘Foot of The Falls’ is a popular trail for owners to explore with their dog. This track boasts particularly spectacular views, especially after a healthy winters rain. Be prepared for stairs and a few bumpy and narrow paths to and from the falls. There are plenty of great spots to rest along the way to snap a photo or two and enjoy the surroundings.
There are amenities available on-site and a designated car park with additional street parking for overflow during the weekends. Before heading back home, The Bean Runner coffee and food truck provide a selection of refreshments for the weary walker. You can find The Bean Runner set up most weekends in the Lesmurdie Falls car park.
Credit @heidi.theswissshepherd
Jorgensen Park, Kalamunda
The township of Kalamunda is only a 1-minute drive away for a sneaky coffee and puppa-chino for your caffeine fix before visiting Jorgensen park. This track is one of the few that allows off-leash playtime for your pooch and is a great place for dogs to socialise. As a short 2.3km trail, this park is also ideal for young families and older dogs that may tire easily and without warning. However, you are more than welcome to take as many loops as you please. The trail is only a 30-minute drive east of Perth CBD and the perfect place to enjoy a picnic with the family.
This track features wide pathways, wildflowers and is arguably one of the favourites for locals of Kalamunda. Be mindful not to stray into the nearby Kalamunda National Park as this is a no-go zone for pets.
Image Credit @a.dach.of.hibiki
Noble Falls, Toodyay
A 20-minute drive from the Swan Valley and 45 minutes from Perth CBD, you and your tyke with a tail could be wandering through jarrah, marri and blackbutt bushland for a relaxing 3.6km loop walk along the Noble Falls Walk Trail. Make your way across a footbridge and follow the Wooroloo Brooke through the serene bush setting and leading past the Noble Falls.
At the end of your walk, fire up one of the picnic areas BBQ’s or head across the road for a refreshment at the Noble Falls Tavern. The tavern welcomes dogs big and small in both the beer garden or outdoor veranda.
Image Credit @jackson_dakin
Bells Rapids Goat Trail, Brigadoon
With spectacular scenery and with views over the Darling Scarp, Swan Coastal Plain and into Walyunga National Park, Bells Rapids is a favourite destination all year round. Best of all, the park is an off-leash location allowing your bundles of fur to galivant and be merry rolling in the grass.
The local trails runs through rolling hills, lush vegetation, rocky riverbanks and a footbridge to take you across the river. The River Walk is 2.5 km and joins up with the 3km Goat Walk. The complete loop takes around 2hours to complete. The Goat Walk part of the trail is said to be best suited for an actual goat, and requires a medium level of fitness and ideally a pair of hiking boots if you have them.
Barbeques, picnic seating areas and amenities are also available at the park. Toilets can be found along Cathedral Ave approximately below the upper car park. Take a 45-minute drive out of the CBD and explore this gem for yourself.
Image Credit @xstellaration
Bungendore Park, Wungong Regional Park
For some of us, a 4km hike just isn’t going to cut it and you’re going to need to pull out all the stops to make sure you have squeezed out all that pent up energy. Bungendore park boasts a variety of trails that are bound to have your pooch snoring on the car ride home. Some trails like the Cockatoo Circuit are as short as 1.7km working their way up to 3.5km loop trails for the Robin Ramble and Spine Bill Stoll, to the Honey Eater Hike at 7.7km looping back to the car park. There are plenty of colour-coded signs to keep you track.
Keep a lookout for and endangered species of cockatoo’s in the treetops such as the Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Baudin’s and Carnaby Black Cockatoos.
Be sure to stop and clean your shoes at the many Dieback hygiene stations to help protect our native bushland along the trails. Bungendore Park is located in the Wungong Regional Park and will take roughly an hour to drive from Perth CBD heading in the direction of Armadale.
Image Credit @ciara_mccaffrey_
Roley Pool Reserve, Roleystone
Roley Pool, also known as Rocky Pool by the locals, is renowned as being a peaceful and serene oasis to enjoy the offerings of the Australian bush. This trail is a treat for you and your best friend looking to spend some quiet one on one time along the 4.3km loop track made up of many smaller trails.
Parking is available at both Soldiers Road before the traffic bridge and on Collins Rd. Should you opt for the Collins Rd, you will find yourself at the top a flight of stairs leading straight down to Roley Pool. At the top of the stairs, you have the option to hover your phone over the QR code to a map of the Reserve. There are a number of QR codes along the trails for visitors eager to learn about the area. If you are lucky, you may even spot a Rakali, our very own otter native to WA, in one of the many watering holes throughout the trail.
Image Credit @talesofchu
Mundlimup Timber Trail, Jarrahdale
If you and your dog are looking to dodge the crowds, Jarrahdale’s Mundlimup Timber Trail is for you. Located 60kms south of Perth CBD, you have the choice of a 3km and 6km trail. For land once at the hands of the logging industry over 100 years ago, nature has prevailed. This gentle walk weaves through the lush regrowth of banksia and Jarrah trees with a few steps here and there and a quaint little footbridge. BBQ and picnic facilities make this a lovely little place to take a break and hand your four-legged friend a well-deserved schmako for being the best pet in the world.
Image Credit @Steph_Hayes
Spectacles Aboriginal Heritage Trail, Beeliar Park
Lead your dog around the wetland of the spectacles, weaving amongst banksia, eucalyptus and paperbark trees. Only 25 minutes south of the Perth CBD, this 5km loop trail offers an educational experience to learn about the animals, flora and living of the First Nation peoples on interpretation panels along the way.
Despite the serenity of this lesser-known track, The Spectacles are only located 5 minutes from the town centre of Kwinana and a short walk from the train station.
Header Image Credit @danny_perth
