Box Ridge walking track

Cascade National Park

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Overview

The short, gently undulating Box Ridge walking track, just an hours’ drive from Coffs Harbour, shows the diversity of the rainforest, including huge brush box trees and wildlife including lyrebirds and wallabies.

Distance
1.2km return
Time suggested
30min - 1hr
Grade
Grade 4
Opening times

Box Ridge walking track is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.

What to
bring
Drinking water, hat, sunscreen
Please note
Remember to take your binoculars if you want to go birdwatching.

Explore the diversity of the rainforest along Box Ridge walking track. The 1.2km return journey is mostly flat and suitable for the whole family. Tell the kids to keep their voices down to a whisper, because they may be able to spot lyrebirds, wallabies and even a carpet python along the way.

The highlight of this short walk is definitely the huge, ancient brush box trees, but you’ll also see pretty coachwoods and, during summer, the spectacular red flowers of the Dorrigo waratahs. Huge stumps, contrasted with the old-growth trees, are reminders of the bygone logging era.

When you reach the end, retrace your steps or join the Mobong walking track heading south to turn this walk into a circuit.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Map


Map legend

Map legend

Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this area.

Local alerts

For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/walking-tracks/box-ridge-walking-track/local-alerts

General enquiries

Park info

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Box Ridge walking track.

Track grading

Features of this track

Distance

1.2km return

Time

30min - 1hr

Quality of markings

Sign posted

Experience required

Some bushwalking experience recommended

Gradient

Gentle hills

Steps

Occasional steps

Quality of path

Rough track, many obstacles

Getting there and parking

Get driving directions

Get directions

    Box Ridge walking track is in the northern precinct of Cascade National Park. To get there:

    • From Dorrigo, travel 15km north to the village of Cascade.
    • At the T-intersection in Cascade, turn left onto Moses Rock Road. There’s an information shelter 100m along on the right.
    • About 800m west of the shelter, the beginning of Box Ridge walking track is signposted.

    Parking

    Parking is available near the Cascade information shelter.

    Best times to visit

    There are lots of great things waiting for you in Cascade National Park. Here are some of the highlights.

    Autumn

    Mild conditions are great for walking, and you'll see brightly coloured fungi everywhere.

    Spring

    Conditions are dry and perfect for mountain biking through the forests.

    Summer

    The wettest time of the year and a great opportunity to see the rainforest at its best, with fungi and fruits on show.

    Winter

    It's cool, but rug up for walks through the misty rainforest with hardly anyone else around.

    Weather, temperature and rainfall

    Summer temperature

    Average

    17°C and 29°C

    Highest recorded

    28.3°C

    Winter temperature

    Average

    5°C and 22°C

    Lowest recorded

    4.2°C

    Rainfall

    Wettest month

    March

    Driest month

    August

    The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day

    388.2mm

    Maps and downloads

    Safety messages

    Bushwalking safety

    If you're keen to head out on a longer walk or a backpack camp, always be prepared. Read these bushwalking safety tips before you set off on a walking adventure in national parks.

    If you’re bushwalking in this park, it’s a good idea to bring a topographic map and compass, or a GPS.

    Mobile safety

    Dial Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. Download the Emergency Plus app before you visit, it helps emergency services locate you using your smartphone's GPS. Please note there is limited mobile phone reception in this park and you’ll need mobile reception to call Triple Zero (000).

    River and lake safety

    The aquatic environment around rivers, lakes and lagoons can be unpredictable. If you're visiting these areas, take note of these river and lake safety tips.

    Prohibited

    Pets

    Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.

    Smoking

    NSW national parks are no smoking areas.

    Learn more

    Box Ridge walking track is in Cascade National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

    A natural palette of colours

    Mobong walking track, Cascade National Park. Photo: Rob Cleary/Seen Australia

    Cascade National Park combines warm temperate and subtropical rainforest filled with coachwood, crab apple, booyong and even hoop pine. Antarctic beech can also be found within its boundaries. In December, Dorrigo waratah blooms, showing off its spectacular red flowers. In the wet eucalypt forests, brush box, tallowwood and Sydney blue gums flourish.

    • Box Ridge walking track The short, gently undulating Box Ridge walking track, just an hours’ drive from Coffs Harbour, shows the diversity of the rainforest, including huge brush box trees and wildlife including lyrebirds and wallabies.

    Cascade's logging past

    Moonpar Forest Drive, Cascade National Park. Photo: Barbara Webster

    At the beginning of the 20th century, all over Dorrigo Plateau, the land was being opened up for dairy farming and cropping. Soon after, red cedar and hoop pine was targeted by loggers. A rail line was opened in 1924 to Glenreagh, and a network of tramlines carried timber from the forests to the mills at Cascade. Although logging no longer takes place here, the four rail lines and logging relics can be seen in Cascade National Park and nearby Nymboi-Binderay and Dorrigo national parks, in particular, around Cascade village and along Moonpar Forest drive.

    • Mobong walking track The delightful walk along Mobong walking track, only an hours' drive from Coffs Harbour, takes in magnificent rainforest, a historic logging tramway and picturesque waterholes.

    Get active, or simply relax

    Box Ridge walk, Cascade National Park. Photo: Rob Cleary/Seen Australia

    For those who like mountain biking, get yourself to Cascade ride. If walking is more your style, take a walk beneath the ancient trees on either Box Ridge or Mobong tracks. There's also a driving route that traverses both Cascade and the southern reaches of Nymboi-Binderay national parks. And be sure to bring your binoculars for birdwatching, and a picnic for when you're ready to relax. There's a full range of adventures, from the gentle to the more active, in Cascade National Park.

    • Cascade mountain bike trail Enjoy a scenic cycling route through the rainforest on Cascade mountain bike trail, only an hours' drive from Coffs Harbour, and spot lyrebirds, reptiles and other wildlife along the way.

    Rich with biodiversity

    Land Mullet (Bellatorias major), Cascade National Park. Photo: A Harber

    The rainforest in Cascade is busy with birds and animals, both day and night. During daylight hours, you may see lyrebirds, brush turkeys, and bowerbirds to name a few. The brightly feathered wompoo fruit dove, with its green belly blends, camouflages itself within the forest canopy. Wallabies can be seen early and late in the day. And rare species including sphagnum and pouched frogs, spotted-tailed quolls and red-legged pademelons also call Cascade National Park home.

    • Box Ridge walking track The short, gently undulating Box Ridge walking track, just an hours’ drive from Coffs Harbour, shows the diversity of the rainforest, including huge brush box trees and wildlife including lyrebirds and wallabies.

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