Upper Falls loop walk
Guy Fawkes River National Park
Overview
With stunning waterfall views, the 360m accessible Upper Falls loop walk is ideal for walking with children. It’s a great way to explore the rugged wilderness of Guy Fawkes River National Park in Ebor.
- Accessibility
- Easy
- Distance
- 0.36km
- Time suggested
- 30min - 1hr
- Grade
- Grade 1
- What to
bring - Drinking water, clothes for all weather conditions, hat, sunscreen
Upper Falls loop walk is a short yet delightful walk on Gumbayngirr Country. It's about 40-minutes from Dorrigo in the NSW Northern Tablelands near Armidale. This accessible track allows families and people with reduced mobility to experience the majestic waterfalls of Guy Fawkes River National Park.
Set off from Ebor Falls carpark and enjoy a leisurely stroll to two scenic viewing platforms. The first is Maam Nyayagi which means ‘lookout’ in Gumbayngirr, and the other is Maam Gawbarrigamba which means ‘meeting place’. Both offer sensational views over Upper Ebor Falls and Guy Fawkes River.
Stop at the picnic area and enjoy a barbecue lunch alongside the magnificent Ebor Falls with its unusual organ pipe-like rock formations. The mighty roar of the Guy Fawkes River cascading into 2 dramatic waterfalls will be music to your ears.
Be sure to pack your binoculars if you’re a birdwatcher, as among the many species you might spot are wedge-tailed eagles, eastern rosellas and glossy black cockatoos.
If you’re keen for more, drive to the Lower Falls and enjoy expansive views of the park’s landscape. Head to the platforms at Maam Nyayagi Naan.gal, meaning ‘place of looking at the waterfall’, and Maam Nyayagi Guunyju, meaning ‘place for seeing the valley’ for spectacular views.
After an action-packed day, head into Ebor Village via Village walking track, where you can grab a coffee.
Or, if you have more time, follow the Muurlay Garriirlgundi, meaing ‘track belonging to eagle’ for more breathtaking viewpoints along the edge of the gorge that links the Upper and Lower Falls areas.
Also see
-
Ebor Falls
A great stop-off between the coast and Armidale along Waterfall Way, Ebor Falls offers spectacular waterfall views and scenic lookouts.
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/upper-falls-loop-walk/local-alerts
General enquiries
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Park info
- in Guy Fawkes River National Park in the North Coast and Country NSW regions
Guy Fawkes River National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Upper Falls loop walk.
Track grading
Features of this track
Distance
0.36km
Time
30min - 1hr
Quality of markings
Clearly sign posted
Experience required
No experience required
Gradient
Flat
Steps
No steps
Quality of path
Well-formed track
Getting there and parking
Ebor Falls is in Guy Fawkes River National Park.
To get there:
- From Ebor, head west on the Waterfall Way towards Armidale for 1km.
- Turn right at Ebor Falls Road and follow the national park signs.
The turning space and parking for long vehicles and caravans is very limited. Vehicle and trailer combinations over 12m in length should park at Ebor and enjoy this walk to Ebor Falls along Village walking track.
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles (no long vehicle access)
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
Parking is available at Ebor Falls including 2 designated accessible parking spots, with accessible signage clearly displayed.
Facilities
- There are no bins so you’ll need to take all rubbish away with you.
- There’s no drinking water along the track or picnic area so please bring your own.
Toilets
Flush toilets are available at Ebor Falls
Picnic tables
Barbecue facilities
- Gas/electric barbecues (free)
Carpark
Seats and resting points
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - easy
This walk is fully accessible.
- Both the viewing platforms at Upper Falls are accessible in a clockwise direction via a short return loop of 360m. Allow 30 minutes back to the carpark.
- The main track concreted, hover the carpark has a bitumen surface
- There are two designated accessible car spots at Ebor Falls carpark
- Accessible flush toilets are available
Prohibited
Camp fires and solid fuel burners
Camping
Gathering firewood
Generators
Horses
Pets
Smoking
Learn more
Upper Falls loop walk is in Guy Fawkes River National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Gold rush
Major Edward Parke named Guy Fawkes River after camping nearby on Guy Fawkes Day, November 5, 1845. Gold was discovered in the late 1800s at Ballards Flat and Dalmorton, with the latter once supporting a town of 3,000 people during a short gold rush. A couple of building ruins remain today and old stockmen huts and yards are still present throughout the valleys.
Routes of time
Archaeological sites suggest that Aboriginal people have occupied these valleys for over 10,000 years. The Guy Fawkes and Boyd rivers once served as important traffic and trade routes linking the tablelands to the coast. Ebor Falls was traditionally named 'Martiam', which means 'Great Falls' in Gumbaynggir language.
Unique geology
The north-south line of the Guy Fawkes River cuts through the Demon fault line, a 240-million-year-old crack in the landscape. In the south of the park the Ebor volcano spewed lava across the landscape. This created the Ebor Falls, with their unusual organ pipe-like rock formations.
- Ebor Falls A great stop-off between the coast and Armidale along Waterfall Way, Ebor Falls offers spectacular waterfall views and scenic lookouts.
- Escarpment walk Escarpment walk in Guy Fawkes River National Park is a forest walk that takes hikers past Chaelundi Falls and Lucifers Thumb, all the way to Spring Gully picnic area.
- Misty Creek lookout Enjoy scenic views from Misty Creek lookout over Guy Fawkes River Gorge, near Coffs Harbour, and Chaelundi campground.
- Upper Falls loop walk With stunning waterfall views, the 360m accessible Upper Falls loop walk is ideal for walking with children. It’s a great way to explore the rugged wilderness of Guy Fawkes River National Park in Ebor.
Wild about species
The park is an incredible biodiversity hotspot. There are over 40 different plant communities and about 1000 plant species in the park, along with 28 threatened plant species, 24 threatened animal species, and significant areas of old growth forest. The endangered brush-tailed rock-wallaby can be seen in the rocky areas of the park, while glossy black cockatoos are often spotted throughout the park. The park is also one of the few remaining areas in Australia where purebred dingoes can still be found. The park is a conservation site for one of the most significant areas of wilderness in northern NSW, extending over 84,000ha of the 107,000ha park. This preserves the biodiversity of the park, allowing its natural ecosystems to be kept free from excessive human impact.
- Ebor Falls A great stop-off between the coast and Armidale along Waterfall Way, Ebor Falls offers spectacular waterfall views and scenic lookouts.
- Escarpment walk Escarpment walk in Guy Fawkes River National Park is a forest walk that takes hikers past Chaelundi Falls and Lucifers Thumb, all the way to Spring Gully picnic area.
- Misty Creek lookout Enjoy scenic views from Misty Creek lookout over Guy Fawkes River Gorge, near Coffs Harbour, and Chaelundi campground.
- Upper Falls loop walk With stunning waterfall views, the 360m accessible Upper Falls loop walk is ideal for walking with children. It’s a great way to explore the rugged wilderness of Guy Fawkes River National Park in Ebor.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
-
Spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus)
The spotted-tailed quoll is the largest remaining carnivorous marsupial on the Australian mainland. It’s protected as a vulnerable species in NSW.