Sometimes called the “secret falls” of West Head, the Upper Gledhill Falls are only a few metres from McCarrs Creek Road but are completely hidden from the road. The picturesque falls are accessed via a short scramble down to the creek from McCarrs Creek Road. The waterfall plunges into a deep pool, which is surrounded by forest and fern-covered rocks.
There’s even a small sandy beach at one end of the 10m wide pool. McCarrs Creek has a fairly large catchment area which is all within Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, so there is usually a decent flow of water.
Above Upper Gledhill Falls is a series of smaller cascades, just below where the road crosses McCarrs Creek.
The falls and pool are accessed from McCarrs Creek Road, just before the junction with West Head Road. There’s very limited parking on McCarrs Creek Road (2-3 cars), so you also leave the car at the parking area at the bottom of West Head Road and walk up McCarrs Creek Road a short distance.
More information on Upper Gledhill Falls
This swimming hole is becoming more popular, having been featured in a few articles on secret swimming holes, including Wild Swimming Australia. So you’ll find a few people there on a weekend – but go on a weekday and you may well have this secret swimming hole to yourself!
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An exploratory loop along McCarrs Creek | Hiking the World · October 17, 2021 at 11:48 am
[…] Duck Holes Trail in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, before passing under McCarrs Creeek Road near Upper Gledhill Falls. The creek then follows McCarrs Creek Road as it descends through the national park, before flowing […]