Scouts Falls is simply spectacular and you’re in for a treat if you love wild swimming. The crystal clear pool at its base feels like a warm tropical lagoon on a sunny day, with a shallow sandy section for relaxing, as well as a large deep area perfect for swimming.
Although the walk to get there is short, the trail is pretty rough and unmaintained for the majority of the way. It’s a mix of walking over rocks, minor creek crossings and a few rocky ledges. This only adds to that wild back to nature feeling!
Having said that, we saw several young kids manage it with no problems, so if you don’t mind a little rough terrain, it’s a truly fabulous place to take a dip.
Here’s exactly what to expect on the walk to Scouts Falls, one of our favourite things to do in Coffs Harbour.
The walk to Scouts Falls
The stats
Distance: 1.2km return
Elevation: 20m
Difficulty: Moderate
Summary: The trail to Scouts Falls is short, but there is no set path for the majority of the walk. As you can see from the elevation, there are next to no uphill sections - it’s just the terrain that slows you down.
You are either walking along rocks, or rocky ledges with some dirt track inbetween which can become a little muddy and slippery (after rain).
To get to the falls you will need to cross the creek twice, but there are rocks to use as stepping stones, so you don’t need to worry about wet shoes.
The walk to Scouts Falls
To the first swimming hole
The walk begins on a narrow bush track which is flat and easy. It doesn’t last long though and you soon reach the start of the rocks and tree roots.
It can get a little muddy, but nothing too dramatic and walking along the rocks isn’t difficult if they are dry.
If you wear shoes with grip and watch your step it’s not too bad, but it definitely slows you down a bit. There aren’t any sections which require any big moves or agility, it’s just rocky and/or narrow.
After 165m you come to a set of cascades which also has a lovely swimming hole. If you aren’t enjoying the path you could stop here, and it’s a beautiful place to swim in its own right.
Having said that, in my opinion, the path doesn’t get any harder, so if you’ve done this bit you can definitely get all the way to Scouts Falls.
If you do want to swim at this first pool, it’s a mix of deep and shallow, with some rocky areas. It’s great for a plunge, but you can’t swim its full length due to the rocks.
The water clarity and colour is gorgeous though, a glistening deep emerald and the waterfall is very pretty.
Onto Scouts Falls
At the first swimming hole, you can cross the creek, using the rocks as stepping stones. It’s a dry shoes crossing unless there has been unusually high rainfall.
You can also scramble up the steep path without crossing the creek and you’ll reach the rock platform above the pool which you can cross to join up with the main track, but it’s a bit eroded and we think crossing the creek is the easier route.
The creek crossing
Once you’ve crossed the creek there’s a little bit of a scramble up rocks, but it only lasts for 10m and the rocks are grippy when dry. After this the path flattens as you follow the creek.
Roughly another 100m later (350m from the parking area) you’ll come to a narrow section of track and follow it for the next 30m. There’s then an easy scramble down onto a good track.
However, it doesn’t last long, after just 50m you will walk along a narrow rock ledge, but there’s no exposure. At the end of the ledge you’ll climb down to creek level and cross the creek again on a series of boulders (it’s an easy crossing).
The boulder crossing over the creek
After navigating a few rocks on the other side, there’s a little bit of good track and then one short rocky climb before you need to cross a final short but narrow ledge.
The ledge has a small drop to the left and though there are good foot placements, it can feel a little slippery when wet.
For some reason it felt easier on the way to the falls than it did on the way back! There’s one slightly awkward foot placement on the way back which I didn’t notice on the way there.
Maybe as everyone’s wet feet had made it a bit slippery by the time we left! If you’re not keen on the look of the ledge you could avoid it by doing a little more boulder hopping instead.
You are now just 25m from the incredible Scouts Falls. The terrain is still uneven with some rocks to clamber over, but no more so than what you’ve already done. This will bring you to the edge of the magnificent Scouts Falls.
Swimming at Scouts Falls
The trail to get to the falls might be a little tricky in places but getting into the pool is a breeze. There are virtually no rocks at all to climb over and the bottom is sandy and easy to walk on.
It gets deep pretty quickly too and is large enough for a proper swim. It’s one of my favourite waterfalls to swim at in NSW, and we’ve visited a lot this year!
The colour of the water and the power of the falls is spectacular and it makes for a really atmospheric place to swim.
We’ve seen it during rain and on sunny days and both are stunning, but the sunshine really does give it that lagoon like quality which is hard to beat.
The water is pretty warm in the hotter months, and even when we first visited in April, it was cool but not cold.
Where to park for Scouts Falls
The trail to the falls is not marked on Google Maps and nor is the area where you should park. There is room for quite a few cars to pull off the road in various spots close to the trailhead, as well as a car park on the eastern side of the bridge.
To get there, head to Glenreagh. From Glenreah, take the Sherwood Creek Road until you see a concrete bridge. You can find the exact spot by clicking on this link. Just before the bridge you will see a Sherwood Nature Reserve Sign - the trail begins from here.
The last 1.9km of the road is unsealed, but it’s a gravel road that is in good condition. At time of writing you do not need any kind of high clearance.
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We’re sharing the best things to do in Port Macquarie, from incredible beaches with hidden rock pools, to waterfalls you can swim under, places to go koala spotting, spectacular rainforest strolls, local vineyards and breweries and where to catch a beautiful sunset.