Skip to Content Skip to Navigation Show Trail Map Show About the Trail Show Important Trail Details Read Trail Reviews
Support Our Trails

Rocky Pool Walk, Kalamunda Rocky Pool Walk, Kalamunda

Bush Walk

(+1)
Trail Running
 in Perth & Surrounds

  • 1-3 hours
  • 5 km
    • Bush Walk Class 5

      Extreme trail with very rough surface, and may have very steep hills, arduous rock hopping or rock scrambling. Limited or no directional signage. For very experienced bushwalkers with navigation and emergency first aid skills, and high level of fitness.

Rocky Pool Walk is a 5km loop in the Kalamunda National Park visiting the picturesque Rocky Pool, with beautiful seasonal wildflowers and abundant wildlife. It includes a section of the Bibbulmun Track and has some difficult, steep loose descents, making this a challenging, rewarding bush walk with spectacular valley views.

A hiker enjoying the Rocky Pool Walk Trail
Earn 3 Points Bibbulmun Track
Logo for Leave no Trace Initiative

Trails WA supports the seven principles recommended by Leave No Trace Australia for minimising your impacts when using the trails.

Learn more

Rocky Pool Walk is a popular loop walk in the Kalamunda National Park, 28kms (32 minutes) east of Perth.

The trail visits the natural swimming hole known as Rocky Pool, once a popular swimming destination for locals in the 1930s. The walk is steep, loose and challenging in places, offering spectacular hill and valley views as a reward for hikers. 

There is a car park at the end of Spring Road, Kalamunda, at the start point of the trail.

The trail passes Piesse Brook, following the Bibbulmun Track for part of the way. There are three different trail markers for this track: blue triangular markers, Shire of Kalamunda signage, and the Bibbulmun Track waugal markers. 

The walk trail map and trail notes are available at the Shire of Kalamunda website. This trail can also be accessed by following the Friends of Piesse Brook Interpretive Trail. There are information panels along the trail describing the history, flora, fauna and landforms of the area. 

Start point: Car park at the end of Spring Road. 

Trail Notes:
Leave the car park and head in a Northerly direction.
1. At the T- junction take the left fork and walk uphill.
2. Ignore a track to the left and continue on the main track.
3. At the T junction take the right fork and cross a small water course.
4. At this point, leave the main track and take a branch to the right. The point is indicated by a sign and a large cut log to the right of the track. This is the most distant point from the start of the walk.
5. The descent here is loose and stony, and crosses a rocky water course with a rock formation resembling a ram’s head.
6. A divergence in the track. In winter, due to the flow of water, it is necessary to deviate to the left through a grove of saplings. The track is indistinct but generally follows the creek line. Look for a blue marker on a dark Red Gum.
7. A bridge across the water course, directly under a high tension power line.
8. Leave the power line and veer right on a well made track following Shire of Kalamunda walk trail signs.
9. Rocky Pool, a spectacular pool with large granite boulders. There is water here for most of the summer.
10. The Bibbulmun Track joins the track from the left.
11. Turn right off the formed road, following the Bibbulmun Track markers. The turn is further indicated by a trail marker on a large post on the left of the road.
12. The Bibbulmun Track turns left and heads up the hill. Leave the Bibbulmun Track here, cross the water course to the right.
13. After crossing the water course, turn left. A Shire of Kalamunda walk sign on a tree directs you to the left, back to the start point.

Perth Hills Visitor Centre

(08) 9257 9998

National Parks

Other Links

  • Destination Perth

    Comprehensive information on the Perth region including destinations, things to see and do, accommodation and tours.


Expand your trip and enjoy great businesses nearby

Off The Beaten Track WA

Off The Beaten Track WA (OTBT) is Perth’s leading premier Hiking Experience & Adventure Tour operator, providing guests with over 70 safe, fun, inclusive experiences in a fully supported environment.

Photo of Off The Beaten Track WA

Be trail ready for Rocky Pool Walk, Kalamunda

Here is everything you need to know before visiting this trail.

Time / Duration

Up to 2 hours

Length

5km loop

What To Pack

Group B - Hiking & Long Distance Trails (Bushwalks and/or longer trails) required.

Trail Start

The end of Spring Street, Kalamunda, 28km (32 minutes) east of Perth

Get directions

Trail End

Bush Walk

Class 5

Extreme trail with very rough surface, and may have very steep hills, arduous rock hopping or rock scrambling. Limited or no directional signage. For very experienced bushwalkers with navigation and emergency first aid skills, and high level of fitness.

Visit Trail Tips for further information.

Facilities

  • Car Park

Best time of year

August to November for wildflowers

Trail Access

Road and Bus

Edge shaped like mountain horizon
topography pattern

Complete Rocky Pool Walk, Kalamunda to earn badges and points!

Earn points and badges and become a "TrailsWA Expert" by completing trails and leaving reviews.

Earn 3 Points

Earn 3 points towards
your TrailsWA level

Bibbulmun Track

Earn the Bibbulmun Track badge when you complete this trail.

Edge shaped like mountain horizon
Alt text

11 trail goers have rated Rocky Pool Walk, Kalamunda as 4.18 out of 5!

We love to hear from people who've been on our Western Australian trails, so it would be most appreciated it if you wanted to leave a review.

Profile photo for Martin Hadley
Martin Hadley

Reviewed 13 Sep 2023, 8:46pm

A great walk in spring and early summer when the flowers are out and the water is flowing. It is moderately steep in places and Rocky Pool is a nice place for a dip when it's hot and the water is still flowing. Watch for snakes and ants and a good idea to keep an eye on where you sit. If you see the tiny red Kangaroo mites crawling over your gear and even on you get some repellant on quickly as they burrow into your skin and create itchy lumps. You will need to get some tubes of Lyclear to get rid of them if they do burrow in.
Chelle Fisher

Reviewed 14 Sep 2022, 11:47am

One of the best little walks in the hills with some tricky sections but beautiful none the less, and Rocky Pool is amazing when full
Patricia Femia

Reviewed 4 Sep 2022, 5:26pm

It’s gorgeous. Did this 29 September 2022. Plenty of water flowing from the recent rains. Bit of a steep ascent at the beginning but otherwise a fantastically straightforward walk. Loved every moment.
Amy Nelson

Reviewed 16 Aug 2022, 5:54pm

The scenery and pool was nice, but overall was a bad idea of me doing the walk anti-clockwise making half of it very steep inclines that definitely made the trail extremely difficult. Besides when it joins the Bib there is hardly anything to no trail markers, which led to me getting extremely lost when the trail just turned into straight bush. I would suggest going clockwise, or going anti-clockwise to view the pool then head back the way you came.
Christopher Lowe

Reviewed 18 Jul 2022, 9:59pm

This is a fun 2 hour mini adventure. I saw some Kangaroo's, crossed a little stream and took a short break at the rock pool. It has some wide sections, some steep sections and a bush trail trail section. There are some cool rock formations a few intersections that require thinking about but it's not a difficult walk.
Lene McConnell

Reviewed 4 Jul 2022, 4:48am

Did the walk with my two kids 6 and 8 years old. Parked at Spring road. Started clockwise, and am glad I had saved the map and used the GSP a couple of times for direction. Fairly steep in the beginning of the trail, long and steep down - def got my untrained muscles working hard. Excellent mentally stimulating as well with the uneven trail.
Didn't meet many people until we reached the Rocky Pool, which made it a nice escape in nature away from it all.
Loved it, and so did the kids, will definitely do again.
Profile photo for Nita Alexander
Nita Alexander

Reviewed 26 Jun 2022, 9:22pm

Lovely trail, very picturesque. We did it clockwise which meant the Rocky Pool was nearer to the finish. Trail is rocky and a fun challenge. Definitely doing it again!
Micky Patel

Reviewed 28 Aug 2021, 11:47am

Nice trail!! However, it is bit confusing due to multiple trails crossings including Bibbilium and limited signs. Strictly follow route given in description. Use Google maps if you are lost (Like we did!)
Jana Coker

Reviewed 18 Sep 2020, 4:23pm

We went clockwise and it was very very steep upwards and later very very steep down. We got lost as the markers were not properly in place. Saying that we enjoyed the trail, the Rocky Pool area was very nice and we found out later could be easily reached from other trails also.
Profile photo for Marco Zecca
Marco Zecca

Reviewed 14 Jul 2019, 8:30pm

The pool is the highlight of this trail, easy to reach, only 20 minutes from the carpark. Very popular spot, so expect to have people around. The rest of the trail is mainly on firebreak roads, very steep in sections. Recommended!
Fayley Arthur

Reviewed 17 Feb 2019, 7:55pm

Rocky Pool is a MUST DO for nature lovers and \u201cwild swimmers\u201d in Perth. The water is clean and flowing with a shallow area and a deep area, with a few little cascades for bonus beauty.

I strongly suggest that you follow the walk trail in an ANTI CLOCKWISE direction. The start (in this direction) is part of the Bibbulman track and is lovely hand built narrow track along the the picturesque Brook.

After you get to Rocky Pool I suggest returning along the same path. The remainder of the trail is all wide fire tracks or forestry roads which are all hot because the shade can't reach you, some parts are very steep with either deep clay mud or very loose pea gravel. There are some pretty sights (like the brook crossing), but I think the negatives outnumber. In a clockwise direction a very important marker after the crossing is missing so if you travel in this direction check your map here.

Overall my favourite Walk for taking friends on as it has a swim in beautiful water.

Like this trail? Explore others nearby

More around Perth & Surrounds

Supported by great organisations

Trails are free and bring so many benefits to our community by providing opportunities to have fun, get fit, socialise, explore and challenge yourself. But they also have to be managed and maintained which only is made possible through terrific sponsors, donations and/or volunteering.

topography pattern