Bedford Creek is stunning, yet it’s somewhere we never hear anyone talk about. A pretty rainforest walk takes you past two waterfalls and down to a pristine swimming hole complete with its own little beach. Swimming in the cool clear water was so serene and the sounds of the forest reminded me of one of those calming nature sounds playlists.
The pool gets the afternoon sun, so it’s the perfect place to come for an early evening dip when it’s highly likely to be yours and yours alone.
Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Bedford Creek.
The Bedford Creek Walk
The stats
Distance: 2.6km return
Elevation gain: 125m
Difficulty: Easy - moderate
Summary: The walk to the Bedford Creek swimming hole is on a good track, though there are a few short sections which are slightly eroded or rocky. It’s predominantly downhill on the way, although it’s rarely steep.
If you access the pool at the first possible point there’s a formed track all the way, if you want to access the pool via the beach then there is a short overgrown section to cover.
There’s one large rock to climb down, but otherwise you just need to watch for snags which can be present under the thick ferns that creep over the path.
Starting the trail: to Bedford Creek Falls
From the parking area (details below) the walk heads straight into the bush on the unsignposted, but obvious, trail which leaves from the south-eastern side of the car park.
The first 85m are flat; the path is slightly eroded, but it’s easy to walk on either side of the gully. After 85m the track begins to gently descend and becomes a little rocky.
There’s a tiny creek crossing at the 100m mark which in normal conditions is very shallow.
Roughly 50m beyond the creek crossing you need to climb down a few rocks, but it’s easy enough and the scenery gets better and better as you get further into the forest.
At the end of the short rocky patch you can make a 30m (each way) detour to see the first waterfall. It’s a right turn and you can’t miss it because the path is worn and you’ll hear the falls.
We didn’t even know there were any waterfalls on this track and were surprised to find a pretty cascade flowing over a ferny overhang.
The flow wasn’t massive on our visit, but it was still a lovely spot and worth the quick detour. I wasn’t able to find out what the waterfall is called so we’ll refer to it as Bedford Creek Falls.
Descending to the second waterfall
Once you’re back on the main trail the good dirt path continues through the forest and it’s relatively flat. The abundance of ferns, mossy rocks and even the odd tree fern make for a very scenic stroll.
At the 470m mark you need to cross the creek again, but there are rocks to use as stepping stones and the crossing is easy.
As you continue there’s a very brief uphill section before the path levels out and then begins descending.
At the 800m mark the track takes an abrupt turn, heading left alongside the rock wall. This little bit is steep, but stable.
After 50m you’ll reach a series of shady overhangs and one even had a little arch window (at the 900m mark).
Roughly 100m later you’ll reach another short steep section of track. It’s wasn’t too slippery, but a couple of bits were loose, though there were trees if you needed to steady yourself.
After 120m descending you’ll see the second waterfall to your left, it’s just a few steps off the main trail. Again there wasn’t too much water in the falls, but it was another pretty addition to the trail.
After checking out the waterfall you could cut down to the creek and swimming hole from here. This offers access to a very large pool which has a rope swing.
On our visit the pool had quite a lot of debris and we could see a second pool (it’s really all the same pool but divided by some debris) in the far distance and this is the one with the beach.
We decided to continue a little further, on to the beach and the second part of the pool which was pristine.
Reaching Bedford Creek pool and beach
If you want to continue on you need to cross the creek (a very small crossing with stones to use) and continue along the rock platform.
Roughly 80m after the waterfall you need to climb down one large rock, this is easy, though on the way back necessitates a bit of a leg stretch.
The path becomes overgrown from here as the ferns try and take over, so just watch for snags underfoot. There are a few steps shortly after the rock where it is a little narrow and eroded, but easy as long as you watch for it.
The beach is just 80m from the big rock and though it splits just before the beach, either trail will take you to the same spot and you can already see the sand.
Swimming at Bedford Creek
Bedford Creek is a beautiful place to swim, with cool clear water and easy access from the little beach. It has a wonderful feel to it, the kind of place that encourages you to stop and breathe out.
It may not be as dramatic scenery-wise as some of the more well known spots in the mountains, but the peace and serenity make it very special.
The start of the pool is shallow and then it becomes deep enough to swim off very quickly. There are small cascades just behind the pool, which along with the sounds of the birds and insects, make it so incredibly peaceful.
The water is green and shimmery in the sunshine, but quite dark if it gets cloudy. Although it did cloud over on our visit we were lucky enough to see it briefly in the sunshine, so you can expect it to look lovelier on a sunny day than it does in our photos!
Although there is plenty of room for unobstructed swimming, there are some fallen trees and rocks in the water.
The trees in particular need to be watched for as you don’t want to get jabbed. They were generally a little further from the beach (you can see some snags above the surface of the water) so I avoided that area.
It stopped me swimming right the way up the pool which I would have otherwise done.
When you’re ready to leave the pool you simply retrace your steps back to the car park.
Keep them wild
Please remember to take all rubbish with you and keep these places wild and pristine - as with anywhere in the outdoors. It’s important to leave them exactly as you found them so they will remain beautiful for generations to come.
Litter tends to breed litter, so if you do spot any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the national park, it will go a long way to keeping the area clean.
There are no facilities at the trailhead for the walk or anywhere along the trail so please plan accordingly. The nearest toilet is at the campsite, but you can’t drive in if you’re not staying as you won’t have the gate code.
Camping at Murphys Glen
One of the loveliest campsites in the mountains is located just a few hundred metres from the trailhead to Bedford Creek. The setting is stunning, with little clearings that have a picnic bench and fire pit under the shadow of dozens of spectacular blue gums. There’s also a long drop toilet.
The sites must be prebooked on the national park website and there is a gate which requires a code to get in.
Getting to the Bedford Creek trailhead
The walk begins from the day use area at Murphys Glen in Woodford - you’ll see the signpost for the day use area at the junction with the campground. The last 4.8km of the road are unsealed.
It was suitable for any car on our visit as it was well graded, though there is one short steep hill and one small section which was a bit bumpy. However, we saw a 2WD car do it without any issues. Unsealed roads can change over time and after heavy rain, so please check current conditions with the parks service.
The trailhead is roughly 25km and a 35 minute drive from Katoomba and 88km and 1 hour 20 minutes from Sydney.
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