The 5.5 km Empire Pass Walking Track is a scenic bushwalk in North Lawson that passes by four small but picturesque waterfalls.
The walk includes the Dantes Glen Walking Track, which takes in three of the four waterfalls and is suitable for those after a shorter bushwalking option.
| Empire Pass Walking Track | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 5.5 km (loop) |
| Time: | 2.5 hours |
| Grade: | Moderate (steep sections) |
| Dogs: | Allowed in the Dantes Glen section |
| Wheel-friendly: | No |
| Maps: |  PDF map |
 Interactive map |
|
Getting There
The walk begins in North Lawson Park at the end of St Bernards Drive, where there is ample parking available.
To get there, turn onto San Jose Avenue from the Great Western Highway and follow it to St Bernards Drive via Park Road. If you’re using public transport, Lawson Station is about a 20-minute walk away.
Dogs are allowed on a lead along the Dantes Glen Walking Track, as it sits outside the national park boundary. However, the Empire Pass extension enters the national park, where dogs are not permitted.
Track Notes
The Empire Pass Walking Track is a moderately challenging bushwalk, with a few steep sections and some spots where the path may be overgrown or muddy.
On the map below, you’ll see the four waterfalls marked:
- Dantes Glen
- St Michael’s Falls
- Frederica Falls
- Fairy Falls
1. Dantes Glen
To begin the walk, look for the North Lawson Park signpost shown in the photo above and head straight from there.
About 150 metres in, you’ll come to a junction with a path on the right leading to Fairy Falls. Ignore that turn-off and continue straight ahead on the main track.
From the junction, the track descends into a lush rainforest setting via a series of staircases, eventually reaching Dantes Glen, the first waterfall on the Empire Pass loop.
Dantes Glen is a small waterfall, tucked away in a quiet and peaceful gully. Depending on recent rainfall, the flow may be light, but the surrounding scenery is always beautiful.
2. St Michael’s Falls
To get to the second waterfall, St Michael’s Falls, continue along the main walking track that follows the creek.
After about 150 metres, you’ll need to cross the creek using a series of rocks. On the other side, you’ll see a small signpost for St Michael’s Falls pointing to the right.
It’s only a short side trail to this second waterfall, which is very similar in appearance to Dantes Glen and just as pretty.
What makes these small waterfalls so enjoyable to visit is the quiet, natural setting that surrounds them.
3. Frederica Falls
From St Michael’s Falls, return to the main trail and continue north along the creek for a few hundred metres until you reach a junction.
This junction marks the point where the Dantes Glen Walking Track becomes the Empire Pass and enters national park land. To stay on the Empire Pass Walking Track, continue straight ahead. According to the sign, Frederica Falls is 1.8 km away.
As the track now enters national park land, dogs are not permitted. If you’re walking with your dog, or prefer a shorter walk, turn right at the junction and head up the stairs to continue on the Dantes Glen circuit.
The 1.8 km stretch to Frederica Falls passes through beautiful bushland, with the trail mostly following the creek. The path can be narrow and overgrown in places, but the scenery is excellent.
After about 30 minutes of hiking along this section, you’ll arrive at Frederica Falls, located at the junction of the Empire Pass and the North Lawson Fire Trail.
Frederica Falls is the smallest of the four waterfalls along the Empire Pass circuit, but it’s a lovely sight, especially after rainfall.
4. Fairy Falls
To reach the final waterfall, Fairy Falls, turn right onto the North Lawson Fire Trail and follow the signs for Echo Point.
This fire trail is quite steep and, at first, not very scenic, but the surroundings soon improve.
About 500 metres in, you’ll come to a gate. Walk past it, turn right into the bush, and continue following the signs for Echo Point and Echo Bluff.
Some walkers miss that turn-off and continue straight along the fire trail, but that route leads back to North Lawson Park, skipping Fairy Falls entirely.
A few hundred metres after the turn-off, make a left turn, following signs for Empire Pass and Lawson Park. From there, it’s about another kilometre of walking along a bush trail before you arrive at Fairy Falls.
Fairy Falls is a small waterfall with a wide cascade, where water spills over a rock ledge onto a rocky surface. It’s a beautiful little spot and a great way to finish the walk.
From Fairy Falls, it’s a short stroll back up to North Lawson Park to complete the circuit.
Similar walks nearby:
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