Poulanass (Pink Route) in Wicklow Mountains National Park

Wicklow Mountains National Park, WW

Poulanass (Pink Route)

Short but steep pink loop past a waterfall and plunge pools

Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Length
1.6km
Time
45min
Elev. change
106m
Difficulty
Moderate
  • Loop
  • Dogs allowed
  • High point 240 m

Hear the audio tour

Glendalough Upper Lake

Overview

About Poulanass (Pink Route)

Why go

  • Waterfall and plunge pools in a compact loop
  • Oak woodland and a marked forest-road return

Heads up

  • Steep, uneven opening climb
  • Short route with little walking beyond the main loop

Map & elevation

The route

Loading the Wicklow Mountains map
Full map
Elevation134–240 m
TrailheadNational Park Information Office near the Upper Lake53.00469, -6.34573
Keep this map with you offline in the Parkwolf app

Plan your hike

Before you go

Parking

Use the Upper Lake Car Park. The National Park Information Office near the Upper Lake is the signed starting access, about 200 m from the car park.

Safety

The waterfall section is steep and uneven. The continuation beyond the viewing section has collapsed, so return down the steps and follow the marked reroute. Keep dogs on a lead.

3 active Wicklow Mountains alerts

  • CautionExtreme upland fire riskDo not use solid-fuel BBQs in Wicklow Mountains National Park, and take extreme care with cigarettes and other naked flames because the hills are dry and at extreme risk of fire.Official details
  • CautionGlendalough Spinc trail works and intermittent disruptionsExpect intermittent disruption on the Glendalough Spinc trails while NPWS upgrades the White Trail.Official details
See all 3 alerts
A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone
Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Wicklow Mountains Tour Guide

Your drive to Poulanass (Pink Route), narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Wicklow Mountains National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.

Recorded for this trailhead

Glendalough Upper Lake
0:00 / 0:49
“You’re coming up on the access to Glendalough’s Upper Lake. If you’d enjoy a quiet detour, look for Reefert Church, tucked into the woods near the lake paths.”

Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Wicklow Mountains Tour Guide.

More stories near here in the app

  • Glendalough Monastic Site and Lower Lake
  • Hero Mine
  • Wicklow Heather Restaurant
  • Brockagh Mountain
  • 55 audio storiesacross Wicklow Mountains’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
  • Wildlife heatmapsfor Sika Deer, Red Deer, Grey Heron, and 3 more
  • Works offlinemaps, 34 trails, 31 places, and audio download before you lose signal
  • CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
★★★★★
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
JMJamesApp Store review
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4.7 from 8,600+ ratings

Trail guide

Hiking Poulanass (Pink Route)

The routeA 1.

A 1.6 km total closed loop on the pink waymarks, graded moderate, with about 120 m of ascent and a typical time of around 45 minutes.

What you walkStart at the Upper Lake access and follow the approach to Poulanass Waterfall, where steps…
  • Start at the Upper Lake access and follow the approach to Poulanass Waterfall, where steps climb steeply beside the falls and plunge pools.
  • From the high ground the marked line crosses above the waterfall on the forest road and bridge.
  • The return descends through oak and mixed woodland to the valley floor and back to the same access point.
  • Listen for woodland birds, including jays, in the oaks.
Effort and footingThis is a short walk with a real climb packed into the first section: steep, uneven steps and…

This is a short walk with a real climb packed into the first section: steep, uneven steps and ground beside the waterfall. After the high point the forest road and woodland descent are easier going.

Route note you should followThe continuation beyond the waterfall viewing section has collapsed.

The continuation beyond the waterfall viewing section has collapsed. Walk up to the viewing area, then return down the steps and follow the marked reroute to complete the loop. Do not attempt to push on past the closed section.

Parking and accessBegin at the National Park Information Office near the Upper Lake, roughly 120 m from the first…
  • Begin at the National Park Information Office near the Upper Lake, roughly 120 m from the first mapped route point.
  • The practical parking is the Upper Lake Car Park, about 200 m from the Information Office.
DogsDogs are welcome in the national park but must be kept on a lead at all times.

Dogs are welcome in the national park but must be kept on a lead at all times.

If you want less climbingThe Green Road Walk is a longer but easier option, mostly flat around the Lower Lake with…

The Green Road Walk is a longer but easier option, mostly flat around the Lower Lake with boardwalk and woodland sections, and suits visitors who would rather avoid the steep waterfall steps.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Wicklow Mountains

All Wicklow Mountains wildlife maps

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Wicklow Mountains. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.

Keep exploring

Near Poulanass (Pink Route)

See it all on the map

Trails that start nearby

Places near the trailhead

Parkwolf’s Wicklow Mountains ranking

Top-rated trails in Wicklow Mountains

All 34 trails
  1. 1Spinc and Glenealo Valley (White Route)Challenging · 9.5 km
  2. 2The Wicklow WayChallenging · 130 km
  3. 3Djouce Mountain from J.B. Malone Car ParkChallenging · 7.4 km
  4. 4Tonelagee & Lough Ouler TrailChallenging · 7.9 km
  5. 5Spinc and the Wicklow Way (Red Route)Challenging · 11.5 km
  6. 6Miners’ Road Walk (Purple Route)Easy · 5 km

Take Parkwolf to Wicklow Mountains.

The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.

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