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.

Wicklow Mountains National Park, WW
Short but steep pink loop past a waterfall and plunge pools
Overview
Map & elevation
Plan your hike

The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Wicklow Mountains Tour Guide
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“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
Trail guide
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.
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.
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.
Dogs are welcome in the national park but must be kept on a lead at all times.
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
204 sightingsSika DeerMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
18 sightingsRed DeerMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
15 sightingsGrey HeronMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
11 sightingsCommon RavenMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
28 sightingsEuropean Common FrogMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
11 sightingsViviparous LizardMost seen around 11 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Wicklow Mountains. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ChallengingSpinc and Glenealo Valley (White Route)9.5 km · 3.3 hr · At the trailheadSteep steps to cliff-top views over two lakes and a deer-filled valley
ChallengingSpinc and the Wicklow Way (Red Route)11.5 km · 4.3 hr · At the trailheadBoardwalk cliff path, twin-lake views and a hard 11.5 km mountain loop
EasyMiners’ Road Walk (Purple Route)5 km · 1.2 hr · At the trailheadFlat lakeshore track through Scots pine to a ruined mining village
EasyGreen Road Walk3.6 km · 50 min · At the trailheadFlat lakeside boardwalk loop past the round tower and Lower Lake woodland
ModerateDerrybawn Woodland Trail8 km · 2 hr · At the trailheadSteep woodland climb, then an 8 km forest-road loop above the two lakes
ChallengingSpinc Trail (Short Route)6 km · 2.3 hr · At the trailheadSteep climb past Poulanass to a boardwalk high above Upper Lake
ChallengingDerrybawn, Cullentragh Mountain, Mullacor, and Lugduff SE Top Loop14.3 km · 5.8 hr · At the trailheadFour summits, boggy ridges and lake views on a long Glendalough loop
ModeratePoulanass and St. Kevin’s Cell1 km · 45 min · At the trailheadSteep waterfall climb to a monastic ruin above the Upper Lake
Visitor center · At the trailheadWicklow Mountains National Park Information OfficeMaps, knowledgeable staff and a nature display near Upper Lake
Sight · 0.1 km awayReefert ChurchRuined granite church among trees, burial place of the kings
Sight · 0.3 km awayPoulanass WaterfallSteep wooded climb to dark plunge pools above the Upper Lake
Sight · 0.3 km awayThree Stone DocksThree Stone Docks: low stone piers on the glacial Upper Lake
Sight · 0.5 km awaySt Kevin's Bed ViewCliffside hermit's cave, seen across Upper Lake from a pine-shaded path
Sight · 0.7 km awayTemple-na-Skellig Shore ViewBinoculars reveal a roofless church low on the far wooded bank
Sight · 0.8 km awayGlendalough Upper LakeA glacier-carved lake under steep cliffs, with a sandy eastern shore
Sight · 0.9 km awayGlendalough Lower LakeReed-fringed glacial water on the boardwalk route to the Upper LakeParkwolf’s Wicklow Mountains ranking
Spinc and Glenealo Valley (White Route)Challenging · 9.5 km
The Wicklow WayChallenging · 130 km
Djouce Mountain from J.B. Malone Car ParkChallenging · 7.4 km
Tonelagee & Lough Ouler TrailChallenging · 7.9 km
Spinc and the Wicklow Way (Red Route)Challenging · 11.5 km
Miners’ Road Walk (Purple Route)Easy · 5 km