Three Falls Circuit

How to get there

1. Park at the Visitor Centre. Parks Pass only — no walk permit.
2. Sealed start, then steps and uneven surfaces. Not a wheelchair circuit (Russell Falls sealed path is the accessible option).
3. Check alerts if wind is strong — falling-limb closures happen.
4. From Hobart, treat this as the day’s core. Leave a dusk wildlife buffer for the return. Do not start the circuit at 3 pm in winter.

How to do it (step by step)

1. Start anticlockwise unless on-site signs say otherwise.
2. Russell Falls first (photo stop, do not burn 40 minutes here if you want the whole circuit).
3. Climb to Horseshoe Falls (200+ steps). Wet roots and timber after rain.
4. Continue to Tall Trees for a flatter rainforest reset.
5. Lady Barron Falls, then the long wooden-step descent back toward the Visitor Centre.
6. Bail-outs: return from Russell Falls the same way (Grade 1), or reverse at any falls.

What to expect

Three Falls Circuit is the walk most first-time visitors should do. Official figures: 6 km, 2–2.5 hours, Grade 3, many steps. Horseshoe and Lady Barron come after Russell Falls, which is why the loop is worth the extra time.

Crowds thin after the Russell Falls platforms. You are never far from the Visitor Centre, but there are a lot of steps. Wet days make timber slick. Windy days can close the track.

Finishing the circuit in rain is still a good Mount Field day. Driving to Lake Dobson afterwards is a separate choice, not the default next step.

Day shape

Typical anticlockwise shape: Visitor Centre → Russell Falls (15–25 min including photos) → climb to Horseshoe Falls → Tall Trees pause → Lady Barron Falls → long descent home. Continuous walking is 2–2.5 hours; photographers add time.

You can break it into shorter out-and-backs. Russell Falls alone is a valid morning if energy or weather fails. Reverse at any falls rather than forcing a loop on a tired group.

From Hobart, treat this as the full-day core. Leave a wildlife buffer for the drive home. Do not start the circuit at 3 pm in winter.

Logistics

Parks Pass only. Toilets and café at the start — not mid-circuit. Carry water and a layer even if the car park is mild.

Sealed start, then steps and uneven surfaces. The Russell Falls sealed path is the accessible piece; the full circuit is not.

Fuel-stove only throughout the park. No open fires.

Bail-outs and reverse

Simplest bail-out: walk back from Russell Falls on the Grade 1 path. Next: reverse at Horseshoe or Lady Barron rather than completing a loop you no longer want.

If wind rises or staff close a section, do not bush-bash between falls. Return the way you know.

Key hazards

Steps are the defining hazard — knees on the way down, heart-rate on the way up. Wet roots and rock after rain. Falling limbs in wind. Cold water if you leave the formed track.

The hazards here are rainforest steps, wind and not packing enough warm or waterproof clothing. Wear sturdy shoes. Sneakers get slick on wet timber.

Map (orientation)

Pin may be approximate. Confirm trailheads, parking and track status on Parks Tasmania before you drive.

Extra tips

• Budget 2–2.5 hours walking plus photo time. Families often need 3.
• Poles help on the step flights. Waterproofs stay in the top of the pack.
• Supervise children on steps. The circuit is Grade 3, not a stroll.
• Leave Tarn Shelf for another day if this is your first afternoon from Hobart.