Litchfield Upper Cascades

Starting from The Cascades car park off Litchfield Park Road, this circuit walk takes you to the Upper Cascades in Litchfield National Park, visiting many waterholes and small waterfalls along the way. This 200-metre lava flow features shallow & clear pools as well as some deeper ones that you can swim in. As you make your way through the humid bushland, you’ll also pass through a vivid Monsoon forest that is quite picturesque. Bring your swimmers and splash around in the welcoming waters of Litchfield. Keep in mind that swimming is not permitted during the wet season. Keep an eye out for crocodiles although there are warnings in places. A hat and grippy shoes are recommended. Let us begin by acknowledging the Kungarakary people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

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Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There Transport options and directions

Start	At the intersection of Upper Cascades Circuit Walk & Cascades Falls exit (-13.1274777,130.6618591)
Mode	Car
Directions	From Stuart Highway, Coomalie Creek. Turn on to Batchelor Road then drive for 12.5 km At roundabout, take exit 2 and drive for another 6.6 km Turn left onto Litchfield Park Road and drive for another 64.5 km Turn right onto Cascades Falls exit and drive for another 510 m

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From The Cascades car park off Litchfield Park Road, pass through the bollard and head towards the brown directional signpost along the dirt track. Shortly after, pass by a sheltered informational signpost to your left. Abou 510 metres into the track (from the start), veer/turn left at the fork to continue along the Litchfield Upper Cascades Track (clockwise).....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	At the intersection of Upper Cascades Circuit Walk & Cascades Falls exit Start heading along Upper Cascades Circuit Walk (a footpath). Find the car park at the start. After 50 m come to the viewpoint (30 m on your right). After another 50 m come to the viewpoint (25 m on your right). From the Upper Cascades Circuit Walk continue straight, to head along Upper Cascades Circuit Walk. After another 15 m pass the toilet (30 m on your left). After another 55 m come to the viewpoint (25 m on your right).
	After another 370 m (at the intersection of Lower Cascades Circuit Walk & Upper Cascades Circuit Walk) turn left, to head along Lower Cascades Circuit Walk. After another 190 m cross the bridge (about 9 m long) After another 230 m cross the bridge (about 5 m long) After another 70 m cross the bridge (about 3 m long) After another 110 m cross the ford.
	From the Lower Cascades Circuit Walk continue straight, to head along Lower Cascades Circuit Walk. After another 145 m pass the waterfall (30 m on your left).
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. This little side trip takes you to the plunge pool of Curtain Falls. To start this optional side trip turn left here. On returning from this side trip turn sharp right when you get back to this intersection. Details below. From the Lower Cascades Circuit Walk turn right, to head along Lower Cascades Circuit Walk.
	After another 215 m (at the intersection of Upper Cascades Circuit Walk & Lower Cascades Circuit Walk) turn sharp right, to head along Upper Cascades Circuit Walk. After another 670 m pass a seat (9 m on your right)., has no backrest.
	From the Upper Cascades Circuit Walk veer left, to head along Upper Cascades Circuit Walk. After another 215 m pass a seat (about 15 m ahead)., has no backrest.
	From the Upper Cascades Circuit Walk turn right, to head along Upper Cascades Circuit Walk.
	After another 370 m (at the intersection of Upper Cascades Circuit Walk & Lower Cascades Circuit Walk) turn left, to head along Upper Cascades Circuit Walk.
	After another 400 m (from the Upper Cascades Circuit Walk) continue straight, to head along Upper Cascades Circuit Walk (a footpath).
	After another 35 m (from the Upper Cascades Circuit Walk) continue straight, to head along Upper Cascades Circuit Walk.
	After another 5 m (from the Upper Cascades Circuit Walk) continue straight, to head along Upper Cascades Circuit Walk.
	After another 40 m (from the Upper Cascades Circuit Walk) continue straight, to head along Upper Cascades Circuit Walk.
	Continue another 45 m to find at the intersection of Cascades Falls exit & Upper Cascades Circuit Walk at the end.

This little side trip takes you to the plunge pool of Curtain Falls.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	From the Lower Cascades Circuit Walk Start (a walking track). After 30 m pass the waterfall (10 m on your right).
	After another 30 m come to the end. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 60 m to the main route.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Litchfield Upper Cascades

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	3.2 km
Time	1 h to 1 h 30 min

Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure	Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (2/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (2/6)
Weather	Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)

Some facilities on route

Toilet: There is one 105 m from the start.

Seat: There are 2 on route, on average they are 1.1 km apart with the largest gap of 2.2 km.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	105 m	[toilet]
Seat	2.2 km	[seat]
Seat	2.4 km	[seat]

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track
Get more information
| Cascades - nt.gov.au | The Cascades - Waterfall Seasons | Litchfield NP Short Walks | Litchfield NP - nt.gov.au | Litchfield NP - northernterritory.com
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Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- The Entrance Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon
  
  Tuesday 5 November
  
  23°C
  Possible shower easing.
  40% chance of rain
  
  Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower, becoming less likely in the late afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm about the Upper Hunter in the afternoon. Winds east to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light in the late evening. Daytime maximum temperatures 21 to 27.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 8:50am to 4:30pm, UV Index predicted to reach 9 [Very High]
  
  Wednesday 6 November
  
  18°C → 26°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds. Overnight temperatures falling to between 14 and 17 with daytime temperatures reaching 29 to 34.
  
  Thursday 7 November
  
  19°C → 31°C
  Shower or two.
  60% chance of rain
  0 → 4mm
  
  Mostly sunny morning. High chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening. Winds north to northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h tending northwest to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the afternoon then becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to around 18 with daytime temperatures reaching 34 to 39.
  
  Friday 8 November
  
  18°C → 27°C
  Cloud clearing.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Slight chance of a shower in the morning. Sunny afternoon. Light winds becoming west to southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 15 and 19 with daytime temperatures reaching 28 to 33.
  
  Saturday 9 November
  
  17°C → 23°C
  Cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Cloudy.
  
  Sunday 10 November
  
  18°C → 23°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Monday 11 November
  
  17°C → 23°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 4mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- NT Parks alerts
  When planning and before starting your trip please check the NT parks alerts pages for anything that may impact on your plans.
  Regions
  Darwin
  Katherine
  Tennant Creek and Barkly
  Alice Springs

Weather Forecast

Alerts