Paradise Pool: it’s a pretty big claim, but when you get there it’s hard to disagree. This is easily one of the most beautiful swimming holes in the Blue Mountains, if not all of NSW.
It has everything you could want in a wild swimming spot: deep enough water to actual swim, a sandy bottom so you don’t need to walk over slippery rocks and a stunning secluded setting, complete with waterfall. It’s a fairly short walk too, so you can easily squeeze a visit into just a couple of hours.
Here’s everything you need to know about accessing the gorgeous Paradise Pool.
The walk to Paradise Pool
The walk to get to the pool is 1.4km each way and whilst it’s not difficult, the track is rough in parts. It begins on a wide stony track which runs behind some houses.
It didn’t used to be signposted but now as long as you can find the trailhead, you’ll pick up the sign posts. It’s one of those spots that Parks NSW doesn’t advertise, but if you do find the right spot it will guide you there.
The walk is flat at first and very easy, there are even some lovely mountain views to the left, which I hadn’t been expecting.
After 500m you’ll reach a left hand turn which is signposted. You’ll begin walking on a narrow bush track and after roughly another 100m the path begins to deteriorate.
It begins heading relatively steeply downhill and it’s quite rocky. There aren’t any bits which are a scramble but you would want shoes with some grip, rather than flip flops.
It isn’t particularly slippery but for the next 600m there isn’t any point which I’d describe as a well formed path. It’s rocky all the way.
You’ll continue descending steeply until you reach the signpost saying that the pool is just 300m away. At this point the track narrows and flattens out completely, and there are lots of ferns as you wander along the creek.
You’ll soon reach the cliff top above the pool and the view is just beautiful. From here all that’s left is a few more steps down to the base of the pool.
It’s rocky and uneven again, but no worse than anything you’ve already done to get here in my opinion, it’s basically three big steps and you’re down. It wasn’t slippery - although it could be in wet weather.
You’re then beside the pool and can enter the water from here, or follow the track round, over the log bridge to the sandy beach.
Once you’re ready to leave the pool just watch out for the signpost which points to Linden a few hundred metres into the walk, as there is another longer track which takes you to Woodford.
I actually started following this one until luckily Joe realised that it was much narrower and webbier than the one we came in from Linden on!
Other than that you’ve got around 600m of steep track to climb but otherwise the gradient is gentle or flat.
Swimming at Paradise Pool
The pool is incredible. It’s easily big enough for some proper swimming, and its sandy bottom is such a delight after some of the rocky swimming holes we’ve been visiting lately. It gets deep fairly quickly and the water is cold and refreshing, much colder than nearby Jellybean Pool.
Personally I don’t mind cold water so even on a coolish day I absolutely loved it. I didn’t find any submerged rocks either and it was very relaxing to swim and not worry about scraping over a rock.
There’s a rope swing you can use off to the right too if you’re feeling adventurous.
One thing to note is that Paradise Pool is a locals secret no more. If you’re visiting in the warmer months, and particularly on weekends or during the holidays it will be busy. We got really lucky as just as we were leaving a group with a boombox and alcopops arrived, which would definitely ruin it for us. If you can’t visit on a weekday, we’d recommend coming very early morning when you will hopefully get it all to yourself, or close to.
Getting to Paradise Pool
Paradise Pool is located in Linden, in the Blue Mountains. There is no official car park for the pool or sign post to let you know you’re in the right place before you walk onto the trail. You park on the gravel pull out roughly 100m along Railway Parade, which is just off Tollgate Drive and walk through the gate to the right of the parking area (where you’ll see the fire trail).
You’ll then immediately pick up the national parks sign and it’s all straightforward from there.
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