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 a picturesque 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 truly glorious Paradise Pool.
The walk to Paradise Pool
The stats
Distance: 2.6km return
Elevation gain: 140m
Difficulty: Easy - moderate
Trailhead: Railway Parade, Linden
Summary: Though the start of the walk to Paradise Pool is flat, the majority of the trail is downhill on the way, so you will have a bit of a climb back up to the parking area after your swim. Though the track has been much improved in recent years, there is still plenty of uneven sections with rocks and tree roots to watch out for.
There is no scrambling involved, but one minor section has footholds worn into the rock and the very final descent to the pool involves climbing down a few rocks. It’s not a challenging walk, but it’s steep in places and you do have to be prepared for uneven terrain.
The trail
From the parking area (full details below) you will head onto the wide stony fire trail and follow it as it runs alongside some houses.
The track wasn’t signposted in the past, but there are now several signposts along the way.
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 160m there’s a sign which doesn’t feel like it needs to be there and if anything seems to point in the wrong direction, keep straight here, staying alongside the houses.
After 500m you’ll reach a T-junction and turn left, it’s signposted. You’ll begin walking on a narrow bush track and after roughly another 100m the path begins to get rocky.
From here you are descending much of the way to the pool. The rocky track soon gives way to some manicured stairs, which are intermittent throughout the trail, with a few rougher uneven sections still part of the mix.
It isn’t particularly slippery, but you have to watch your footing in places. There are a couple of points you need to climb down a few rocks and one of these sections has footholds worn into the rock, but it’s just a couple of steps.
You’ll continue descending quite steeply until you reach a creek crossing (1km from the parking area). At this point the track narrows and flattens out completely, and there are lots of ferns as you wander along the creek. Roughly 50m after crossing the creek you will head right at the signpost.
Another 200m further on you will arrive at the cliff top above the pool and the view is just beautiful. From here all that’s left is a few more steps (50m) 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 creek to the sandy beach.
Paradise Pool after heavy rain
Swimming at Paradise Pool
Paradise Pool is simply incredible, especially on a calm sunny day when it almost feels like a tropical lagoon. The water clarity is superb and the setting, sublime, with its canyon-esque walls and waterfall. It is nothing short of idyllic.
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, though there is plenty of room to relax in the shallows too.
The water is generally quite cool and refreshing, much colder than nearby Jellybean Pool.
Personally I don’t mind cold water so even on a coolish day I still love it. There aren’t any submerged rocks either so it’s a really relaxing place for a swim.
There’s a rope swing you can use off to the right too if you’re feeling adventurous, but always depth check the water first.
Paradise Pool during La Nina rains
One thing to note is that Paradise Pool is a secret no more. If you’re visiting in the warmer months, and particularly on weekends or during the holidays it will be busy. 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 signpost to let you know you’re in the right place before you walk onto the trail.
There are now some designated parking spots on Railway Parade, which is just off Tollgate Drive - you can find it here on Google Maps.
The trail starts from the northern end, on the gravel firetrail which quickly leads to a gate. You’ll then immediately pick up the national parks sign and it’s all straightforward from there.
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