Glenariff Forest Park waterfalls

From the main car park by the tea house, follow the Waterfall Trail down through the trees towards the Rainbow Bridge, then turn down into the gorge. Walk downstream on boardwalks, stairs and ledges fixed to the gorge sides, past Ess-na-Larach and smaller falls, to the bottom near Laragh Lodge and Ess-na-Crub. Climb back on the gravel forest track along the slope above the river, then take the path up to the tea house and the car park. The loop goes clockwise.

It is 3.2 km round with 142 m of ascent; allow about an hour. The grade is Easy: short, but with many steep steps and boardwalks, and a steady climb back.

Glenariff, one of the nine Glens of Antrim, is a Forest Service forest park, and the gorge is a nature reserve, rich in ferns and mosses. On foot the park is open all day. The steps and boardwalks are slippery when wet, and the river rises fast after rain. This is a working forest: follow any felling signs and diversions.

Cars pay £5 to enter the park (2026/27). The car park gates open by 8am and are locked at dusk, so be back in good time. Ulsterbus 150 stops at the forest park entrance, Monday to Saturday.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.