Bushwalking track notes, photographs, maps and more for Manly Dam Circuit Walk hiking trail are found in each of the tabs below
Manly Dam Circuit Walk
Time
Distance
Climb
Style
3 Hrs
7.3 km
251 m
Circuit
3.2 km NW of Manly
Manly Warringah War Memorial Park (Manly Dam)
Track: Moderate
The main walk around Manly Dam this walk is popular for both walkers and bike riders. Prepare for spectacular views from both sides of the dam and well managed trails. Good spots to break include the picnic areas on King St. Features of this walk include walking the bridge across the top of the dam and the beach on the north side. Be warned- watch out for bike riders.
Bushwalking can be fun and interesting when you are well prepared. Please ensure you and your group are well prepared and equipped for all possible dangers. The authors, staff and owners of wildwalks take care in preparing these notes but do not accept responsibility for any inconvenience, loss or injury sustained when using these notes. Please take care and feel free to provide feedback through our website. Please note that side trips and alternate routes mentioned in these notes are not included in the tracks overall rating, distance or time estimate. The notes also only describe the side trip and alternate routes in one direction.
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(0 km) Manly Dam South Bank to Int of Water Reserve Bushtrack and Nature Trail Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.1 km
Time = 3 mins
Climb = 12 m
Descent = 0 m
From the south end of Manly Dam the track heads south through the park and crosses King St until coming to several large information signs and the start of the bushtrack. From here the track heads up the hill along the narrow bushtrack until coming to an intersection signposted as the 'Mc Comb Hill Nature Track'.
(0.14 km) Int of Water Reserve Bushtrack and Nature Trail to Int of Nature Trail and North-Balgowlah track Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.9 km
Time = 20 mins
Climb = 60 m
Descent = -37 m
From the intersection the track heads west along the narrow bushtrack for approximately 100m before passing an intersection of the McComb Hill walk. This is currently under revegetation and there are also signs for walkers for not to take this route. The track heads west bypassing by the small trails that lead up the hill south, climbs a number of rock stair cases, passing close to a a few cliff edges (take care), until reaching an intersection marked with a green sign saying 'Bowgowlah Track'. This section of the walk offers good views over Manly Dam as well being very well signposted with flora and fauna information on the area.
(1.06 km) Int of Nature Trail and North-Balgowlah track to End of King St Picnic Area Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.5 km
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 4 m
Descent = -34 m
From the intersection the track heads north gradually descending along the narrow bushtrack until reaching a very clear intersection signposted as the "Nature Trail / Wildflower Walk". This section of the track is a well signposted and has some good examples of the flora of the local area. From the intersection the track heads north along a narrow but very well-maintained bushtrack until coming to an intersection with a 'Wildflower Walk' signpost. (There is a small track off to the left heading up to Wakehurst Golf Course, ignore this). The track continues to head north-west along the bushtrack until coming to an intersection just to the north of the end of the King St and a Picnic Area.
(1.52 km) End of King St Picnic Area to Int of Circuit and Curl Curl Tracks Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 2 km
Time = 35 mins
Climb = 42 m
Descent = -22 m
From the picnic area the track heads alongside Manly Dam following a narrow bushtrack with high vegetation on either side. During this section of the trail the bushtrack crosses several wetter areas and where footbridges have been installed. At the end of Manly Dam the trail follows the creeks past the waterfalls and holes further north until reaching an intersection with a wide servicetrail. Sections of this track are very pretty especially around the smaller waterholes. The main waterfall is quite sheltered by vegetation and therefore it is necessary to go off the main track to get a good view of it.
(3.5 km) Int of Circuit and Curl Curl Tracks to Int of Circuit and Retirement Home Tracks Track: Moderate - Service Trail
Distance = 0.8 km
Time = 15 mins
Climb = 46 m
Descent = -14 m
From the intersection the track heads initially heads north-east along the servicetrail for a short while before it going up a small hill and turning back to the south. The track then continues until reaching an intersection with another servicetrail going up the hill to the north-east.
(4.26 km) Int of Circuit and Retirement Home Tracks to Int of Roosevelt Rd and Circuit Tracks Track: Moderate - Service Trail
Distance = 0.9 km
Time = 20 mins
Climb = 45 m
Descent = -46 m
From the intersection the track heads south-east along the servicetrail, past the intersection with a small bushtrack, to an intersection with a servicetrail heading north up the hill. This intersection is marked by a signpost saying 'Allambie Heights Town Centre".
(5.15 km) Int of Roosevelt Rd and Circuit Tracks to Int of Circuit and Southern Cross Servicetrail Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.9 km
Time = 15 mins
Climb = 14 m
Descent = -64 m
From the intersection the track heads south-east down the hill. The track turns to the north-east to make its way around a small inlet. After the track turns back to the south it comes to an intersection with a bushtrack (that heads to the north-east up to Southern Cross Way.)
(6.05 km) Int of Circuit and Southern Cross Servicetrail to Int of Circuit and Nyrang Rd Tracks Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.3 km
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 3 m
Descent = -7 m
From the intersection the track heads south along the bushtrack until reaching an intersection with a servicetrail signposted with several signs indicating that the track heads south-east up the hill to Nyrang Rd.
(6.37 km) Int of Circuit and Nyrang Rd Tracks to Int of King St Circuit Alternative Route and Circuit Track Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.6 km
Time = 10 mins
Climb = 21 m
Descent = -10 m
From the intersection the track heads west down the rough servicetrail for approximately 100m before coming to the beach of Manly Dam. The track turns left and heads south along the waters edge for a short period before joining up with a boardwalk and bushtrack. After this section the track climbs very slightly away from the waters edge before coming to an intersection with a bushtrack that is an alternative route to Manly Dam Picnic Area. This is just before coming to the Dam Wall.
(6.94 km) Int of King St Circuit Alternative Route and Circuit Track to Manly Dam North Bank Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.1 km
Time = 2 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -15 m
From the intersection the track heads south down the hill and towards the water along the bushtrack until reaching the northern wall of Manly Dam.
(7.04 km) Manly Dam North Bank to Manly Dam South Bank Walk: Easy - footpath
Distance = 0.2 km
Time = 4 mins
Climb = 4 m
Descent = -8 m
From the northern bank of Manly Dam the track heads across the top of the dam wall to the southern bank along the footpath. This section of the walk offers some great views of the dam and the parklands from very close to the waterlevel. This is an impressive place to be.
In 1892 the CUrl Curl creek was dammed to for a water reservoir for Manly village, over the years the wall was raised till it held 2 mega litres. Now a War Memorial Park it boasts a series of picnic areas along the western shoreline, with children play areas and other facilities. There are also a number of walking and cycling tracks around the lake. The lake is used by powered and unpowered boats, and can be quite busy on hot weekend days.
Hiking near Sydney 
1 km
