NearMeBest walking trails in Hornsby
Last updatedFor a quick lap, James Park's 411-metre circuit is the pick. For a longer bush walk, the 4.3 km Blue Gum Walk runs through blue gum forest and fern valleys from the trails near Hornsby Park. Lisgar Gardens has paved paths through its camellias, Old Mans Valley adds steep bushwalking above the old quarry, and Ginger Meggs Park is the bush walk with no toilets on site.
Quick picks
- Quick lap: James Park, a 411-metre circuit with toilets and parking on site.
- Longest walk: Hornsby Park, whose trails connect to the 4.3 km Blue Gum Walk.
- Paved paths: Lisgar Gardens, among more than 300 camellia specimens.
- Steep bush: Old Mans Valley Park, where Heritage Steps drop toward the old quarry.
- Bush with no toilets: Ginger Meggs Park, with the 950-metre Ginger Meggs Loop and the Blue Gum Bushwalk.
James Park: the 411-metre circuit with facilities
- 0.411 km
- Loop
- Toilets
- Parking
James Park is the short option on this list, a 411-metre circuit with outdoor fitness equipment alongside it. You can park in the park's own car park, which has accessible spaces by the main entrances, and toilets are on site. Strollers and wheelchairs manage its surface well. Dogs must stay on a leash. Weekend parking fills up because of the nearby hospital, so arrive early.
Hornsby Park: the trails to the Blue Gum Walk
- 4.3 km
- Toilets
- Parking
Hornsby Park gives you the longest walk on this list. The 4.3 km Blue Gum Walk runs through blue gum forest and fern valleys, with some climbs and easy scrambling, and it finishes at Ginger Meggs Park. Park for free at the Crusher Plant Precinct, where public restrooms are open to everyone. Berowra Creek comes into view along the way. Dogs must remain on a leash, and the trails are signposted.
Lisgar Gardens: paved paths through the camellias
- Paved
- Toilets
- Parking
Lisgar Gardens is a garden walk rather than a bushwalk. Paved walking trails and a rainforest walk run through 2.6 hectares of camellias, fish ponds and three waterfalls. Reaching the pavilion and formal lawn means using the inclinator, so tell Hornsby Shire Council ahead. Toilets are on site. Cars are best left in the streets off Lisgar Road, William Street among them.
Old Mans Valley Park: Heritage Steps above the quarry
- Toilets
- Parking
Old Mans Valley Park is the steep walk on this list. The Heritage Steps are recently upgraded bushwalking paths that drop from near the Aquatic Centre into the Crusher Plant Precinct, and the Southern Lookout gives panoramic views over the former quarry. The park is still being built: the first stage opened in March 2026, and the rest is due by May 2027. Parking is available at the developed areas, and the Heritage Steps link to the Blue Gum Walk and the Great North Walk.
Ginger Meggs Park: the bush walk with no toilets
- 0.95 km
- Parking
Ginger Meggs Park is where to pick up the bush tracks. The Ginger Meggs Loop is a 950-metre return track, and the 4 km Blue Gum Bushwalk is reached from here through native bushland. Both tracks are graded moderately challenging to challenging, and the park sits in a valley with steep road access. There are wheelchair-accessible parking spaces, but no public toilets, so plan a stop before you arrive. Dogs must stay leashed.
How the walks compare
By area
Track length (km)
Every walking track in and near Hornsby
The table sets the Hornsby walks side by side on the details a walker plans around.
| Park | Length | Loop | Paved | Toilets | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.James Park | 0.411 | ✓ | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| 2.Hornsby Park | 4.3 | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| 3.Lisgar Gardens | – | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 4.Old Mans Valley Park (proposed) | – | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| 5.Ginger Meggs Park | 0.95 | – | – | ✗ | ✓ |
| 6.Reddy Park | – | – | – | ✗ | – |
| 7.Holman Park | – | – | – | ✗ | ✓ |
| Nearby, outside Hornsby | |||||
| Lessing Park · Asquith | – | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dog Pound Creek Conservation Reserve · Thornleigh | – | – | – | – | ✓ |
How we picked
The table ranks the walks by length, loops, surface, shade, toilets, parking and size. Blank cells mean the park's notes are quiet on that point, and that's as far as we go. Two of the parks sit on the same Blue Gum Walk, so each is judged on the stretch it offers, and the walks are compared on their own terms.
FAQ
Is there a loop walk in Hornsby?
Yes, in Hornsby. James Park has a 411-metre circuit that loops back on itself. The Blue Gum Walk is a longer 4.3 km trail through blue gum forest, so check its route before you set out.
Can I walk my dog on the Hornsby tracks?
In Hornsby, dogs must stay on a leash on all of these walks. That covers the Blue Gum Walk from Hornsby Park, the James Park circuit and the tracks at Ginger Meggs Park.
Which Hornsby walk has toilets?
James Park, Lisgar Gardens and Hornsby Park all have toilets. Ginger Meggs Park offers no toilets, so arrange one before setting off.
Is there a Hornsby walk with paved paths?
Yes, in Hornsby, Lisgar Gardens has paved walking trails through its camellia garden. Strollers suit the James Park circuit as well.