O'Sullivan's Cascade

Tomies Woods / Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland

About O’Sullivan’s Cascade


Hiking Distance: about 4.5km round-trip
Suggested Time: 75-90 minutes

Date first visited: 2024-07-11
Date last visited: 2024-07-11

Waterfall Latitude: 52.03784
Waterfall Longitude: -9.58229

Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

O’Sullivan’s Cascade is a modestly-sized waterfall tumbling into the western shores of Lough Leane (on the opposite side of the lake to the bustling Killarney).

The waterfall resides in the forested Tomies Wood, which recently re-opened in December 2020 and is one of Ireland’s oldest oak forests.

O_Sullivans_Cascade_089_07112024 - O'Sullivan's Cascade
O’Sullivan’s Cascade

The woodland resides within the boundaries of Killarney National Park, but it feels more like a more understated and serene waterfall excursion, especially when you compare it to Torc Waterfall.

In fact, I’d argue that this relative tranquility is the main appeal of the O’Sullivan’s Cascade, especially when you consider that you have to hike to earn your sighting of this waterfall.

That said, the hiking involved to access O’Sullivan’s Cascade also includes teasing glimpses of Lough Leane as well as accessing its shores further downstream of the waterfall itself.

Speaking of the waterfall, it’s said to be only 20ft tall, but I’d say maybe about 33ft (10m) in cumulative height is probably more accurate since it does have quite a bit of run in its overall descent.

O_Sullivans_Cascade_013_07112024 - The so-called Low Road went through groves of native oak trees within Tomies Wood on the way to O'Sullivan's Cascade
The so-called Low Road went through groves of native oak trees within Tomies Wood on the way to O’Sullivan’s Cascade

As for accessing the falls, I had the option of doing a 6km loop trail or a more straightforward 4.4km round-trip out-and-back hike (according to my GPS logs).

The longer loop hike encompassed both the so-called high road and low road portions of the Tomies Wood, while the out-and-back hike stayed on the low road portion.

For the record, I ended up doing the shorter out-and-back option, and that’s what I’ll describe in the trail description next.

O’Sullivan’s Cascade Trail Description

From the Tomies Wood car park (it opens from 08:00 to 18:00 daily; see directions below), I went past the vehicle barricade and followed a fairly wide and established path.

O_Sullivans_Cascade_031_07112024 - Signed trail junction leaving the so-called Low Road and descending on a spur path down to both Lough Leane and O'Sullivan's Cascade
Signed trail junction leaving the so-called Low Road and descending on a spur path down to both Lough Leane and O’Sullivan’s Cascade

I kept right at the initial fork (the path on the left was a false path), then I continued another 250m to a signed trail fork, where I then kept left to stay on the so-called “low road”.

From there, I continued about another 1.5km on a gently ascending path passing between the old oaks as well as some shrubs while obscuring teasing glimpses of Lough Leane throughout this portion of the hike.

Eventually, the trail reached another signed junction, where a narrower trail descended more steeply to the left towards the O’Sullivan’s Cascade.

About another 250m along a wooden railing path and down some steps, the trail reached another junction.

O_Sullivans_Cascade_046_07112024 - Looking along the western shores of Lough Leane where the stream responsible for O'Sullivan's Cascade fed the lake
Looking along the western shores of Lough Leane where the stream responsible for O’Sullivan’s Cascade fed the lake

From here, the path on the left descended another 50-60m to the shores of Lough Leane while the path on the right followed another 100m along the stream towards the O’Sullivan’s Cascade.

After having my fill of this spot, I went back the way I came in and didn’t continue doing the longer loop so I can’t say what the highlights of doing that would be.

Nevertheless, when all was said and done, I spent about 90 relaxing minutes away from the car encompassing both the lake shore and the waterfall.

Authorities

O’Sullivan’s Cascade is in Killarney National Park near the city of Killarney in County Kerry, Ireland. It is administered by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, you can try visiting the Killarney National Park website.

O_Sullivans_Cascade_003_07112024 - About to cross the vehicle barricade to get started on the hike to O'Sullivan's Cascade from the Tomies Wood car park
O_Sullivans_Cascade_005_07112024 - Keeping right at the first fork in the trail where the path on the left was a false trail
O_Sullivans_Cascade_009_07112024 - At a signed trail fork looking towards the path going up the so-called High Road (which would be relevant if I was doing the full 6km loop hike)
O_Sullivans_Cascade_012_07112024 - On the so-called Low Road leading closer to O'Sullivan's Cascade
O_Sullivans_Cascade_014_07112024 - Encountering one of the few people I saw on the way to O'Sullivan's Cascade along the Low Road
O_Sullivans_Cascade_018_07112024 - Continuing down the Low Road through Tomies Wood towards O'Sullivan's Cascade
O_Sullivans_Cascade_020_07112024 - This Low Road stretch between native oaks pretty much made up most of the scenery on the way to O'Sullivan's Cascade
O_Sullivans_Cascade_023_07112024 - Still following the Low Road between oaks towards O'Sullivan's Cascade
O_Sullivans_Cascade_027_07112024 - The Low Road route in Tomies Wood was almost straightshot for the entire stretch before the spur leading down to O'Sullivan's Cascade
O_Sullivans_Cascade_030_07112024 - Looking towards the northeast shores of Lough Leane from the Low Road on the way to O'Sullivan's Cascade
O_Sullivans_Cascade_034_07112024 - The trail leading to the right of this gate for the final descent towards both Lough Leane and O'Sullivan's Cascade
O_Sullivans_Cascade_036_07112024 - Going down steps alongside this rope marking the final stretch of the trail to the O'Sullivan's Cascade
O_Sullivans_Cascade_037_07112024 - Partial view towards Lough Leane on the final descent leading towards both the lake's shore and O'Sullivan's Cascade
O_Sullivans_Cascade_039_07112024 - Continuing the descent towards both the western shores of Lough Leane and O'Sullivan's Cascade
O_Sullivans_Cascade_041_07112024 - Looking towards some building on the opposite side of Lough Leane during the descent in the direction of O'Sullivan's Cascade
O_Sullivans_Cascade_042_07112024 - Making it down to the trail junction where I had a choice of going upstream to the base of O'Sullivan's Cascade or follow the stream down towards the shores of Lough Leane
O_Sullivans_Cascade_053_07112024 - The context of the trail junction at the bottom of the descent leading to both Lough Leane and O'Sullivan's Cascade
O_Sullivans_Cascade_043_07112024 - Making it down to the shore of Lough Leane
O_Sullivans_Cascade_048_07112024 - Another look at the western shore of Lough Leane
O_Sullivans_Cascade_051_07112024 - Heading upstream towards the base of O'Sullivan's Cascade
O_Sullivans_Cascade_055_07112024 - Looking upstream along some minor cascades on the way to the O'Sullivan's Cascade
O_Sullivans_Cascade_060_07112024 - Finally witnessing O'Sullivan's Cascade
O_Sullivans_Cascade_063_07112024 - Broad look at O'Sullivan's Cascade and its plunge pool
O_Sullivans_Cascade_071_07112024 - Long exposure portrait look at O'Sullivan's Cascade and its plunge pool
O_Sullivans_Cascade_076_07112024 - Zoomed in long-exposure look at O'Sullivan's Cascade
O_Sullivans_Cascade_083_07112024 - Satisfying landscape long-exposure look at the O'Sullivan's Cascade and its plunge pool
O_Sullivans_Cascade_091_07112024 - Heading back after having had my fill of O'Sullivan's Cascade
O_Sullivans_Cascade_094_07112024 - Going back up the steps on the way back towards the Low Road en route to the Tomies Wood car park
O_Sullivans_Cascade_095_07112024 - Another partial look across Lough Leane from the ascent back up to the Low Road
O_Sullivans_Cascade_096_07112024 - Continuing up the steps on the way back to the Low Road en route to the Tomies Wood car park
O_Sullivans_Cascade_106_07112024 - Zoomed in look at some bell-shaped flower in bloom by the Low Road on the way back from O'Sullivan's Cascade
O_Sullivans_Cascade_110_07112024 - Back on the Low Road on the way back from O'Sullivan's Cascade to the Tomies Wood car park


O’Sullivan’s Cascade is near the city of Killarney.

Given that this is a sensible base for exploring the Ring of Kerry (including O’Sullivan’s Cascade), I’ll describe the driving directions from that city.

Drive_to_O_Sullivans_Cascade_034_MingSung_07112024 - The drive leaving the Gap Road for an access road towards Lough Leane is pretty much a single-lane hedge road with limited spots to pull over for oncoming traffic
The drive leaving the Gap Road for an access road towards Lough Leane is pretty much a single-lane hedge road with limited spots to pull over for oncoming traffic

From the oval roundabout just south of the St Mary’s Church of Ireland in the city centre of Killarney, we had a choice of going north on the N71 to the roundabout with the N22 or the R877 to the roundabout with the N22.

Either way, we then headed west on the N72 towards the signed turnoff towards the Gap of Dunloe (Gap Road) on the left, which was about 5km west of the R872 junction or 5.1km west of the N71 junction.

After turning left onto Gap Road, we’d then follow this road for about 2.6km to an easy-to-miss turnoff on the left for Lough Leane.

From there, we then followed this rural road (almost single-lane) for about 700m before turning right at the next fork (not crossing the bridge).

Drive_to_O_Sullivans_Cascade_036_MingSung_07112024 - Going past this barricade or gate in the final single-lane stretch to the car park for Tomies Wood
Going past this barricade or gate in the final single-lane stretch to the car park for Tomies Wood

Then, we drove the remaining 1.1km on the single-lane road to its end at the Tomies Wood car park.

Note that there was a gate or barricade early on in the final 1km stretch, which I’d imagine would close when the car park is full or if it’s outside of open hours (08:00 to 18:00 daily).

Parking here was free as of our July 2024 visit, but I could easily envision this car park filling up so an early start would be advisable (I started my hike a little after 10am on a Wednesday, but had plenty of parking at the time).

Overall, this drive should take less than 30 minutes.

O_Sullivans_Cascade_126_07112024 - The car park for O'Sullivan's Cascade
The car park for O’Sullivan’s Cascade

For context, Killarney is about 42km (under 60 minutes drive) north of Kenmare, about 67km (over an hour drive) north of Glengarriff, 64km (over an hour drive) southeast of Dingle, about 77km (over an hour drive) south of Tarbert, 78km (about 90 minutes drive) east of Portmagee, 88km (about 90 minutes drive) northwest of Cork, about 117km (under 2 hours drive) southwest of Limerick, and 308km (about 4 hours drive) southwest of Dublin.

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Brief downstream to upstream sweep from the end of the spur trail for the cascades


Downstream to upstream sweep starting with obstructed view of Lough Leane and ending at the cascades

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Tagged with: tomies, woods, killarney, killarney national park, lough leane, kerry, ireland, munster



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