Know Before You Go: It's best if you plan your hike and arrive in time to take park transportation, otherwise you could be in for a long out-and-back hike. The park buses drop off at several trailheads throughout the day. Length: 9.6 miles. (We didn't plan ahead enough to catch the park bus, so did a very long out-and-back hike.) Time: 4 hours. Terrain: Paved and crushed aggregate. Difficulty: Moderate. Dog-friendly: Yes, but they must be kept on a leash and are not allowed in buildings. Kid-friendly: Yes.
Glenveagh National Park is very rugged and, as one local described it to me, wild. It’s rocky with mixed conifer and deciduous forest sprinkled on top. Ferns and moss cover many of the rocks, coloring the hike a thousand shades of green that’s broken up by bright purple of rhododendrons.
We took the Lakeside Walk to the Glen (Bridle Path Walk ) and back for a total of 9.6 miles. This walk took us by the Glenveagh Castle, where we climbed into an old keep, and through the beautiful gardens. Then, we connected with the Glen (Bridle Path Walk), which walks along Lough Veagh to a viewpoint of the park’s waterfall and back.