Hike the Muckross Lake Loop Walk

Ireland's Killarney National Park provides world-class views and adventures. Immediately upon entering the park, you will find yourself in a green forest with lots of options for exploration. There are designated hiking trails that lead you deep into the forest, where you might stumble upon elk, deer, and mountain goats. It's also not a bad idea to simply pull over on the side of the road and make your own trail.

As you head further into the park, you will leave the thick forest and head into the mountains, where there are beautiful peaks surrounded by lakes. The narrow roads wind up the mountain, leading to a quaint cafe with hot coffee and delicious food.

There are several ways to explore the park. You can drive through the mountains, stopping as you please to explore different areas, or you can bike or hike up the roads and many trails that the park provides. A quick, popular stop-off will take you on a five minute walk (0.5 mi roundtrip) from the car park to the Torc Waterfall, a 70-foot cascade best seen after heavy rainfall.

For a more involved excursion, take the Muckross Lake Loop Walk, a 12 mile (20 km) hike through the Muckross Estate that travels around the lake. The trail begins at the Muckross House, and passes by the Dinis Cottage and Meeting of the Waters. Rather than visiting the falls from the car park, you can also add on a loop to Torc Waterfall to this hike. This loop has an elevation gain of 330 ft (100 m), or 490 ft (150 m) if you add on Torc Waterfall.