Avondale: Beyond the Trees Treetop Walk & Tower Entry Ticket

The best part of Avondale’s Beyond the Trees experience is the slow rise from forest floor to treetop canopy, followed by a broad view over County Wicklow from a 38-meter tower. You get a proper walk, not just a lookout, with tree displays, play stations, and old plantings along the way.

I like the changing height and scenery, and I like that the gentle ramp makes the tower usable with wheelchairs and prams. The main drawback is that parking and the tower slide cost extra, and the slide can close in damp weather or build a long queue on busy days.

Key points to know before you go

• A 1.4-kilometer route above the forest: The boardwalk carries you from ground level over the Avonmore River Valley and into the treetops.
• Ninety-nine tree species: You can learn about the forest and find trees planted by Samuel Hayes more than 300 years ago.
• A 38-meter viewing platform: The tower gives you wide views over Avondale Forest Park, the Wicklow Mountains, and the surrounding countryside.
• A gentle, accessible climb: The spiral ramp never exceeds a 6-degree gradient and includes resting points.
• A family-friendly park day: Play areas, a walled garden, picnic tables, trails, and the Seed Café make this more than a single attraction.
• An optional 90-meter slide: The €2 ride is fun when open, but it is weather-dependent and may have a queue.

The walk begins at the edge of Avondale Forest Park

Avondale Forest Park sits in County Wicklow, and this ticket gives you more than a quick trip to a viewing tower. You start with a 1.4-kilometer route through and above the trees, then finish with a climb to the top of the tower.

The first practical point is easy to miss: go to the main reception before walking to the Treetop Walk entrance. You need to collect your entry QR code and directions there. If you head straight for the gate, you will have to turn back.

From the car park, follow the signs to reception. The car park fee is €6, payable on arrival, and it covers the full day. That makes the cost easier to accept if you plan to stay for the forest trails, café, picnic areas, exhibition, and walled garden after the main walk.

Your ticket is listed at $18 per person, while the local extras are paid separately on site. The price is fair if you use Avondale as a half-day outing rather than treating it as a short photo stop. A quick visit for only the tower and a few views gives you less value.

A boardwalk through 99 types of trees

The walk begins at a comfortable pace on a boardwalk that reaches out over the Avonmore River Valley. You are surrounded by forest from the start, with the route shifting gradually from ground-level woodland to higher views among the branches.

This gradual change is what makes the experience work. You do not simply arrive at a tower, climb it, and leave. You watch the forest change as your position changes. Looking down at the ground, across the valley, and into the canopy gives the walk a sense of progress.

Along the route, learning stations explain the trees and the forest habitat. There are 99 different species to notice, so you can turn the walk into a simple tree-spotting game instead of rushing to the tower.

Look out for the trees planted by Samuel Hayes more than 300 years ago. That detail gives the forest a human story without turning the route into a formal history tour. The older plantings also help you see Avondale as a managed forest with a long past, not simply a patch of woodland used for recreation.

The route is especially good for families because the information is broken up by activity stations. Children can explore games about birds, animals, and their habitats. These stops give younger children something to do while adults take in the views and fresh air.

You should still keep children close and supervised throughout. The boardwalk is accessible, but it is elevated in places, and the attraction is not a place for children to run ahead unattended.

The Avonmore River Valley gives the walk its shape

The boardwalk’s position above the Avonmore River Valley creates the first major set of views. You are not at the final lookout yet, but the changing height lets you see more of the forest and countryside as you continue.

Weather will affect how much you enjoy this section. On a clear day, the views are the main reward. On a damp or gray day, the forest still gives you a pleasant walk, but distant views may be less impressive. Bring weather-appropriate clothing, and wear comfortable shoes even though the route is built for an easy stroll.

The walk is not presented as a guided tour. An English-speaking host or greeter is available, but the route is designed for you to explore at your own pace using the information stations. That works well if you prefer freedom over a fixed group schedule.

Allow enough time to stop. The attraction is listed as valid for one day, with starting times depending on availability, but the useful question is not simply how fast you can finish the route. It is how long you want to spend reading the displays, using the play areas, taking photographs, and enjoying the tower.

The short tunnel leads to the main attraction

At the end of the treetop route, you pass through a short underground tunnel. It is a small transition, but it gives the next section a sense of arrival.

You then come out near the Viewing Tower. From here, the route changes from a forest walk into a long, curved climb. The spiral walkway rises inside and around the tower, giving you a new view at each level.

The ramp never exceeds a 6-degree gradient and includes resting points on each level. This is important in practical terms. You do not need to tackle a steep staircase, and you can pause whenever you want without losing the main experience.

The gentle design also makes the tower suitable for wheelchairs and prams. Medical-grade wheelchairs are allowed, and mobility scooters are permitted if a person cannot comfortably transfer to a manual wheelchair. Carers can enter free of charge, with the carer ticket collected at reception.

You should not read the accessible design as a sign that the climb is instant. The ramp rises continuously, so give yourself time and take the resting points. People with vertigo may find the tower uncomfortable, and the experience is specifically not recommended for people with that condition.

A 38-meter view over Wicklow

At the top, the circular platform sits 38 meters above the ground. The reward is a wide view over Avondale Forest Park, the Wicklow Mountains, and the countryside beyond.

The circular shape lets you look in several directions rather than facing one fixed viewpoint. You can see how the forest fits into the wider County Wicklow setting, which is more satisfying than a narrow lookout over only the attraction itself.

This is the moment to slow down. Take a full turn around the platform and look back at the route you have just followed. From above, the boardwalk and treetops make more sense as one connected experience.

Clear weather helps here, but the tower can still be worthwhile when conditions are less kind. The surrounding forest remains part of the view, and the changing light can make the canopy interesting. Just keep your expectations realistic: cloudy weather can limit distant views.

The Great Spotted Woodpecker family nesting in nearby eucalyptus trees is another detail to listen for as you climb. You may not see the birds, but the information adds a little wildlife interest to the tower section. Bring patience rather than expecting a guaranteed sighting.

Should you take the 90-meter slide?

The tower’s optional slide is a fun extra, especially for children and anyone who likes a little thrill after the slow climb. It sends you back toward the ground through the tower, and the cost is €2 per person.

The slide is not included in the entry ticket. You pay separately on site, along with the car park fee. It can also close in wet or humid weather because of safety conditions.

Queues may be long during busy periods. If you are visiting with children, explain that the walk and tower are the main ticketed experience, while the slide is an optional add-on that may not be available. That avoids making the whole day depend on a ride you cannot guarantee.

If the slide is closed or the queue is too long, you can simply walk back down the ramp. The descent gives you another set of views and is easier than the climb, though it does not provide the same quick finish.

Make time for the rest of Avondale

One of the strongest reasons to book this as a park outing is that the ticket includes more than the elevated walk. After returning to the base of the tower, you can use the forest trails and picnic tables throughout Avondale Forest Park.

The Coillte Pavilion has a free forestry exhibition. It gives you another indoor stop if the weather changes, and it helps explain the wider role of forestry beyond what you see on the boardwalk.

The walled garden includes a children’s playground, while the Seed Café serves freshly prepared food made with locally sourced ingredients. You can bring your own food and use one of the picnic tables, or make the café part of the visit.

These extras affect the value of the $18 ticket. If you arrive, complete the walk, and leave immediately, you are paying mainly for the boardwalk and tower. If you stay for lunch, the exhibition, the playground, and a forest trail, the price feels more reasonable.

Dogs are allowed on a leash on the forest trails and in the walled gardens. Only registered assistance dogs are allowed inside the buildings and on the Treetop Walk and Viewing Tower. That distinction matters if you are planning a day with a pet.

Who will enjoy this experience most?

Families get the clearest benefit. Children have play areas, animal and bird activities, a playground, and the optional slide, while adults get forest views and a manageable walk.

It also suits anyone who wants a scenic outing without a demanding hike. The route is built as a comfortable stroll, and the ramped tower makes the climb accessible to people using wheelchairs or prams. You still need comfortable shoes and clothing suited to Irish weather.

The experience is less suitable if you dislike heights or enclosed elevated structures. The viewing platform is high, the ramp keeps rising, and people with vertigo may feel uneasy. The final view is not worth forcing yourself through a situation you will not enjoy.

It is also worth thinking about your pace. The attraction gives you a full day in the park, but the main walk is not a full-day guided tour. If you want a packed schedule of historic sites and formal interpretation, this may feel too relaxed. If you want fresh air, family activities, and a good view, the open pace is a strength.

What to bring and what to expect on the day

Wear comfortable shoes and bring clothing for changing weather. You may spend time outdoors before and after the tower, and the slide can close when conditions are wet or humid.

Bring a printed voucher, as that is required. At reception, collect the QR code before proceeding to the Treetop Walk entrance. This is the most important arrival instruction.

The experience is wheelchair accessible, and toilets plus changing places are available. Children must be supervised, and pets are not allowed on the elevated walk or in the tower unless they are registered assistance dogs.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours in advance, and you can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Wicklow plans depend on weather. The ticket is valid for one day, with available starting times shown when you book.

Is Avondale Beyond the Trees worth booking?

Book it if you want an easy forest outing with a strong viewpoint, especially if you are visiting with children or need a route that works with a wheelchair or pram. The 1.4-kilometer boardwalk, 99 tree species, learning stations, and 38-meter tower give the visit enough variety to feel like more than a lookout.

I would plan to spend extra time in the park so the $18 entry fee covers a broader day. Add the €6 parking cost to your budget, and treat the €2 slide as optional rather than guaranteed.

For the best chance of clear views, choose a dry, bright day. Still, do not cancel the idea solely because the forecast is mixed: the forest walk, café, playground, exhibition, and trails give you useful alternatives if the distant Wicklow views fade into cloud.

FAQ

Where does the Avondale Treetop Walk begin?

Start at the car park in Avondale Forest Park, then follow the directions to the main reception. Collect your entry QR code there before going to the Treetop Walk entrance gate.

How long is the Treetop Walk?

The route through and above the forest is 1.4 kilometers long. Your total visit can be longer if you use the play areas, viewing tower, forest trails, picnic tables, café, exhibition, or walled garden.

How high is the Viewing Tower?

The circular viewing platform is 38 meters above the ground. It provides views over Avondale Forest Park, the Wicklow Mountains, and the surrounding countryside.

Is the Treetop Walk wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The spiral ramped boardwalk never exceeds a 6-degree gradient and has resting points on each level. Medical-grade wheelchairs are allowed, and mobility scooters are permitted in the stated circumstances.

How much do parking and the slide cost?

Parking costs €6 and covers the full day. The optional 90-meter slide costs €2 per person. Both payments are made separately on site.

Can I bring a dog?

Dogs are allowed on a leash on the forest trails and in the walled gardens. Only registered assistance dogs are allowed inside the buildings and on the Treetop Walk and Viewing Tower.

Is the slide always open?

No. The slide may close in wet or humid weather because of safety conditions, and queues may be long during busy periods. You can walk back down the tower if you do not use it.