Torc Waterfall Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Torc Waterfall
Easach Toirc
Torc Waterfall near Killarney
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Location	Killarney, Ireland
OSI/OSNI grid	V966847
Coordinates	52°00′18″N 9°30′24″W / 52.005024°N 9.5066471°W / 52.005024; -9.5066471
Type	Cascade
Elevation	55 metres (180 ft)
Total height	20 metres (66 ft)
Run	110 metres (360 ft)
Watercourse	Owengarriff River

Torc Waterfall is a beautiful waterfall in Killarney National Park, Kerry, Ireland. It gets its name from the Irish words for "wild boar." This amazing waterfall is about 20 metres (66 ft) high and 110 metres (360 ft) long.

The Owengarriff River creates the waterfall as it flows from a lake called the Devil's Punchbowl. This lake is high up on Mangerton Mountain. Torc Waterfall is located at the bottom of Torc Mountain. It is about 4.3 miles (7 kilometres) from the town of Killarney. Many people visit Torc Waterfall when they are exploring the famous Ring of Kerry and Kerry Way tours.

What's in a Name? The Legend of Torc Waterfall
How Torc Waterfall Was Formed
Visiting Torc Waterfall
- Hiking Trails Near Torc Waterfall
Images for kids
See also

What's in a Name? The Legend of Torc Waterfall

The lower part of Torc Waterfall

The name "Torc" comes from the Irish word for "wild boar." There are some cool old legends about wild boars connected to this area.

One story tells of a man who was cursed by the Devil. Every night, he turned into a wild boar. When a local farmer found out his secret, the man burst into flames and vanished. He disappeared into the nearby Devil's Punchbowl on Mangerton Mountain. The Owengarriff River, which forms the waterfall, is said to have flowed out to hide the entrance to his cave under Torc Waterfall.

Another legend is about the famous Irish warrior, Fionn mac Cumhaill. He is said to have killed a magical boar on Torc Mountain using his special golden spear.

How Torc Waterfall Was Formed

A pathway leading up Torc Waterfall

Torc Waterfall is 20 metres (66 ft) high. It is created by the Owengarriff River. This river flows down from a deep lake called the Devil's Punchbowl. This lake is a type of mountain lake called a cirque (pronounced "serk"). It sits high up on Mangerton Mountain.

The area around Torc Waterfall has interesting rocks. Torc Mountain is made of very old rock called Devonian Old Red Sandstone. This rock is about 400 million years old! But the ground closer to Muckross Lake is younger, about 100 million years younger. It is made of Carboniferous Limestone.

Millions of years ago, the land under Torc Mountain was pushed up very high. This happened because of huge forces in the Earth's crust. This movement brought the older sandstone back to the surface.

Visiting Torc Waterfall

Torc Waterfall is a popular spot for visitors. It's about 4.3 miles (7 kilometres) from Killarney. It's also only 1.6 miles (2.5 kilometres) from the entrance to Muckross House, which is also in Killarney National Park.

The waterfall is a key stop on the 200-kilometre (120-mile) Kerry Way walking trail. It's also a favorite place for people on the longer Ring of Kerry driving tour.

You can walk to the waterfalls from a car park (parking area) that is just off the N71 road. It's about a 200-meter walk. To get to the top of the waterfalls, you can climb a stone path with about a hundred steps. This climb takes about 30 minutes and goes up about 55 metres (180 ft). Keep an eye out for Red deer! They are often seen and heard in this area.

Hiking Trails Near Torc Waterfall

Steps leading up Cardiac Hill

Killarney National Park has several walking trails around Torc Waterfall. These are called the Blue, Yellow, and Red Trails. They are different lengths.

The Red Trail is famous for climbing a very steep path called Cardiac Hill. It's also known as Huntsman's Hill or the Cardiac Steps. This trail involves climbing many stone steps. It starts about half a kilometer west of the waterfall car park. The path leads to a viewpoint and a stone beehive hut about 300 metres (980 ft) up Torc Mountain. From here, you get amazing views of the Lakes of Killarney. The trail then loops back down towards Torc Waterfall.

There's also a marked hiking trail that goes from the waterfall all the way to the top of Torc Mountain, which is 535 metres (1,755 ft) high. This trail follows the Old Kenmare Road. If you want a shorter hike, you can start from an upper car park above the waterfall. This starting point is at 55 metres (180 ft) elevation. From there, it's an 8-kilometer (about 3-hour) round trip to the summit of Torc Mountain and back.