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Just two hours’ drive west of Sydney, the Blue Mountains offers a huge variety of landscapes for walkers to explore — from canyons and waterfalls, to rainforest, deep valleys, remote peaks and sheer sandstone cliffs.
The whole area covers about a million hectares, much of it national park. If that sounds a little daunting, don’t worry. Break it down into bite size pieces with this selection of the best Blue Mountains bushwalks. They’re ranked from relatively easy to super tough!
Watch our video of ten top things to do in the Blue Mountains:
10 Great Things to Do in the BLUE MOUNTAINS, NSW, Australia | Travel Guide & Checklist
The epic Blue Mountains National Park is located 90 minutes’ drive west of #Sydney and is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed region of outstanding natural beauty. Home to deep valleys, soaring escarpments, plunging waterfalls, and the famous Three Sisters rock formation, it’s a popular destination for day trippers and short break escapees alike – and there are endless ways to spend your time.
1. Three Sisters Walk
The gradually sloping Three Sisters Walk won’t make any demands on your fitness, but it will take you to the best vantage points for seeing the Blue Mountains’ most iconic landmark — the Three Sisters. Weather-carved over millions of years, the dramatic sandstone turrets take their name from an Indigenous legend. The 0.8-kilometre return walk begins and ends at the Echo Point Visitor Centre at Katoomba and is wheelchair-accessible as far as the main lookout. There are steep steps at the end enabling an even closer view of the famous rock formation.
2. Fairfax Heritage Track
One of the most spectacular walks in the Blue Mountains is also one of the easiest. The 3.6-kilometre return Grade 1, wheelchair-accessible Fairfax Heritage Track runs from the Blue Mountains Heritage Centre in Blackheath to Govetts Leap Lookout — a great place to take in classic views of deeply incised valleys laid out beneath blue-tinged hilltops and sun-soaked golden cliffs. The lookout is named for the vertical waterfall that plunges 180 metres from the adjacent sandstone escarpment. But this walk isn’t just about the endpoint; the path offers plenty to see with scribbly gums, grass trees and vibrant spring wildflowers.
3. Walls Lookout Walking Track
The moderately easy, two-kilometre return Walls Lookout Walking Track is the counterpart to our previous suggestion, and offers views back across the mighty Grose Valley to the Blackheath Walls (directly opposite). This awe-inspiring panorama gives a sense of the sheer scale of the Blue Mountains’ network of gorges, peaks and plateaus. The walk begins at the parking area on Pierces Pass Road, just off Bells Line of Road. The lookouts are unfenced, so take extreme care and think twice about coming here with children. You should also take this opportunity to visit the glorious Blue Mountains Botanic Garden at Mount Tomah and see its collection of rare Wollemi pines.
4. Cathedral of Ferns Walk
The Cathedral of Ferns Walk at Mount Wilson is a short, sweet stroll into an ancient cool-climate rainforest. It reveals another side of the Blue Mountains and offers glimpses of the outstanding biodiversity that has gained the area UNESCO World Heritage status. The ‘cathedral’ is a stand of giant tree ferns that suggest a vanished Jurassic world, hiding just ten minutes’ walk from the Cathedral Reserve Camping Ground. The ground can be wet, so wear proper footwear — and watch out for leeches!
5. Katoomba Falls Round Walk
A moderate walk with some steep sections and many steps, the 2.5-kilometre Katoomba Falls Circuit starts on the edge of the Scenic World carpark and packs major value in terms of scenic delights. Highlights include the excellent view of the Three Sisters from Vaniman’s Lookout and the weird rock ‘face’ at Witches Leap. Look for the small staircase leading to Juliet’s Balcony, from where you can see all the stages of Katoomba Falls. It’s not the highest waterfall in the Blue Mountains, but it’s certainly one of the most picturesque (due to its terrace-like structure). View map
6. Cliff Top Walking Track
The six-kilometre-return, medium-graded Cliff Top Walking Track is a perennial favourite with visitors to the Blue Mountains, as it connects two major lookouts — Govetts Leap and Evans Lookout. You can start at either point, and finding them couldn’t be easier. At Blackheath, simply turn off the Great Western Highway into either Govetts Leap Road or Evans Lookout Road, then proceed to the signposted parking area. The track name says it all: you’ll be walking along the top of the escarpment edge, looking over at precipitous rock faces adorned with waterfalls and hanging swamps, and gazing down into the mysterious, rarely penetrated Grose Valley floor.
7. Grand Canyon Track
If you’re up for a challenge, the taxing 6.5-kilometre Grand Canyon Track passes through the full gamut of Blue Mountains landscapes. From dry sclerophyll forest at the upper level, the track descends into lush rainforest threaded with creeks and waterfalls. Along the way, you’ll see sheer sandstone cliffs and pass under rugged rock overhangs. Birdlife is abundant, and if you’re lucky you may spot a wedge-tailed eagle soaring above the canyon. Begin at Evans Lookout parking area near Blackheath, and be prepared for steep descents via stairways and zig-zag paths.
8. Wentworth Pass Loop
A five-kilometre circuit that begins and ends at the Wentworth Falls Picnic Area, the Wentworth Pass Loop is rated hard because of its many creek crossings, stairs (including metal ladders), slippery rocks, and steep sections. The rewards? Awe-inspiring panoramas, brilliant views of both Empress and Wentworth Falls, the multisensory rainforest environment of the Valley of the Waters, and the chance to stop for refreshments along the way at the Conservation Hut cafe. What more could you ask for?
9. Federal Pass Track to the Ruined Castle
The historic 13-kilometre Federal Pass Track extends all the way from Leura Cascades to the Ruined Castle rock formation on the floor of the Jamison Valley, and provides a bottom-up perspective of the geography and geology of the Blue Mountains. It takes about 12 hours to complete the entire return journey, but the path can be accessed at various points to create shorter walks. Use the Furber Steps near Scenic World on Cliff Drive to descend the cliff face and join Federal Pass. You can turn left to walk towards Leura along the base of the cliffs, or right to strike out towards the Ruined Castle. Ensure you have sufficient time, energy, and water to complete your choice of trek.
10. Six Foot Track
This is the big one — a 45-kilometre (one-way) walk from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves, via the Megalong Valley. The Six Foot Track follows the route of a nineteenth-century horse trail (which itself followed an ancient Indigenous pathway) and is the ultimate Blue Mountains adventure for fit, experienced, and well-prepared hikers. Usually completed over three days, the track traverses heathland, farmland, forests, and rivers, and passes two wineries and numerous heritage sites. There are four campgrounds along the way, or you can spend your first night in cabin accommodation at the Six Foot Track Eco Lodge.
Tips for safe walking
- Wear suitable walking shoes and lower leg protection.
- Take plenty of water, a hat, and sunscreen.
- Always inform friends and family of your plans and estimated time of return. You can also register your bushwalk online with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
- Consider obtaining a Digital Personal Locator Beacon prior to your walk.
- Keep to designated paths and stairways.
For more travel inspiration, visit www.visitbluemountains.com.au.
Browse our range of Blue Mountains tours and experiences here.
Do you have any suggestions to add to our list of the best Blue Mountains bushwalks? We would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.
The information contained in this story is general in nature and does not constitute professional advice in any way. We make every effort to ensure this content is accurate, but we do not guarantee it. You should do your own research and seek the advice of professionals before acting or relying on any of the information provided in this story.
Additional images: Bigstock
About the writer
Roslyn Jolly is a freelance travel writer whose work has appeared in Escape (News Limited), Mindful Puzzles, Vacations and Travel, and Mindfood. In her former career as an English Literature academic, she studied and taught the work of great travel writers, such as Henry James, Herman Melville and Robert Louis Stevenson, and became fascinated by the history of travel and tourism. Two years at school in Wales and three years at university in England allowed Roslyn to travel extensively in Europe and North America, which she continues to do.
