If you have ever searched "bushwalks near Katoomba" and been overwhelmed by the options, you are not alone. The Blue Mountains has over 140 kilometres of maintained walking tracks within a short drive of Katoomba, and honestly, most online guides just dump them all on you without telling you the stuff that actually matters: Will you be crawling up ladders? Is there somewhere to get a coffee afterwards? Can your knees handle the stairs?
This guide is different. We have walked every single one of these tracks (some of them more times than we care to admit), and we have sorted them into three categories: easy strolls, moderate adventures, and serious challenges. Pick the one that matches your fitness level and your mood. No judgment either way.
Easy: Perfect for Families, Older Visitors, and "I Just Want the View" Days
1. Echo Point to the Three Sisters Lookout
Distance: 200 metres return | Time: 10 minutes | Difficulty: Accessible (paved, wheelchair and pram friendly)
This is the classic. You park, you walk, you see the most photographed rock formation in New South Wales. The lookout is fully accessible, there are information panels, and the view across the Jamison Valley is genuinely one of the best in Australia. Get here before 9am or after 4pm to avoid the tour bus crowds.
Walk past the main lookout to the Honeymoon Bridge for a slightly different angle and far fewer people.
2. Prince Henry Cliff Walk (Katoomba to Leura section)
Distance: 3 kilometres one way | Time: 1 to 1.5 hours | Difficulty: Easy (paved, some steps)
This walk links a string of lookouts along the cliff edge between Katoomba and Leura. You get views of the Three Sisters, Mount Solitary, and the Ruined Castle. The path is well maintained with benches at regular intervals. Finish in Leura and reward yourself with a flat white at one of the cafes on the mall.
Do it west to east (Katoomba to Leura) so you finish near Leura Mall for coffee and cake. The bus back to Katoomba runs every 30 minutes.
3. Valley of the Waters Lookout Walk
Distance: 1.2 kilometres return | Time: 30 minutes | Difficulty: Easy (some gentle stairs)
Starting from the Conservation Hut in Wentworth Falls, this short walk gives you a spectacular view of the Valley of the Waters without having to descend into it. The Conservation Hut has a cafe, which makes this one of the few walks where you can eat cake both before and after.
The Conservation Hut car park fills up by 10am on weekends. Arrive early or park on Fletcher Street and walk the extra 5 minutes.
Moderate: A Solid Workout with Serious Scenery
4. Federal Pass Walk (via the Giant Stairway)
Distance: 5.4 kilometres loop | Time: 3 to 4 hours | Difficulty: Moderate (over 900 stairs, some uneven ground)
This is the walk most visitors come to do, and for good reason. You descend the Giant Stairway (998 steps, steel mesh, built into the cliff face), walk along the valley floor through ancient rainforest past Katoomba Falls, and return via the Scenic Railway or the Furber Steps. The valley floor section is otherworldly. Massive tree ferns, dripping moss, coal mine relics from the 1880s.
Go down the Giant Stairway and come up via the Scenic Railway ($22 one way). Your knees will thank you. Going the other direction means climbing 998 steps at the end when you are already tired.
5. Grand Canyon Track
Distance: 6.3 kilometres loop | Time: 3 to 3.5 hours | Difficulty: Moderate (ladders, narrow passages, can be slippery)
The Grand Canyon is a narrow slot canyon near Blackheath, about 15 minutes drive from Katoomba. You descend into a fern-filled gorge, squeeze through overhanging rock walls, and walk along a creek bed. The light filtering through the canopy is magical. This is the walk that makes people fall in love with the Blue Mountains.
Do this walk after a day or two of rain. The waterfalls are fuller and the canyon walls glisten. But be careful, the rocks are slippery when wet. Wear proper shoes, not thongs.
6. National Pass Walk
Distance: 5.4 kilometres loop | Time: 3 to 4 hours | Difficulty: Moderate to hard (exposed cliff path, over 1,000 stairs)
Starting from the Conservation Hut at Wentworth Falls, this track follows a ledge carved into the cliff face behind Wentworth Falls itself. In heavy rain, you walk behind the waterfall. The path is narrow and exposed in places, so it is not for anyone uncomfortable with heights. The views are extraordinary.
Do this walk clockwise (descend the Nature Track stairs first, then climb back via the Overcliff Track). The cliff edge section is more dramatic walking east to west.
Hard: For Serious Bushwalkers and Adventure Seekers
7. Ruined Castle via the Golden Stairs
Distance: 10 kilometres return | Time: 5 to 6 hours | Difficulty: Hard (steep ascent, route finding, no facilities)
The Ruined Castle is a rock formation on a ridge in the Jamison Valley that looks like, well, a ruined castle. The climb to the top involves scrambling over boulders and some basic route finding. The reward is a 360 degree panorama of the valley with no one else around. Bring lunch. There are no shops or taps.
Start early. The Golden Stairs descent is shaded in the morning but the exposed sections of the valley floor get hot after midday in summer.
8. Mount Solitary
Distance: 21 kilometres return | Time: 8 to 10 hours | Difficulty: Very hard (full day, steep climbs, remote)
This is the big one. Mount Solitary sits in the middle of the Jamison Valley and getting there means descending into the valley, crossing it, and climbing the mountain itself. Some people camp overnight at the col between the two summits. Only attempt this if you are fit, experienced, and carrying adequate water and navigation.
Register your walk with the local police or tell someone your expected return time. Phone reception is patchy to nonexistent in the valley.
Practical Information for All Walks
Getting there: All walks listed here start within 20 minutes drive of Katoomba town centre. The easier walks are accessible by public transport (train to Katoomba, then bus 686 or a short walk).
What to bring: Water (at least 1 litre for easy walks, 2+ litres for moderate and hard), sunscreen, a hat, and sturdy shoes. Thongs and sandals are not appropriate for any walk beyond the paved lookouts.
When to go: Autumn (March to May) is the best season. Cool temperatures, stable weather, and spectacular colour from the European trees in the villages. Winter walks are beautiful but cold, with fog rolling through the valleys. Summer can be very hot on exposed sections.
Weather: Blue Mountains weather can change rapidly. Check the Bureau of Meteorology forecast for Katoomba before you leave. It is typically 5 to 10 degrees cooler than Sydney.
Safety: Stay on marked tracks. The Blue Mountains has sheer cliff faces, and people die here every year from stepping off track for photos. Seriously. Stay on the track.
After your walk: Katoomba Street has excellent cafes and restaurants. Try the Yellow Deli for a slow lunch, the Carrington Hotel for something fancier, or Station Bar for a cold beer. Leura Mall is worth the detour for boutique shopping and bakeries.
Where to Stay
If you are spending a few days exploring these walks, having a base in Katoomba means you are close to everything. Our two cottages in Katoomba are walking distance from the train station and a short drive from all the trailheads listed here. Wood fire, full kitchen, and fast wifi for planning your next day's adventure.
Book direct and save on your Katoomba accommodation.
