12 Easy Blue Mountains Walks You Will Love

There are over eighty Blue Mountains walks waiting to test you. Still, unless you are a local, it’s unlikely you will have time for more than a handful, so rather than an exhaustive list we have pulled together our favourite easy Blue Mountains walks. Most take under two hours to complete so you can cover a couple on a day trip from Sydney.

Best Blue Mountains bushwalks under 2 hours

This list of easy hikes in the Blue Mountains aims to make it quick and easy for you to pick a couple of walks for your visit.

The tracks we have chosen are suitable for most people; having suffered a back injury, I can’t tackle the challenging hikes for a while yet. Still, I can do these walks so I would suggest that most people of average fitness can also enjoy them.

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We have noted anything we think you need to know before you start walking. However, we suggest you check official advice from New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife on the day you plan to set out for the latest track conditions across the Blue Mountains National Park.

NSW National Park Blue Mountains Walk warnings
Check out the official site for closures and other warnings

Each walk has a public transport rating for those without a car – you can reach several of these hikes from train stations or nearby bus stops. You will also find Uber and other rideshare services offered in the area. So don’t let lack of access to a car put you off hiking in the Blue Mountains.

Each listing includes a Google map reference; click these open and save to your phone for easy access later.

Easy Walks in the Lower Blue Mountains

The Lower Blue Mountains towns do not get the same love as the towns further west. The upside of this means they rarely get the same crowds; almost no tour buses stop here, and mid-week you will probably be alone on your walk. Summer weekends will see locals enjoying the tracks, but it’s still a lot quieter than Katoomba and Leura.

Jellybean Pool or Blue Pool Glenbrook

The essential summer walk, these two pools in Glenbrook National Park, are popular Blue Mountains swimming spots. Jellybean Pool has parking nearby, but if you want a little more seclusion, head further upstream to Blue Pool.

Jellybean track Credit: Stephen Alton/DPIE
Jellybean Track Credit: Stephen Alton/DPIE

Key facts: 1 hour, easy 2km walk, grade 3 walk.
Public transport rating: Good – It is a 1.3km walk from Glenbrook Station to the start of the track.
Google map reference: Jelly Bean Pool Track

South Lawson Waterfall Walk

I have a bit of a soft spot for Lawson, having spent many childhood holidays in the area at a lovely old heritage property called Kihilla. The walks around Lawson are great for families and several, including this one, are pet friendly too.

Sunset Rock aka Lincoln rock
Waiting for sunset at Lincoln Rock Lookout

The Lawson waterfall circuit track takes in four waterfalls, Adelina Falls, Federal Falls, Cataract Falls and Junction Falls. All are relatively small but pretty drops. Especially good after rain it’s a great walk to practice your photography skills as it’s not too far to carry your equipment. While there is usually some water here when it has been raining, you can get some awesome shots.

Lawson is also home to one of my favourite local cafes, Ben Roberts Cafe, a social enterprise that provides training to young people with disabilities. I suggest you pick up some refreshments here before you head off on your walk and picnic at one of the falls.

This waterfall track has the bonus of being dog friendly as it is outside the National Park.

Key facts: 1 hour, easy 3km walk, estimated, Grade 2-3 walk.
Public transport rating: Good – 1km walk from Lawson Station to the start of the trail.
Google map reference: South Lawson Waterfall Walk

Red Hands Cave

This walk will take you through the eucalypt forest and along Campfire Creek to the most significant Aboriginal art sites in the Blue Mountains. It is suitable for kids and makes a fun family outing. You could easily combine this with the Jellybean Pool walk if you have some extra time.

Sardaka (talk) 09:54, 10 September 2008 (UTC) [CC BY 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)]
Credit: Sardaka [CC BY 3.0)

The hand stencils art is on a stone wall with an overhang above rather than inside an actual cave. It is protected by perspex to prevent vandalism and stop the public from touching the artwork.

Key facts: 2 hours, less than 1km. I consider this an easy walk, officially a grade 4 walk due to the short steep hills.
Public transport rating: No – nearest station is Glenbrook
Google map reference: Red Hand Caves track

Easy Walks near Wentworth Falls

Charles Darwin Walk

This track is currently closed due to flood damage but is expected to reopen later in the year.

It surprises many people to know that Charles Darwin walked this track in 1836 while he was on an expedition to Bathurst.

The track begins at Wilson Park and is an easy trail that offers a mainly level walk alongside Jamison Creek. The track ends near a small waterfall called Weeping Rock.

From here you can continue to one of the short walks to view Wentworth Falls (400m) or to the picnic area about 15 minutes away.

Visit the official Blue Mountains Council website listing for current conditions.

Key facts: 1.5hr, easy 2.5km walk (return to station is 5km), grade 3 walk.
Public transport rating: Excellent – the walk starts metres from the station. There is a loop bus that travels between Wentworth Falls and Katoomba- the nearest stop is on Fletcher Street at the junction of Falls Road.
Google map reference: Charles Darwin Walk

Princes Rock Track Wentworth Falls

The Princes Rock walk is one of the oldest walking tracks in the mountains. Your efforts are rewarded with more lookouts than you can poke a stick at.

The track starts off Sir H Burrell Drive between Jamison Lookout and Wentworth Falls track.

Views through rock from Historic Princes Rock Elinor SheargoldDPIE
Views through the rock from Historic Princes Rock Credit: Elinor Sheargold DPIE

Key facts: 30-45 minutes, easy 1.8km walk, grade 3 walk.
Public transport rating: approx 2km walk from Wentworth Falls Station – following the walk above.
Google map reference: Princes Rock walking track

Related: If you have a few days in the mountains, check out our accommodation tips.

Walks near Leura

Leura Cascades Walk

The pretty Leura Cascades walk begins in the car park at the picnic area. It is another excellent summer walk, especially in the middle of the day when the shade along the trail provides relief from the sun.

Passing some lovely small waterfalls, this walk is great for working on your photography skills.

Leura Cascades Blue Mountains Walk
Don’t miss the walk to Leura Cascades

The Leura Cascades Walk branches off the Prince Henry Cliff Walk and you can either retrace your steps or continue onto the round walk track and back along the cliff walk to your starting point. We have a detailed guide to the walks in Leura if you want to spend some more time here.

Key: 1 hour, 1km, easy walk with some stairs with handrails, grade 3 walk.
Public transport rating: Not so easy – 1.6km walk from Leura Station
Google map reference: Leura Cascades track

Lyrebird Dell and the Pool of Siloam

This is my favourite summer bushwalk in the mountains, well shaded and if you are lucky some water around at the Pool of Siloam.

Lyrebird Dell easy blue mountains walk
The pool of Siloam along the Lyrebird Dell walking track.

The walk continues across a small creek and passes two overhangs (cave-like) that were used by Aboriginal people as long as 12 000 years ago. There are some picnic tables here if you fancy bringing a picnic along.

Lyrebird Dell easy walk
Lyrebird Dell

We recently began the walk at Golf Links Lookout in Leura and walked to Gordon Falls Lookout. This is a longer walk, but worth it if you have time.

The walk from the Golf Links to the Pool of Siloam is relatively easy with a decent marked trail.

The next section to Lyrebird Dell is sometimes muddy and not as well maintained, but we had no trouble with it.

The section from Lyrebird Dell to the top of the track is not as well marked and a bit of a climb, I would probably not take small kids on this section, instead continue to Gordon Falls as even though it seems further it is easy and will take you less time.

Key facts: One hour, easy to moderate, 1.4km, grade 3 walk.
Public transport rating: Easy – the 695 bus stops nearby
Google map reference: Lyrebird Dell track

Walks near Katoomba

Echo Point to the Three Sisters

Known as the Three Sisters Walk, this easy walk starts at Echo Point Lookout behind the Visitor’s Centre. Most of the path is relatively new concrete, and there are several lookout points along the way.

Blue Mountains Three Sisters Walk
The path has a great surface and is wheelchair friendly

The first one, 400m in is called Oreades Lookout; if you have any little kids or anyone not too steady on their feet, you could stop here and return avoiding the steep hill on the way back further down the walk.

Next up is Lady Game lookout and then before you know it, you reach the stairs to Honeymoon Bridge and the walk to the rock formation.

The highlight though is walking out and onto the first of the Three Sisters, but you get a great view without the last section if you cannot use stairs.

Three Sisters Stairs Blue Mountains Honeymoon Bridge
Stairs to Honeymoon Bridge

Key: 45 mins, 1km, easy – a little steep on the return, it is wheelchair accessible to lady Game Lookout, grade 1 walk.
Public transport rating: Easy – bus or walk from Katoomba Station
Google map reference: Honeymoon Bridge

Katoomba Falls Round Walk

This pleasant walk begins at Scenic World and rewards with some beautiful lookouts including Vaniman’s lookout, Juliets Balcony (where you get your first glimpse of the falls), and Rainforest Lookout. The track then takes you to the base of the falls before you make your way back out via the Prince Henry Cliff Track.

Katoomba Falls Round Walk

Katoomba Falls plunges 150 metres into the valley, and even in times of little or no rain, there is some water here.

Key facts: 2hrs, 4km, easy to medium graded, grade 3 walk.
Public transport rating: easy bus stop at Scenic World
Google map reference: The starting point of the Round Walk

Walks near Blackheath

Cliff Top Walking Track

The walk is all about expansive views; it brings home the vastness of the Grose Valley. In the distance, you can see both Mt Banks and Mt Tomah.

Blue Mountains Walks Cliff Top Walk at Evans Walk Blackheath
The start of the Evans Lookout walk from Govetts Leap

The image featured at the top of the page is taken from this track. Please check that the path is open before making any plans, as there was significant fire damage in the summer of 2019-2020.

Key: 90 minutes each way, 3km one way, grade 3 walk.
Public transport rating: Not so easy, long walk or taxi ride from Blackheath, there is a bus that stops near the Heritage Centre
Google map reference: Evans Lookout track

Govetts Leap Walk via Fairfax Heritage Track

The easiest of the walks in Blackheath, the Fairfax Heritage Track is wheelchair friendly too. The track passes two great viewpoints, George Phillips Lookout and Govetts Leap Lookout.

Fairfax walk Blackheath accessible walk blue mountains
The Fairfax track at Blackheath

The path, a flat tar surface, is lined with native grass trees and scribbly gums and is pleasant, even on warm days. Our last few visits have been very foggy, as shown by the image above, but that only adds to the atmosphere. There are picnic benches at the George Phillips Lookout.

Key facts: 1 hour, 1.8km one way, retrace your steps or return via the road which is a short, easy and pram friendly grade 1 walk.
Public transport rating: The local bus (698) stops near the visitors centre.
Google map reference: Starting point – the Blue Mountains Heritage Centre

Pulpit Rock Walking Track

Pulpit walking track is closed from Cripps lookout to Pulpit Rock lookout.

Still considered an easy walk, but not quite as easy as some of the earlier tracks, mainly because of the stairs. There are lots of stairs! The 270-degree view extends to Mount Hay, and Mount Banks, and back to Evans’ lookout.

Pulpit Rock Stairs Blue mountains
Stairs and more stairs – I lost count.
Pulput Rock Lookout Blackheath Blue Mountains Walks
Pulpit Rock Lookout Blackheath

The views here are in our top three in the Blue Mountains. Even though the bushland here was affected by the fires of the summer of 2020, regrowth is well underway and it is looking pretty good.

Key: 45 minutes including a brief rest before you walk back up! Less than 1km, Easy – as long as you can do steps, there are lots, grade 3 walk.
Public transport rating: Very difficult (5km walk – rideshare best)
Google map reference: Pulpit Rock Track

If you want a more challenging walk in Blackheath, check out the Grand Canyon Walk

FAQ about walking in the Blue Mountains

How to know if this walk is right for you

  • Grade 1. No bushwalking experience required, some are wheelchair accessible.
  • Grade 2. No bushwalking experience required, some steps and stairs
  • Grade 3. Suitable for most ages and fitness levels, can include lots of steps and stairs.
  • Grade 4. Bushwalking experience recommended, good levels of fitness required
  • Grade 5. Very experienced bushwalkers with specialised skills, including navigation and emergency first aid.

Which Blue Mountains walks are wheelchair accessible

Which also makes them pram friendly 🙂

  • Leura Cascades – This walk is partially accessible, the path to the view of the upper cascades has an accessible lookout.
  • Three Sister’s Walk at Katoomba – This track is rated accessible, however, it is a little steep in spots and users may need assistance.
  • Katoomba Falls / Cliff View Lookout – an easy 30-minute return walk from Katoomba Falls Park.
  • The Gully Walk in Katoomba – an easy indigenous focused 1km return walk from Gates Ave
  • Fairfax Heritage Track – Easy flat 2km walk on a good surface. View of Grose Vally

Walks in the blue mountains that are dog friendly

This is a pretty short list – but luckily there are a couple of dog-friendly Blue Mountains walks. The Lower Blue Mountains near Lawson and Hazelbrook and the upper mountains around Mount Victoria are your best bet, mainly in the areas not included in the National Parks.

  • South Lawson Waterfall Walk
  • Horseshoe Falls Reserve, Hazelbrook
  • Mount Piddington in Blackheath
  • Minnehaha Falls Reserve, Katoomba – is often this is currently closed due to an unstable cliff
  • Wentworth Falls Lake

If you have any questions about these walks or suggestions of great walks, we have missed, please let us know below.

Find more ideas for great things to see and do in the Blue Mountains

2 thoughts on “12 Easy Blue Mountains Walks You Will Love”

  1. This is one location in Australia that I have always wanted to visit, never quiet made it. So many amazing beautiful walks that would be worth the effort regardless of walk grade. Spectacular photos.

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