Follow one walker’s journey along the Grand Clifftop Walk, an immersive two-day hiking experience in the Blue Mountains. This detailed account by Joanne Karcz tracks the 19km route from Wentworth Falls to Katoomba’s Scenic World, capturing the changing landscapes, hidden waterfalls, and chance wildlife encounters along the Jamison Valley escarpment. Whether you’re planning your own Grade 3 hike on Gundungurra Country or simply curious about this rewarding walk, this guide offers practical insights from the trail.
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You can hike the Grand Clifftop Walk in the Blue Mountains from either end, but I’ve chosen the traditional route. Tomorrow, I’ll tackle the 11km hike from Wentworth Falls to Leura. The next day, I will walk the shorter 8km section from Leura to Katoomba.
The Grand Clifftop Walk is a 19km two-day walk on Gundungurra Country, following the Jamison Valley escarpment. Linking shorter existing walks, it creates a seamless hike between Wentworth Falls and Katoomba’s Scenic World. Listed as Grade 3, the Grand Clifftop Walk requires some bushwalking experience and a moderate level of fitness.
To ensure an early start, I’ve booked into the Grand View Hotel at Wentworth Falls.
Grand Clifftop Walk Day 1
After a quick breakfast, we pick up fresh sandwiches from Schwarz Patisserie and set off.
Leaving the Great Western Highway behind, the roar of traffic gradually recedes, and we cross grass wet with dew to the sandstone wall that announces the start of the Great Clifftop Walk. Gundungurra artist, Kelsie King designed the waymarker, a yellow-tailed black cockatoo.
Following in Charles Darwin’s footsteps, we walk alongside the babbling Jamison Creek. Occasional flashes of red Mountain Devil flowers punctuate the green bush.
All too soon a fence bars our way. The detour leads up a steep flight of steps. When the distinctive call of a whip bird heralds the end of the climb, I’m breathing heavily and pearls of sweat run down my cheeks.
After a brief section of street walking, we’re back on track. The path zig zags down to water cascading over rocks at Wentworth Falls. The scenery changes regularly from tall white smooth trunked eucalypts growing amongst ferns to shorter rough-barked eucalypts interspersed with gnarled banksia trees and then, along a cliff edge, long strappy leaves brush my shoulder as they spill down the slope.
Blackened tree trunks tell of an earlier fire. Sun shining on craggy sandstone cliffs creates a palette of yellows, rusty reds and oranges. The view to the horizon is a carpet of rolling green bush.
After walking alone (it’s a weekday) for most of the morning, its disconcerting to hear the babble of voices from the Conservation Hut. Instead of grabbing a coffee there, we munch our morning tea at a picnic shelter beneath the hut.
I step carefully down a series of steel stairs knowing that there’ll be yet another steep climb to follow. While I expected stairs on this walk, I didn’t anticipate so many sharp inclines.
A woman has seen a lyrebird displaying its tail feathers just off the track. He’s gone by the time we get there. After passing the Fairmont hotel, there’s some street walking accompanied by the drone of lawnmowers before the track returns to the bush.
Water is our constant companion, roaring as it tumbles over rock faces, plopping into puddles and dripping from rugged overhangs. Soon, we descend to the quiet cool of the Pool of Siloam before climbing up to the turn off to Olympian Rock, where well start tomorrows walk.
Grand Clifftop Walk Day 2
Still feeling the effects of yesterday’s steep inclines, I groan at the sight of yet another flight of stairs.
But they’re worth it. From Olympian Rock, there’s a mist filled valley on my left, craggy cliffs cresting the mountains ahead and more sandstone cliffs reflecting the morning sun on my right. Squawking white cockatoos add drama to the scene.
Until now, the stairs have been fashioned from evenly carved sandstone slabs. The next set are uneven. Grains of sand make them slippery, and I descend with care.
We find ourselves in a cool grove of ferns. A fresh green smell fills the air. Water babbles nearby as we walk along a ridgetop, the ground dropping steeply down to our left. While the shade shelters us from the increasing temperature, I walk into a wall of heat reflected off a nearby cliff face.
Bark falls off tall eucalypts in broad strips. A male lyrebird, unbothered by our presence, scratches in the damp dirt with long grey gnarled toes.
We’ve walked alone for most of the walk, but nearing Echo Point, more people join the track. Two young Frenchmen exclaim at the view from Tallawalla Lookout. Theyre happy to learn that Bridal Veil Falls Lookout is only about half an hour away.
The path is considerably easier than yesterday and we’re soon at Echo Point. The black cockatoo that has been showing us the way is nowhere to be seen. The woman at the information desk confirms that we should take the Katoomba Walk. A guide marker would have been helpful.
Day trippers screech and carry on in the water at the base of Katoomba Falls. One last short climb and the walk is over. We’ve completed the 19km Grand Clifftop Walk and its only 11:30am.
It’s been wonderful to walk, mostly alone, through a changing landscape, stumbling upon a lyrebird and watching water tumbling over steep rockfaces. The Grand Clifftop Walk has renewed my love for the Blue Mountains.
What I’ve learnt about the Grand Clifftop Walk
Although I have bushwalking experience and am moderately fit, I found the 11km on Day 1 tough. Day 2 was much easier, with less elevation and long flat stretches. Choosing to walk from Wentworth Falls was the right decision for me.
Before you head out consider these points:
- Check alerts as the track or parts thereof may be closed.
- Download a map of the walk. There’s this one from Blue Mountains City Council or one on the NSW Parks and Wildlife App.
- Check the weather forecast. If the forecast is for hot weather, leave early.
- Wear sturdy walking shoes.
- Carry 2 litres of water
- Carry snacks and lunch
- Carry wet weather gear and a warm jumper. The weather can change.
- Fill in a trip intention form
The detour to the Conservation Hut (Day 1) is another steep incline and unless you need to use the facilities or get a bite to eat, perhaps give it a miss.
- It’s an extra 1.4km to Leura Station on Day 1.
- It’s an extra 2.4km to Katoomba station on Day 2.
Taxis from Leura to Wentworth Falls cost around $20. Uber is almost non-existent.
Looking for more Blue Mountains adventures? Check out our comprehensive guides to easier walks in the mountains – which make great practice runs, accommodation, and things to do in the region.
