The Grand Canyon, Evans Lookout & Barrow Lookout - Blue Mountains National Park

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Route: Cross Street, Braeside Road, Govetts Leap Brook, James Road, Evans Lookout Road, Grand Canyon Track, Neates Glen, Greaves Creek, Grand Canyon Track, Evans Lookout, Cliff Top Track, Hayward Gully, Barrow Lookout, Braeside Walk, Braeside Road

Date: 25/04/2023
From: Neates Glen

Parking: Cross Street
Start Point: Neates Glen
Finish Point: Braeside Road
Region: Blue Mountains National Park

Route length: 12.1km
Time taken: 03:05
Average speed: 4.6km/h
Ascent: 475m
Descent: 476m

Points of Interest: Grand Canyon, Evans Lookout, Barrow Lookout

Starting at Evans Lookout, the Grand Canyon Track is one of the most dramatic and popular circuits in the Blue Mountains. While not as grand as the Grand Canyon itself, the sheer sandstone cliffs of Greaves Creek are spectacular in their own right. Evans Lookout can be found near Blackheath, one of the small towns that line the high plateau which forms the popular tourist areas of the Blue Mountains, including Katoomba and the Three Sisters.

There is no correct direction to hike the Grand Canyon Track, both circuits involve descending into the canyon and climbing back out again. However, an anti-clockwise direction means the steeper section is done in descent and the finale at Evans Lookout is saved for the end - this is the direction I often opt for. While short, the Grand Canyon is arguably one of the best hikes in the Blue Mountains and this particular version tags on the magnificent Cliff Top Track and Barrow Lookout.

I began the day hiking along Braeside Road to reach the start of the Grand Canyon Track

Govetts Leap Brook

After leaving the car on the streets of Blackheath and making my way to Evans Lookout Road, I began my descent from the Neates Glen parking area, following a zig-zagging path that winds into the rainforest, passing towering ferns and dramatic overhanging rocks. It's not long before you encounter the creeks of Neathes Glen (which gives its name to the parking area) which tumbles down a series of pretty cascades.

Starting the descent through Neates Glen

The Grand Canyon Track descending into Neates Glen

There are several small waterfalls

Neates Glen

Neates Glen

Neates Glen

The path descends further, passing some superb views of the canyon as you approached the floor of the valley. A final set of wooden steps takes you to the banks of Greaves Creek at the Rotunda, an open area where the cliff has been carved into a dramatic overhang that shelters Greaves Creek.

After emerging from Neates Glen, there are some open views of the canyon

The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon Track

The final steps down to Greaves Creek

The Rotunda at Greaves Creek

It is the power of Greaves Creek that has caved a winding route through the sandstone of the Blue Mountains en route to Govetts Creek before ultimately flowing to the Grose River and the mighty Nepean. It is the erosive power of the creek which forms the huge cliffs of the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon Track continues its journey alongside the creek, following it as it flows downstream.

You'll shortly reach an open area surrounded by trees, ferns and plentiful running water. After squeezing through a dark tunnel, the path opens into another large area surrounded by huge boulders and a cascading waterfall. The path passes behind the waterfall (if it's flowing) and continues on its way. This area is always made more atmospheric by some light rain or mist.

At one stage, the path heads through a short, dark tunnel

The small cascade at the end of the tunnel

While pretty, the waterfall doesn't appear to have a name

The path makes its way behind the falls

While the Grand Canyon track stays relatively level, the river disappears into the depths of the narrowest part of the canyon, many metres below. The canyon here is a true slot canyon with the path perched on a ledge above the creek, protected by a metal railing. On busy days, you may find yourself having to stop several times to let other groups pass in the opposite direction - the path is only wide enough for one person.

Following Greaves Creek as the cliff walls close in

The Grand Canyon Track - the creek is well hidden in the slot canyon beneath the ferns

You'll pass the point where canyoneers enter Greaves Creek

The Grand Canyon Track

The track through the canyon was constructed in 1907, during a period when hundreds of kilometres of tracks were built to access the escarpments, lookouts, and walls of the Grose and Jamison Valleys. It has recently been restored thanks to a government grant of around $5m and is all the better for it.

Greaves Creek

The Grand Canyon Track

A wooden bridge crosses a deep ravine

The Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon Track

Following the steps down towards Greaves Creek once again

After negotiating the slot canyon and another descent, you'll reach Greaves Creek once again, where it emerges from the slot canyon and enters the most impressive part of the Grand Canyon. The track, still following the course of the river, crosses the stream several times as it passes through a dramatic section of the canyon. If there has been a lot of rain, some of the creek crossings may become flooded.

Greaves Creek

The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon

The path through the canyon is artfully constructed

The Grand Canyon

There are numerous pools and waterfalls along the way

Greaves Creek

Eventually, I reached the junction at Rodriguez Pass - one of the popular tracks in the Blue Mountains. Sadly the track, and many others in the Grose Wilderness, will be closed for the foreseeable future due to the damage caused by recent bushfires and flooding. After the path junction, the track begins to climb out of the canyon in the direction of Evans Lookout.

Departing the Grand Canyon

Climbing out of the canyon

Further climbing through the ferns

The track climbs a series of steps within another steep-sided valley, passing through a gap in the cliffs. There is a flat section towards the top where there are some views of the cliffs at Point Pilcjher (this is the top of the Horse Track), however, there is still some additional climbing required to reach Evans Lookout and the last section of steps is particularly tough.

The Carne Wall close to Point Pilcher

The final set of steps leading to Evans Lookout

Before long I emerged at the top of the steps at Evans Lookout. It has a spectacular view of the Grose Valley and has benefitted from some recent upgrades thanks to the National Parks Authority to make it more accessible - it looks all the better for it. 

The Grose Valley from Evans Lookout

Carne Wall and Arethusa Canyon

Lockleys Pylon

At the car park for the lookout is the Cliff Track, a link between Evans Lookout and Govetts Leap Lookout. As its name suggests, the Cliff Track hugs the top of the cliffs though it is set back from the very edge and views are largely shielded by the trees. It crosses the lush Hayward Gully, named after Willaim Hayward, the first white man to reach the floor of Govetts Gorge in 1847.

Views through the trees from the Cliff Track

The Cliff Track

Mount Banks

Pulpit Rock and Mount Banks

The lookout is located just above Govetts Leap, so it is tricky to see the waterfall itself. However, it is situated on the very precipice of the cliffs and has a stunning view of the mossy hanging gardens which cling to the sandstone face. It's one of the few lookouts I've visited where you are actually below the main cliffs, rather than on top of them.

Barrow Lookout

Grose Valley

Horseshoe Falls

The top of Govetts Leap

Horseshoe Falls

The waterfall falls some 180m over Griffith Taylor Wall, an immense stretch of sandstone that starts from Evans Lookout and ends many kilometres away at Docker Head and Perrys Lookdown. The falls themselves are named for Willam Romaine Govett, the government surveyor who first documented the falls in 1831 (it is unlikely he was the first to 'discover' the area). The word 'Leap' translates to waterfall in old Scottish dialect, though Govett himself was from Devon.

The view from Barrow Lookout

Braeside Walk is another path in the local area that has benefitted from some recent maintenance (alongside Popes Glen and the two large lookouts). It sits just below Barrow Lookout at Govetts Leap Brook and provides a means to get back to Blackheath, via the Braeside Road fire trail. 

Braeside Walk alongside Govetts Leap Brook

Braeside Walk

Braeside Walk

There is a small artificial pond that creates a nice swimming hole

Stone blocks cross the creek