Asgard Swamp, Asgard Head & Thor Head - Blue Mountains National Park

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Route: Victoria Falls Road, Asgard Swamp Track, Asgard Brook, Asgard Swamp, Asgard Head Lookout, Thor Head, Asgard Swamp Track

Date: 30/09/2023
From: Victoria Falls Road

Parking: Victoria Falls Road
Start Point: Victoria Falls Road
Finish Point: Victoria Falls Road
Region: Blue Mountains National Park

Route length: 7.8km
Time taken: 02:28
Average speed: 4.6km/h
Ascent: 274m
Descent: 271m

Points of Interest: Asgard Swamp, Asgard Head, Thor Head

Asgard Head is one of several lookouts that share a curious Norse name, the others being Thor Head and Valhalla Head. These are attributed to Myles Dunphy, an explorer and conservationist whose mapping, sketching, and photographing, built up a detailed picture of wild areas that had never been available to Europeans.

The undulating plateau is split by several creeks forming high ridges and deep swamps. The quiet hiking trails in this area provide a means of reaching the cliffs from Victoria Falls Road, an unsealed but entirely 2WD-accessible road. The Asgard Swamp Track is the most interesting, taking you on a journey to Asgard Head and Thor Head, both of which promise amazing views of the Grose Wilderness.

Much of this hike is along a fire trail, particularly the first few kilometres to Asgard Swamp. It starts behind a metal gate and is mostly downhill until it crosses Asgard Brook. Shortly after crossing the small stream, you will find a large, isolated rock that stands above Asgard Swamp (some call this Pagoda Rock, others Pyramid Rock).

The beginning of the track is marked by a large sign - replaced after the 2020 bushfires

The Asgard Swamp Track is wide and easy to follow

The rocks and pagodas that line Asgard Brook

The Asgard Swamp Track

There is a short path that leads to Pagoda Rock, branching off the fire trail. The shirt diversion is worthwhile as climbing to the top of the rock gives a fine view of Asgard Swamp, one of several hanging swamps in the area.

The camping area at Pagoda Rock

Asgard Swamp

The rock formations of Thor Head stand above the swamp

The swamps of the Blue Mountains form after eroded sediments are washed down from the plateau in times of high rainfall, settling in the deep gullies and promoting the proliferation of plants. The swamps create an environment that provides a rich and varied ecosystem in a relatively small area and were prime locations for Aboriginal occupation. 

After exploring the swamp, I returned to the main trail to follow it to the lookout below Asgard Head, passing the old Asgard Swamp Mine along the way. After the mine, the track becomes narrower and does involve a little clambering over uneven ground, but it isn’t difficult. The lookout is located on a flat rock adjacent to a tall cliff below Asgard Had and the view is sensational. The eastern vista is dominated by Burra Korain Head and a view directly down the Grose Valley, along the course of the Grose River

The view along the Grose Valley from the Asgard Head Lookout

Burra Korain and Bald Head

The Grose Valley

The lookout has a prime location above the Grose River

The entire panorama from Asgard Head Lookout is one of the best in the area

To the south is a view along Victoria Creek towards Victoria Falls. You can hike down to the falls from Victoria Falls Road. It's a steep, 400m descent from the cliff tops to the creek but it is one of the best waterfalls in the Blue Mountains.

Asgard Head and Victoria Creek

Victoria Falls

Having had my fill of the view from Asgard Head it was time to visit the other lookout on Thor Head. I returned along the fire trail, passing the mine once again. The Thor Head Track does not have a signpost but is only 150m after the mine so it shouldn't be difficult to find as the track is well-worn. After 10 or 15 minutes of climbing, you'll reach a large flat rock with an excellent view of the valley - Thor Head towers above.

Heading to Thor Head

The gum trees that line the track are beautiful

As are the flowering Waratahs

The rock platform below Thor Head

The platform has a commanding view of the valley

The Grose Valley

To reach Thor Head, continue north and climb another well-used trail through the bush, eventually emerging at the highest point of the outcrop. There are further views of the Grose Valley but perhaps more interesting are the views across the Asgard Plateau and Asgard Swamp. If you have time, you can scramble along the rocks to the end of the ridge, but I haven't done this myself.

Thor Head also has a wonderful view over Asgard Swamp

Asgard Swamp

Pagoda Rock and Asgard Swamp

The broken top of Thor Head

Looking towards Wilkinson Hill and Jungaburra Brook

Rigby Hill

There are a number of locations on Thor Head where you can get right up to the cliff edge and peer down into the valley below. Obviously, take care if you venture towards edges as, unlike those around Katoomba, these are unfenced.

There are some excellent views as you move around Thor Head

The cliffs below Thor Head

The Grose Valley

Burramoko Head

One last shot of that amazing panorama

Having wandered around Thor Head for a bit, it was time to make tracks back to Victoria Falls Road by retracing my steps to the Asgard Swamp Track and then following it back to the main fire trail. While easy to follow, the route is mostly uphill with a couple of steeper sections that may tax weary legs. That said, it didn't shouldn't take long to get back to the parking area.

Back to the Asgard Swamp Track

Asgard Swamp Track

Asgard Swamp 

It's all uphill from here