The Grand Cliff Top Walk - Blue Mountains National Park

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Route: Wentworth Falls, Wilson Park, Chares Darwin Walk, Undercliff Track, Den Fenella, Overcliff Track, Empress Falls, Grand Cliff Top Walk, Sublime Point Road, Carleton Road, Pool of Siloam Track, Gordon Falls Picnic Area, Prince Henry Cliff Walk, Bridal Veil View, Leura Cascades, Prince Henry Cliff Walk, Echo Point, Katoomba Cascades, Reids Plataeu, Scenic World

Date: 27/09/2025
From: Wentworth Falls

Parking: N/A
Start Point: Wentworth Falls
Finish Point: Scenic World
Region: Blue Mountains National Park

Route length: 20.0 km
Time taken: 05:45
Average speed: 4.4 km/h
Ascent: 775m
Descent: 749m

The Grand Cliff Top Walk is a relatively new 19-kilometre track linking Wentworth Falls to Katoomba via Leura. While I say “new”, it’s really a clever combination of existing trails that hug the Jamison Valley’s cliff tops—such as the Overcliff Track, Undercliff Track, and the Prince Henry Cliff Walk. Thanks to a collaboration between the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and Blue Mountains City Council, what was once a scattered maze of historic tracks is now a single, easy-to-follow route. Just look for the black cockatoo symbol of the Grand Cliff Top Walk—a beautiful design created by Gundungurra artist Kelsie King.

The opening of the Grand Cliff Top Walk

With plenty of fanfare and media buzz, the Grand Cliff Top Walk (GCTW) officially opened in early 2024. The trail had been years in the making before finally coming together—but its debut didn’t go quite as planned. Just weeks after opening, the region was hit by two weeks of heavy rain, triggering landslides and flooding that damaged sections of the track. Parts of the walk remained closed for months. Now, with the southern section of Darwin’s Walk complete, the entire 19-kilometre route is finally open and ready to be explored in full.

The yellow-tailed black cockatoo by Kelsie King

Although it’s promoted as a two-day hike, at 19 km the Grand Cliff Top Walk is well within reach for most regular hikers to tackle in a single day. Along the way, there are plenty of tempting side trips—optional detours to lookouts and waterfalls that are too good to miss. Just keep in mind that adding these little “side quests” will bump up your distance by a couple of extra kilometres.

Being a one-way route, public transport is the best way to get to the beginning of your chosen starting point. Wentworth Falls station is the obvious choice as you can get trains directly from Sydney and it is located very close to Wilson Park and the eastern entry to the Grand Cliff Top Walk. That said, the route between Wentworth Falls and Scenic World has more elevation gain than hiking in the other direction. If you start from start at Scenic World, you'll have to get the train to Katoomba then a bus.

The eastern entry to the Grand Cliff Top Walk

I left the station in Wentworth Falls village, crossing the great Western Highway and making for Wilson Park and the Charles Darwin Walk. The track (which leads from the village into the national park) is named after the famous naturalist, who walked the track in 1836. The first section of the walking track is an easy and pleasant stroll along the tumbling waters of Jamison Creek.

Jamison Creek

Jamison Creek

Jamison Creek

The second half of Darwin’s Walk is mainly boardwalk, perched on the edge of the creek valley. The area is undergoing extensive bush regeneration to remove weed species and promote native plant growth. The boardwalk leads you into the national park (you’ll not miss the black fence) until the path reaches Weeping Rock.

Charles Darwin Walk

Jamison Creek Reserve

Charles Darwin Walk

Weeping Rock is a small waterfall on Jamison Creek, named so because the creek falls over a wide rocky overhang before cascading down into a pool. The track descends alongside the waterfall via a staircase, giving an up-close (and slightly damp) view of the falls. The Weeping Rock Circuit Track links up with the Wentworth Falls Track as it continues descending towards the larger waterfalls.

The top of Weeping Rock

Weeping Rock

At the top of Wentworth Falls, the Grand Cliff Top Walk links up with the Undercliff Track, named as it is largely built beneath a large overhang below the upper cliffs. You’ll also have the chance to visit Fletcher’s Lookout for a view of the top of Wentworth Falls. Partway along the Undercliff Track, there’s an opportunity to backtrack slightly to Princes Rock Lookout, where you’ll find one of the best full-height views of Wentworth Falls. The falls are in the shade during the morning, so this lookout is best visited in the afternoon.

Queen's Cascade above Wentworth Falls

Wentworth Falls from Fletchers Lookout

Jamison Valley

Undercliff Track

Undercliff Track

Undercliff Track

Wentworth Falls from Princes Rock Lookout

Jamison Valley

The Undercliff Track continues until it reaches Den Fenella, a narrow incision where Den Fenella Creek disappears into the cliffs. You can follow a track into the charming grotto, which provides ample opportunity to test out your photographic skills on the tumbling waters. You can continue down the gorge to the lookout; however, the view is much the same as you get from the Overcliff Track—the continuation of the Grand Cliff Top Walk.

Den Fenella

The Undercliff Track becomes the Overcliff Track and climbs until it is perched atop the cliffs rather than below them. The Overcliff Track then makes its way westwards along the cliff tops to Empress Lookout and the head of the Valley of the Waters. Breakfast Point Lookout offers an uninterrupted view over the Jamison Valley. At the western end of the Overcliff Track is Empress Lookout, located high above the Valley of the Waters.

Jamison Valley

Kings Tableland

Overcliff Track

Queen Victoria Lookout

Valley of the Waters

Empress Lookout

The Valley of the Waters is one of the highlights of the Blue Mountains. The path follows Isobel Creek as it tumbles down several waterfalls on its way to Jamison Creek. The first section of the track descends a steep set of steps and ladders until it reaches the base of Empress Falls—the tallest waterfall in the valley. Empress Falls is also a popular place for abseiling, something we did a few years ago and would highly recommend. Getting to Empress Falls from the GCTW does add a significant amount of additional elevation gain to the overall hike.

Heading down to Empress Falls

Empress Falls

Canoyers preparing to abseil the waterfall

After a visit to the waterfall, the GCTW continues west, crossing Empress Canyon via a bridge and beginning one of the longest climbs of the hike toward the Fairmont Resort. The next section is not particularly inspiring, as you are hemmed in by the resort on one side and the Australian bush on the other. Passing Fairmont Reserve brings you to a 2 km section of the GCTW along Sublime Point Road—easy hiking, but nothing to write home about.

Empress Canyon from Lilians Bridge

Grand Cliff Top Walk

Grand Cliff Top Walk

Fairmont Resort

Sublime Point Road

At Carleton Road, the GCTW re-enters the National Park, crossing a quiet, windswept area between Sublime Point and the Pool of Siloam. There are tremendous views along this section thanks to the lack of trees, and if you are hiking the GCTW from the east, you’ll get your first glimpse of the Three Sisters. The track continues to Golf Links Lookout and then descends to the Pool of Siloam.

Grand Cliff Top Walk

Grand Cliff Top Walk

There are expansive views along the section between Sublime Point and the Pool of Siloam

Sublime Point and Mount Solitary

The pool is home to a pretty waterfall on Gordon Creek, surrounded by a moss- and fern-filled gully with sandstone cliffs along the edges. Apparently, the Pool of Siloam gets its name from a place mentioned in the Bible, where Jesus sends a man to be healed of his blindness. The track crosses the creek via a bridge in front of the waterfall. From the pool, there is a steep climb up to Gordon Falls Picnic Area.

The Pool of Siloam

The Pool of Siloam waterfall

The newly refurbished picnic area is a great milestone—it marks the end of the first leg of the GCTW. If you’re spreading the walk over two days, this is where you’ll wrap up before heading into Leura for the night. For day hikers, it’s the perfect spot to pause, top up your water, and make use of the facilities before tackling leg two. This next section takes you along the full length of the Prince Henry Cliff Walk. The good news? It’s a little kinder on the legs than the previous stretch.

Before you head off, make a quick detour to Gordon Falls Lookout—it’s well worth it for the waterfall views. From there, the track leads west toward Elysian Rock and Olympian Rock, two stunning lookouts perched right on the cliff’s edge. These platforms are linked by the historic Buttenshaw Bridge, which spans a dramatic chasm.

Gordon Falls Lookuot

Gordon Falls in the shadows

Jamison Valley

Buttenshaw Bridge

Grand Cliff Top Walk

From here, the GCTW and Prince Henry Cliff Walk continue west toward Leura Cascades. Along the way, Tarpeian Rock Lookout offers more great views, but the real showstopper is Bridal Veil View—a dramatic lookout with an uninterrupted view of Bridal Veil Falls. It’s a short detour off the main track, but absolutely worth the extra steps.

Iconic sandstone cliffs

Grand Cliff Top Walk

Bridal Veil View

Bridal Veil Falls

After Bridal Veil View, the GCTW winds into the maze of tracks around Leura Cascades, and here you’ve got two choices. Stick to the “high” route along the Prince Henry Track, which leads to the Leura Cascades Picnic Area, or take the “low” route that drops down along Leura Falls Creek to the cascades and the top of Bridal Veil Falls. If you choose the lower path, the Leura Cascades Round Walk will loop you back to the GCTW at Cliff Drive.

Leura Cascades

Leura Cascades

From Cliff Drive, the GCTW skirts past the top of Federal Pass above Leura Forest and then swings south along the cliff edge overlooking Linda Creek. There are a couple of lookouts along this stretch, but honestly, they don’t quite measure up to the stunners you’ve seen so far. The real standout here is Honeymoon Point—a favorite with the Instagram crowd, thanks to its dramatic setting.

Looking back towards Tarpeian Rock

Honeymoon Point looking to Sublime Point

The Prince Henry Cliff Walk continues to the top of the Giant Stairway, right behind the famous Three Sisters. From there, it’s just a short stroll to Echo Point and the Queen Elizabeth Lookout—arguably the most iconic viewpoint in the entire Blue Mountains.

Lady Game Lookout at the top of the Giant Stairway

Meehni - the tallest of the Three Sisters

Prince Henry Cliff Walk

Echo Point is always buzzing with activity. Most tours from Sydney converge here, unloading hundreds of visitors every day. To handle the crowds, the lookout has been expanded and upgraded, giving everyone a little more space while incorporating new vantage points for the Three Sisters. The view of the Three Sisters from Echo Point is the Blue Mountains’ signature shot—the one you’ll see on postcards and in nearly every Google image search.

Prince of Wales Lookout at Echo Point

Echo Point

Three Sisters

Three Sisters and Mount Solitary

Three Sisters

Heading west from Echo Point, the Prince Henry Cliff Walk drops down several flights of steps before arriving at the impressive Lady Darley’s Lookout. From here, a set of narrow metal stairs leads down a rocky outcrop with commanding views over the valley. After that, you’ll pass a handful of smaller lookouts before reaching the Scenic Skyway East Station, where the Scenic World cable car operates

The lines of the Kedumba River valley

Prince Henry Cliff Walk

Lady Darley's Lookout 

Prince Henry Cliff Walk

Threee Sisters

Scenic World

Jamison Valley

The Ruined Castle

The Cliff Walk loops beneath the Katoomba Cascades—a picturesque series of waterfalls on the Kedumba River, tucked just below Cliff Drive. You can cross the river via stepping stones or a small footbridge, handy when the water’s running high. Before wrapping up, make one last stop at Reids Plateau. This short circuit around a sandstone outcrop offers several stunning valley viewpoints, including a great view of Orphan Rock. From here, it’s just a quick walk back to the Scenic World car park, where you’ll have the satisfaction of completing the Grand Cliff Top Walk.

Katoomba Cascades

Duke and Duchess of York Lookout

Scenic Skyway

Katoomba Falls

Orphan Rock

Katoomba Falls

The Scenic Skyway

The end (or beginning) of the Grand Cliff Top Walk at Scenic World

Finishing at Scenic World

The Grand Cliff Top Walk links some of the Blue Mountains’ most iconic viewpoints into one continuous cliff-top journey—one that I’ve been meaning to do for a long time. As hikes go, it’s incredibly rewarding and easily one of the best the national park has to offer. Along the way, you’ll experience dramatic cliff edges, tumbling waterfalls, and breathtaking valley vistas that stay with you long after the walk is done. Whether you tackle it in a single day or spread it over two, the GCTW offers a mix of adventure, history, and nature that makes it truly unforgettable.