The walking track to Butterbox Point is tucked away in a remote part of the Blue Mountains, offering stunning views of the Grose Valley and its dramatic cliff walls.
The trailhead for this unique walk is located at the end of the unsealed Mount Hay Road, which also serves as the starting point for the Mount Hay Summit Walk.
| Butterbox Track | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 3 km (return) |
| Time: | 1.5 hours |
| Grade: | Easy / moderate |
| Dogs: | Not allowed |
| Maps: |  PDF map |
 Interactive map |
|
Getting There
This walk begins at the end of Mount Hay Road, where you’ll find a spacious parking area, marked as the Mount Hay and Butterbox Point Carpark.
To get there, take Mount Hay Road from the Great Western Highway near the Leura Mall exit. The first 3 km of the road are sealed, while the remaining 13 km are unsealed.
While we strongly recommend using a 4WD with higher ground clearance, it is possible to navigate the road with a 2WD vehicle. However, we advise avoiding the area after rainfall.
Below is a map showing the walk starting from the car park.
Track Notes
Although this walk is fairly short and relatively flat, it passes through an exposed and often windy area. The unofficial vantage points are unfenced, and some sections of the trail run very close to the cliff edge.
We recommend wearing comfortable hiking shoes to improve balance on the trail. In windy conditions, it’s best to avoid the cliff-edge sections with significant drops.
Start of the Walk
Before starting this hike, it’s a good idea to read the information board at the trailhead, which provides insights about this unique area of the Blue Mountains.
Once you’re ready, follow the walking trail past the information board until you reach a junction where the trail splits.
The trail to the right leads to the summit of Mount Hay, while the trail to the left takes you to Butterbox Point.
Many visitors choose to complete both hikes in one day, which is certainly doable. However, with the stunning views to enjoy at Butterbox Point, it’s easy to spend a few hours there, leaving little time for the second walk.
If you’re keen to tackle both hikes, expect to spend about 3-4 hours in this area.
Rock Formation
From the first junction, the trail heads west, offering scenic views over the swamp to your left, before reaching a second junction.
At this point, continue straight ahead. The path to the left leads to Butterbox Canyon, which is strictly for professional canyoners.
As you progress, the massive rock formation, often referred to as the Butterbox Monolith or Hay Monolith, comes into view, with the trail leading directly towards it.
When you reach the small cave at the southeastern corner of the rock formation, there are several ways to continue hiking, as shown in the satellite image below.
You can walk around the rock formation in either a clockwise or anticlockwise direction, with an option to follow a path to the top on the northeastern side.
On the western side of the rock formation, the trail continues westbound to the northwestern tip of the Butterbox headland, known as Butterbox Point.
Whether you go clockwise or anticlockwise doesn’t really matter, but we highly recommend taking the short climb to the top, where the views are at their best.
On a clear day, you can spot various Blue Mountains landmarks in the distance, such as Mount Banks, Mount Hay, Walls Lookout, Docker Head, and the Grose River.
Keep in mind that the trail looping around the northern part of the rock formation is narrow and very close to the cliff edge, with a steep drop.
In windy or wet conditions, we recommend skipping this path, as it’s not worth the risk.
If you decide to walk around the rock formation, stay as far away from the cliff edge as possible and keep a close eye on the path.
Butterbox Point
As mentioned, beyond the monolith, the trail continues westward towards Butterbox Point, the northwestern tip of the headland.
While the views of the Grose Valley along this stretch are truly spectacular, don’t forget to take in the rocky landscape beneath your feet. It’s a fascinating area, with unique rock formations that resemble waves.
As you approach the end of the trail, you’ll be treated to a clear view of the imposing cliff wall on the opposite side of the canyon, complete with visible landslide remnants.
Keen to do another hike? Further back on Mount Hay Road, you’ll find the trailhead for the Fortress Ridge Trail, a 7.5 km return walking track that leads to a stunning vantage point.
