Copelands Lookout is a historic and hidden viewpoint between Katoomba and Leura, offering panoramic views of the Jamison Valley and Mount Solitary.
You can reach this lookout via a short detour from the Prince Henry Cliff Walk, with an access point conveniently located on Cliff Drive nearby.
| Copelands Lookout Walking Track | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 400 metres (from Cliff Drive) |
| Duration: | 45 minutes (return) |
| Grade: | Easy |
| Wheel-friendly: | No |
| Dog-friendly: | No |
Getting There
The quickest way to reach Copelands Lookout is via a short bushwalking trail starting from Cliff Drive in Katoomba (see map location).
You can park in the car park on the northern side of the road at the building of the old Solitary Restaurant at 90 Cliff Drive.
Since the walk to the lookout is a side trail off the Prince Henry Cliff Walk, you can also get there by doing (a section of) that walk, for example from Leura Cascades.
Below is a map of the short walk to the lookout.
Copelands Lookout Walking Track
At the car parking area on Cliff Drive, look for the trail access point just before the bend in the road. It’s signposted as the Prince Henry Cliff Walk.
There is another access point 50 metres further west, but don’t go in there, as it goes in the opposite direction.
Only a couple of minutes into the walk, you’ll see a sign for the side track to Copelands Lookout. It’s a short 250-metre walk from that junction.
As short as the trail is, it is quite steep, with lots of steps. But the path is well-defined and in reasonable condition, so it’s not all that hard.
The trail soon arrives at the lookout, a large rock platform, fenced off with a classic stone wall.
It’s that stone wall that makes this lookout a bit more special, compared to the many refurbished lookouts in the Blue Mountains with shiny metal fencing.
The lookout offers panoramic views over the Jamison Valley between the Three Sisters (to the southwest) and Sublime Point (to the southeast).
Further away, you’ll have clear views of Mount Solitary and Kings Tableland. It’s a quiet lookout, so you may well be the only person there when you visit.
Also referred to as Copelands View, the viewpoint was named after William Raeburn Copeland (1855-1928) in the 1930s.
Copeland, born in Scotland, was a trained stone mason and storekeeper who built various stone properties in Katoomba.
Nearby lookouts:
