Kanangra Walls, located in Kanangra-Boyd National Park, is a remote hiking destination, home to various walking tracks, lookouts, waterfalls, and camping areas.
As part of the Greater Blue Mountains, this scenic area is perfect for a day trip from Sydney, offering breathtaking landscapes to explore.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the Kanangra Plateau Walk, which leads to the iconic Kanangra-Boyd Plateau Cliff, with detours to Kanangra Walls Lookout and the Dance Floor Cave.
The walk starts from the same trailhead as the Kalang Falls Walk, making it easy to combine both in one trip.
| Kanangra Plateau Walk | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 3.4 km (return) |
| Duration: | 2 hours |
| Grade: | Moderate (steep sections) |
| Dog-friendly: | No |
| Maps: |  PDF map |
 Interactive map |
|
Getting There
The scenic Kanangra Walls area is located within Kanangra-Boyd National Park, about 180 km from Sydney.
To reach it, you’ll need to drive to the end of Kanangra Walls Road, where a car park is available (see location on map).
The fastest route is via Jenolan Caves Road in Hartley. Follow this road past the Jenolan Caves, then turn onto Kanangra Walls Road. Note that this road is unsealed, but is usually in good condition.
If Jenolan Caves Road is closed (which happens from time to time), you’ll need to take a detour via Duckmaloi Road in Hampton and Edith Road in Oberon. From Edith Road, you can turn onto Kanangra Walls Road.
Below is a map of the walk with the car park and the three highlights marked:
- Kanangra Walls Lookout
- Dance Floor Cave
- Kanangra-Boyd Plateau Cliff
Track Notes
The walking track to Kanangra Walls Lookout, Dance Floor Cave, and the famous Kanangra-Boyd Plateau Cliff is approximately 3.4 km return.
Overall, the walk isn’t particularly challenging, but there are a few climbs, mostly via steps, so expect to put in some effort.
1. Kanangra Walls Lookout
After parking your car, head over to the signpost (as pictured above) to begin your hike.
You’ll notice multiple walks listed on the signpost, but for this route, we’ll be following a combination of the Lookout Walk and the Plateau Walk.
The first section of the walk is an easy, flat path through a landscape of low trees and heath vegetation.
Along the way, the trail passes two intersections; continue straight at both to reach the lookout, which comes into view after about 500 metres.
Also known as Kanangra-Boyd Lookout, this vantage point offers stunning views of the cliff walls surrounding Kanangra Creek in the valley below, with Mount Cloudmaker visible in the distance.
2. Dance Floor Cave
Once you’ve finished taking in the incredible views, retrace your steps to the first intersection and turn left to continue along the Plateau Walk.
The path descends to lower ground via a series of steps, with lovely valley views unfolding to your left.
After about 300 metres on the Plateau Walk, you’ll reach a signposted detour to the Dance Floor Cave. Some visitors skip this side trip, but we highly recommend checking it out.
The cave is only a short, five-minute walk from the intersection.
An information board at the site provides insight into the cave’s history and significance, which is worth reading before exploring.
Shaped like a large rock overhang, the Dance Floor Cave was once a gathering place for travellers and settlers in the late 19th century.
It became so popular that a wooden dance platform was installed for entertainment. While the original dance floor is long gone, the cave is still used by bushwalkers as a sheltered rest stop.
3. Kanangra-Boyd Plateau Cliff
Retrace your steps to the intersection and turn right to continue along the main walking track, heading towards the third highlight.
You’ll need to climb a few more rocky steps before the Plateau Walk levels out, leading to sweeping views across the plateau and beyond.
The scenery along this stretch is spectacular, and you’re free to step slightly off-track and walk to the edge of the escarpment for even better views.
After a few hundred metres on the plateau, the famous photography spot, Kanangra-Boyd Plateau Cliff, comes into view in the distance.
The photo opportunities here are endless, so take your time exploring the area and soaking in the incredible views.
For the best shot, stand on top of that cliff while someone captures the moment from a distance.
Though this cliff looks like nothing more than a narrow rock jutting out from the plateau, it’s surprisingly spacious, with plenty of room to stand safely.
The Plateau Walk continues well beyond this popular photography spot. In fact, it stretches for another 9 km, leading deep into the Kanangra wilderness.
We recommend walking an extra 500 metres past the Kanangra-Boyd Plateau Cliff to enjoy spectacular views back towards Kanangra Walls Lookout. If there’s been recent rainfall, you might even spot Kanangra Falls flowing in the distance.
Kanangra Walls Lookout is included in our guide on beautiful remote lookouts in the Blue Mountains. Read that guide for more of these unique viewpoints.
