The trail to the summit of Mount Hay is a short yet steep walking track that offers stunning views of the Grose Valley along the way.
This remote walk begins at the end of Mount Hay Road, which also serves as the starting point for the Butterbox Point Track.
| Mount Hay Summit Walk | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 3 km (return) |
| Time: | 1.5 hours |
| Grade: | Moderate |
| Dogs: | Not allowed |
| Maps: |  PDF map |
 Interactive map |
|
Getting There
The walking track starts at the end of Mount Hay Road, where a spacious parking area, named the Mount Hay and Butterbox Point Carpark, is located.
To reach the car park, 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 recommend using a 4WD or an SUV with higher ground clearance, it is possible to navigate the road with a 2WD vehicle in dry conditions.
Below is a map showing the walk starting from the car park.
Track Notes
The walk to the summit of Mount Hay is neither the longest nor the hardest track in the Blue Mountains, but it is challenging closer to the summit.
Comfortable hiking shoes are essential, and we recommend bringing a bottle of water, especially on warm days.
The Trail
Before starting this hike, take a moment to read the information board at the trailhead to learn more about this unique area of the Blue Mountains.
When you’re ready, follow the walking trail past the information board until you reach a junction where the trail splits in two.
The path to the right leads to the summit of Mount Hay, while the path to the left takes you to Butterbox Point.
Many visitors opt to complete both hikes in one day, which is certainly manageable. However, with the stunning views along both trails, it’s easy to lose track of time and miss out on completing the second hike.
If you’re keen to tackle both tracks in one visit, plan to spend about 3–4 hours exploring this remote area.
From the junction, follow the well-defined path straight ahead towards the mountain. Stunning views of the Grose Valley accompany you on your left as you make your way along the trail.
You’ll encounter several vantage points along the path, perfect for a rest and to soak in the incredible valley scenery.
At some point, the trail moves away from the valley and arrives at a large rocky outcrop. While the path appears to end here, you’ll need to either walk around the rock or scramble over it before the trail becomes visible again.
The Summit
The closer you get to the summit, the more overgrown the path becomes. Additionally, as you ascend higher, the views become increasingly obstructed by trees and bushes.
There’s no need to hike all the way to the very top if you don’t want to.
A good return point to aim for is the open rocky area shown in the photo above. From there, the views are spectacular, but beyond that point, the vegetation becomes much denser.
If you’re determined to reach the summit, you’ll find a large rock cairn marking the mountain’s highest point and the end of the walking trail.
Admittedly, we didn’t make it to the rock cairn ourselves, as the vegetation was too thick for us to continue.
You won’t miss much if you don’t make it to the top, as the views are completely blocked by the vegetation. Reaching the summit is more about the sense of achievement than anything else.
The dense vegetation at the summit is due to the mountain being basalt-capped. This basalt was formed by volcanic lava flows millions of years ago, creating highly fertile soil. Mount Banks shares this characteristic.
Keen to do another walk? Further back along Mount Hay Road, you will find the trailheads for the Lockleys Pylon Track and the Fortress Ridge Trail, two iconic Blue Mountains hikes with wonderful Grose Valley views.
