The Wentworth Falls Walk is a short, family-friendly walking track that leads to the top of the beautiful Wentworth Falls waterfall, taking in several scenic lookouts.
Once you’ve reached the top of the falls, you have the option to continue hiking to the middle and bottom sections of the waterfall via the Grand Stairway.
Wentworth Falls Walk | |
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Distance: | 2 km (return) |
Duration: | 1 hour |
Grade: | Easy |
Wheel-friendly: | No |
Dogs: | Not allowed |
Getting There
The Wentworth Falls area is one of the most popular destinations in the Blue Mountains, and as such, it can get very busy on the weekends.
Ample parking is available at the Wentworth Falls picnic area along Sir H Burrell Drive, which can be reached via Falls Road.
The area can also be reached via public transport. Catch a train to Wentworth Falls Station, and follow the scenic Darwins Walk (approx 2 km) to the waterfall.
Map
In the map below, we have marked the parking area, the walking trail, and the following five highlights:
- Jamison Lookout
- Wentworth Falls Lookout
- Fletchers Lookout
- Top of Wentworth Falls
- Grand Stairway (optional)
Track Notes
The Wentworth Falls Walk is a short, family-friendly trail that is well-signposted and well-maintained. The trail does include steps, so it’s not wheel-friendly.
If you feel like doing a longer hike, there are many other trails that you can do as an extension or as a detour. We’ll give you some practical tips at the end of the article.
1. Jamison Lookout
The Jamison Lookout is directly located next to the car park, so you can’t miss it.
While this viewing point doesn’t offer views of the actual waterfall, the views over the Jamison Valley are superb.
On a clear day, you can spot a few landmarks, such as Lincoln’s Rock, Mount Solitary, the Narrow Neck Plateau, the Ruined Castle, and the Sublime Point Lookout.
From the Jamison Lookout, follow the pedestrian pathway alongside Sir H Burrell Drive going eastbound.
2. Wentworth Falls Lookout
After about 100 metres, you’ll see a path heading into the bush, signposted as Princes Rock Track.
While you can certainly go into that path, for the quickest way to the top of Wentworth Falls, keep walking alongside the road for another 150 metres, until you arrive at the Wentworth Falls Lookout.
The Wentworth Falls Lookout is a large viewing platform with seating, facing the Jamison Valley. This is the main lookout in the area, but you can only see glimpses of the waterfall.
From this lookout, the trail continues into the bush via a series of steps. It’s a comfortable walk, and not overly steep at all.
3. Fletchers Lookout
As you get closer to the waterfall, that track soon arrives at a couple of junctions.
We recommend following signs for the Fletchers Lookout, as it’s only a short detour, and the views are fantastic.
Unlike the previous two lookouts, the Fletchers Lookout does offer views of the waterfall. The lookout is actually quite close to the water spectacle, which adds to the experience.
If you look closely, you can also see the walking path atop the waterfall, and that’s where we’re going next!
4. Top of Wentworth Falls
From Fletchers, retrace your steps to the nearest junction, and follow the signage for the waterfall.
The path over the top of the waterfall is on a series of stepping stones, with the Queens Cascade (a small waterfall) on your left, and the Wentworth Falls waterfall dropping into the valley on your right.
It’s a fantastic experience walking across those stepping stones, surrounded by so much natural beauty.
5. Grand Stairway
Once you’ve reached the top of the waterfall, we strongly recommend venturing down the historic Grand Stairway.
The stairway is steep, but also very safe. And the valley views along the way, and the views of the middle section of the waterfall at the end of the stairway, are stunning. It adds an extra 30 minutes to your hiking adventure.
To find this engineering masterpiece, continue on the trail across the waterfall, and you will soon see the start of the Grand Stairway.
The Grand Stairway was built in the early 1900s (opened in 1908) with only picks, shovels, and dynamite, which is quite incredible.
It forms part of the National Pass, an iconic walking track in the Blue Mountains that has been closed for several years. Luckily, the staircase is still open to the public.
When you reach the mid-section of the waterfall, you’ll be in awe by its beauty. The views from that angle are magnificent, so take your time to enjoy this spot.
If you’re up for another hike in the Wentworth Falls area, we recommend doing the Overcliff Undercliff Track. This is a 4 km circuit walk between the waterfall and the Conservation Hut, and navigates through beautiful scenery. Simply follow the signs closer to the waterfall to find that trail.
To visit another beautiful waterfall in the Blue Mountains, drive over to Katoomba and do the Katoomba Falls Round Walk, a 2.5 km loop with a detour to a viewing platform right next to the waterfall.
For a quieter experience, try the walking track to Minnehaha Falls in North Katoomba on the other side of the highway.