Last updated: March 23, 2024
The walking track to Asgard Swamp, Thor Head, and Asgard Mine, commonly referred to as the Asgard Swamp Track, is an adventurous hike navigating through stunning Blue Mountains scenery.
This quiet walk on the Asgard Plateau passes several interesting sights with fantastic Grose Valley views to enjoy from multiple vantage points.
| Track stats: | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 9 km (return) |
| Time: | 3-4 hours |
| Grade: | Moderate / hard (steep sections, uneven path) |
| Dogs: | Not allowed |
How to Get There
The trailhead of the walking track to Thor Head, Asgard Swamp, and Asgard Mine is located on Victoria Falls Road (see map location).
To get there, turn into Victoria Falls Road from the Great Western Highway in Mount Victoria, and continue driving for approximately 4 km. The trailhead is signposted (see photo), and there is space for several cars to park.
Victoria Falls Road is unsealed but is in good condition. Be extra careful after rainfall when potholes may appear.
Map and Highlights
This walking track is located on the Asgard Plateau in the Victoria Falls and Blackheath area of the Blue Mountains. The Ikara Head Trail is also located in this area.
It’s a challenging hike with steep sections and some areas where the trail can be a bit rough. The first section (approx 1 km), in particular, is quite steep, which you will feel on the return.
The trail to the Asgard Head Lookout is only about 3 km long, but the various side trails turn this adventure into a 9 km return walking track.
You can go to the Asgard Head vantage point first (at the end of the trail) and do the side trails on your way back. Or you can do the side trails first before going to Asgard Head.
It’s important to point out that only Asgard Mine is signposted. To help you find the side trails to the other highlights, the map below is helpful, and we have also included photos further below in the track notes.
Track highlights and milestones:
- Asgard Swamp
- Thor Head
- Asgard Mine and Kiln
- Asgard Head Lookout
Track Notes
Once you’ve parked your car, it’s time to start this hiking adventure. It’s strongly recommended to bring a bottle of water and perhaps a couple of snacks for some much-needed energy.
The first section of the walking track is on a fire trail and goes mostly downhill. It’s an easy trail to follow, but keep in mind that this section (approximately 1 km) is quite challenging when going the other way on your return.
After approximately 1 km, the trail crosses Asgard Brook via a makeshift footbridge, with a beautiful swamp landscape on your left.
That’s not the official Asgard Swamp, but it’s a nice change in scenery. Continue for another km, and you will see the turn-off to the Asgard Swamp.
1. Asgard Swamp
In the photo below, you can see the path going to the left. That’s the path you need to go into to visit the Asgard Swamp.
One good way to identify that path is by looking for a large rock about 100 metres into that path.
We don’t know if this rock has an official name, but we’ve seen it identified as Pagoda Rock and Pyramid Rock. Right in front of this rock is a campfire spot, which suggests that this is a popular camping site.
You can climb onto this rock, which offers nice views of Asgard Swamp right behind it. The path actually continues into the swamp for better views across the swamp area.
Depending on the season, you might also come across Golden Wattles blooming on the trees, which is a pretty sight.
Overall, the Asgard Swamp isn’t mind-blowingly beautiful, but it’s a nice detour and a great warmup for what’s to come.
2. Thor Head
From the swamp, retrace your steps to the main walking track, and continue hiking to the next highlight, the magnificent Thor Head.
The trail to Thor Head is a bit more challenging to identify, but it’s only a few hundred metres further along the main walking track. The photo below may help recognise that path.
This trail to Thor Head is not long, but it’s pretty challenging, as it goes uphill most of the way, and the path itself is quite narrow and uneven.
After approximately 500 metres of hiking on this trail, the Grose Valley will start to appear. At some point, the trail arrives at a rocky platform, from where the valley views are superb.
The trail continues onto a large rocky outcrop straight ahead, from where the valley views are even better.
And If you walk a little further, to the point where the trail essentially ends, you can enjoy views back to Asgard Swamp. It’s fascinating to see that swamp landscape from one side of the headland and valley views from the other.
We’re actually not sure if the name Thor Head refers to this entire headland (as part of the Asgard Plateau), or if it refers to the pointy rocky outcrop that is visible towards the end of the walking trail.
We’ll leave that for others to decide. All we know is that the Grose Valley views in this part of the Blue Mountains are absolutely stunning.
3. Asgard Mine and Kiln
Once you’ve finished exploring Thor Head, retrace your steps to the main walking track and get ready for the next highlight.
The path to the Asgard Mine is only 200 metres away from the path to Thor Head. Luckily, it’s signposted, so you certainly won’t miss it.
The trail is easy to follow but does get a bit steep at times. It’s a well-maintained path with wooden steps to make navigating downhill much easier.
After less than 0.5 km, the trail arrives at the entrance to the small coal mine, next to a tiny waterfall.
Unsurprisingly, the entrance is pitch black, so if you’re keen to go inside, you will definitely need a torch.
The Asgard Mine was created in the 19th century, during a time when mining in the Blue Mountains was quite common. Remnants from the mining era can still be found in Bell, Lithgow, Hartley Vale, Mount Victoria, Grose Valley, and even Katoomba.
Only a short stroll further down the path is the Asgard Kiln, a large oven that seems to be in excellent condition. It’s worth checking out.
4. Asgard Head Lookout
Perhaps the most impressive highlight of the entire walking track is the incredible vantage point at the very end.
To get there, continue on the main trail. The path quickly evolves from a fire trail into a narrow, sometimes overgrown, path, but it’s easy to follow.
The trail eventually arrives at a rocky outcrop that you can easily climb onto to enjoy the far-stretching views over the Grose Valley.
Be mindful that while it may be easy to climb onto that platform, there is no fencing, so it’s essential to be extremely careful.
From the lookout, it’s possible to see a tiny Victoria Falls in the valley, with the Burra Korain headland to the east.
There are more rocky areas further to the left for more views to soak in from a slightly different angle.
Once you’ve finished admiring the views from Asgard Head, it’s time to head back to Victoria Falls Road and complete this fantastic hiking adventure!
