Last updated: June 14, 2021
The Cliff Top Walk near Blackheath is a beautiful 3 km walking track that follows the cliff edge between Evans Lookout and Govetts Leap Lookout.
Get ready to be spoiled with some of the most spectacular views you can find in the greater Blue Mountains region.
| Cliff Top Walking Track | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 3 km (one way) |
| Time: | 1.5 hours |
| Grade: | Easy / moderate (steep sections) |
| Dogs: | Not allowed |
How to Get There
The Cliff Top Walk connects Govetts Leap with the Evans Lookout. Both locations have parking facilities so it doesn’t really matter where you start the walk.
From the Great Western Highway in Blackheath, turn into Evans Lookout Road which leads to three parking areas. The third one is located right at the lookout, so it’s best to try parking there first (see map location).
If you prefer to start at the other end, turn into Govetts Leap Road which leads to the Govetts Leap Lookout (see map location).
Public transport is also an option. You can catch the train to Blackheath on the Blue Mountains train line. From the Blackheath train station you can either walk or catch a bus to one of the two lookouts.
Cliff Top Walk Track Notes
Below is a map with the route of the Cliff Top Walk between Evans Lookout (A) and Govetts Leap Lookout (B).
The hardest part of the walk is the stretch between Barrow Lookout and Govetts Leap, where the track becomes quite steep.
Overall though, the Cliff Top Walk is suitable for all ages and fitness levels. Good hiking shoes and a bottle of water are strongly recommended.
1. Evans Lookout
Named after George Evans, a local solicitor who was supposedly the first to discover this point in 1882, the Evans Lookout offers breathtaking views of the Grose Valley.
The views are best at sunset and sunrise on a clear day when the huge sandstone cliff walls have a beautiful orange glow.
You can read more about this lookout point in our guide to the Evans Lookout, including tips for exciting walking tracks to do nearby.
At the Evans Lookout car park, you can find the start of the Cliff Top Walking Track at the signpost, where you will also find a toilet, should you need it.
From there, simply head into the bush to start this fantastic walk. The first section is an easy path that soon arrives at the Hayward Gully.
2. Hayward Gully
Hayward Gully was named after William Hayward, the first white man to ever reach the floor of the Govetts Gorge in 1847, according to the information signpost at the water crossing.
A small footbridge and a set of sandstone steps will get you to the other side of this gully.
3. Barrow Lookout
From Hayward Gully, stay on the main track that now follows the cliff edge combined with sections through the bush, before it arrives at the Barrow Lookout.
This beautiful viewing point was named after Isaac Le Pipre Barrow, a government surveyor who produced detailed tourist maps of the mountains in the late 1870’s.
From the Barrow Lookout, continue on the main track that crosses Govetts Leap Brook. This is where the waterfall drops almost 200 metres into Grose Valley, which makes it one of the most scenic waterfalls in the Blue Mountains.
Before crossing that creek, you will see an intersection with the Braeside walking trail, which is a track along Govetts Leap Brook heading back into the Blackheath town centre.
The last section of the walk to the Govetts Leap Lookout is the toughest part, as it is quite a steep climb.
4. Govetts Leap Lookout
The Govetts Leap Lookout was named after William Govett, the first European settler to have visited this area. He first discovered this beautiful spot almost two centuries ago, in June 1831.
The lookout is one of the most scenic lookout points in the Blue Mountains region. The scenic views of the Grose Valley, surrounded by sandstone cliffs and various waterfalls, are very impressive.
The valley is home to several rivers and creeks, such as the Grose River and Govetts Creek, which you can actually see from the lookout.
You can read more about this beautiful spot in our guide to the Govetts Leap Lookout, including tips for exciting walking tracks to do nearby.
Feeling energetic?
One of the most popular walking tracks in the Blue Mountains, the 6 km long Grand Canyon walking track, starts and finishes at the Evans Lookout.
This is a highly enjoyable bush walking track, which takes in beautiful scenery in the valley as well as at the top of the cliffs.
