Empress Falls Walking Track in Wentworth Falls

Last updated: March 12, 2023

A short but steep walking track starting from the old Conservation Hut in Wentworth Falls brings visitors up close and personal with Empress Falls, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Blue Mountains.

The walk to Empress Falls forms part of the longer and more challenging Wentworth Pass and the Valley of the Waters walking tracks, two of the most popular bush walks in New South Wales.

Read on to find out more about this family-friendly walking trail!

Empress Falls Walk
Distance: 1 km (return)
Duration: 1 hour
Grade: Moderate (short but steep)
Dogs: Not allowed

How to Get There

The return walk to Empress Falls starts and ends at the old Conservation Hut, located at the end of Fletcher Street in Wentworth Falls (see map location).

Getting to the Conservation Hut is very easy. From the Great Western Highway, take the exit into Falls Road in Wentworth Falls, followed by a right turn into Fletcher Street, which leads to a car park.

The car park at the Conservation Hut is relatively small and does fill up quickly on the weekends. If it’s full, try suburban street parking nearby.

The map below gives you an idea of where this beautiful walk is located and where you can park your car.

Map and route of the Empress Falls Walk

Empress Falls Walk Track Notes

The walk down to Empress Falls is relatively short, but it’s also steep. While going down is easy, the return trip can be challenging, especially on warmer days.

It’s recommended to bring enough water with you and perhaps an energy bar or a piece of fruit for some much-needed energy for the climb back up.

We’re going to describe the walk along the following landmarks and highlights:

  1. Old Conservation Hut
  2. Queen Victoria Lookout
  3. Empress Lookout
  4. Empress Falls
  5. Sylvia Falls and Lodore Falls (optional)

1. Old Conservation Hut

As mentioned, the walk starts at the old Conservation Hut.

Originally opened in 1963 as a meeting place for the Blue Mountains Conservation Society, the Conservation Hut has operated as a cafe since 1993 after a major building redevelopment, but it closed in 2021.

Empress Falls signpost at the Conservation Hut
Start of the walk to Empress Falls

There are several walking tracks in Wentworth Falls that start and finish at the old Conservation Hut, such as the Overcliff Undercliff Track, Wentworth Pass, and Nature Track.

To find the start of the Empress Falls walking track, look for the sign that says Queen Victoria Lookout and Empress Falls.

2. Queen Victoria Lookout

The first section of the walk towards the Queen Victoria Lookout is a relatively easy path heading down via a series of wooden steps.

After about 300 metres, a short side track opens up to the Queen Victoria Lookout, situated above the Valley of the Waters and facing Jamison Valley.

Queen Victoria Lookout
Queen Victoria Lookout

The views are absolutely stunning and reach as far as Mount Solitary straight ahead. On the left, Kings Tableland and the Lincoln’s Rock lookout point can also be seen.

3. Empress Lookout

The next stop is the Empress Lookout which faces the other side of the valley where Empress Falls and the Empress Canyon are located.

The interesting thing about the Empress Lookout is that, despite the name, you can’t actually see much of Empress Falls.

You can certainly hear it, especially when there’s lots of water flowing, but the waterfall itself is hardly visible through the many trees.

Metal staircases along the Empress Falls walking track

From the Empress Lookout, the track heads further down into the valley via a series of metal staircases.

While it may look a bit scary in the photo above, the staircases are pretty easy to navigate with the handrails.

4. Empress Falls

Once you’ve conquered the stairs, you will notice that the scenery gets a lot darker all of a sudden, as the many trees and cliff walls are blocking a lot of the natural sunlight.

Water hole at Empress Falls
Water hole at Empress Falls

This is also where the walking track slowly turns into a rainforest walk, which is quite a fascinating contrast with the usually dry bush trails on higher ground.

After passing the intersection with the Nature Track, the path to Empress Falls soon crosses a creek via a set of stepping stones.

Walking path in front of Empress Falls
Walking path in front of Empress Falls

You will now start seeing the first glimpses of Empress Falls, which can be very impressive, especially after a period of rainfall when more water thunders down into the natural pool below.

Empress Falls
Empress Falls

The track eventually brings hikers right next, and in front of, the waterfall, surrounded by boulders and trees, creating a majestic atmosphere.

5. Sylvia Falls and Lodore Falls (Optional)

If one beautiful waterfall isn’t enough, continue on the path downstream along the creek to visit two more waterfalls.

Fed by the Valley of the Waters Creek, both Sylvia Falls and Lodore Falls are scenic cascade waterfalls. They are not too far away from Empress Falls and are very much worth the extra effort.

Sylvia Falls
Sylvia Falls

Beyond these two waterfalls, the walking track continues even further to Flat Rock Falls, Brittania Falls, Red Rock Falls, and Vera Falls.

Please note, though, that the walking track to these waterfalls, and Vera Falls specifically, becomes more challenging and is recommended for experienced bushwalkers only.

The walking track to Empress Falls is part of our list of best walks in the Blue Mountains, so be sure to check out that list for more hiking ideas.
 

Empress Falls walking track in the Blue Mountains

 

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10 Comments
    • Hi Tony,

      To our knowledge, yes, that is allowed. Although you’re going to have to be careful with the abseilers who often go there.

      Check out our Blue Mountains swimming holes article for more options. The one at Victoria Falls is pretty good, but it’s a steep hike to get there.

      Reply
    • Sylvia and Lodore Falls are actually quite close to Empress, you’d have to add another 500 metres or so on a well maintained path. None of these falls are very swimmable though.

      Reply
  1. Together with my family we were truly challenged to beautiful waterfalls. I enjoy this walk every year, even though the steps are steep. I highly recommend the experience but do take a friend.

    Reply
    • Thanks Rose, glad to hear you enjoyed this walk down to Empress Falls. And you’re right, it’s always a good idea to bring someone with you, or otherwise let others know where you are, when heading into the bush for a hike.

      Reply
  2. This looks and sounds amazing but I am really scared of heights so need to see pictures of the stairs. Does anyone have any photos they share so I can decide if it’s something I can do? Am planning to do a blue mountain trip this weekend but need to assess which walks I am capable of doing. Appreciate your guidance and any photos! Thanks.

    Reply
    • Hello Cath, if you’re scared of heights, then you will most likely be fine on the Empress Falls walk.

      The track is steep in some sections, but the steps are mostly through the bush, so height isn’t much of an issue. There is one section with a series of steel staircases, but there are handrails and it’s easy to navigate. I have just added a picture in the article to give you an idea of what to expect.

      Hope this helps a bit.

      Reply
      • Hi, I was just wondering how long is the walk to get to the waterfall, and is it recommended for younger kids like from 5 years old?

        Reply
        • Hi Sonya, it’s a 1 km return walk to the waterfall, so not that long. It is steep, but kids that age can certainly do it. Some kids can power through these walks better than adults, but it also depends on their mood and how much they enjoy being outdoors.

          Reply
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