Grand Canyon Walk in the Blue Mountains

Last updated: January 10, 2023

Widely regarded as one of the most impressive walking tracks in the Blue Mountains, the Grand Canyon Walk will leave you in awe as you hike through a beautiful landscape of lush rainforest with several creek crossings, small waterfalls, high cliff walls, and rock overhangs to take in.

Constructed and opened to the public in 1907, the 6 km long Grand Canyon walking track was the first of its kind and has, since its opening, been challenged by thousands of hiking enthusiasts every year.

Read on, as we’re going to discuss the highlights of this fantastic hike, where best to park your car, and many more tips.

Grand Canyon Walk
Distance: 6 km (circuit)
Duration: 3 hours (depending on stops)
Grade: Moderate / hard (steep sections)
Dogs: Not allowed

How to Get There

The Grand Canyon walking track is a circuit trail, so you can start this hike from multiple locations with parking areas on Evans Lookout Road in Blackheath.

To get there, from the Great Western Highway, turn into Evans Lookout Rd just south of the Blackheath town centre.

The two parking areas on Evans Lookout Rd are (from west to east):

  1. Grand Canyon Carpark (map location)
  2. Evans Lookout Carpark (map location)

These parking areas are marked with P1 and P2 on the following map:

Map of the Grand Canyon Walk

1. Grand Canyon Carpark

The Grand Canyon Carpark is a purpose-built parking area for visitors intending to do the Grand Canyon Walk.

This car park has recently been upgraded and is quite large with over 100 parking bays, toilets, and disabled & bus parking.

Grand Canyon Carpark
Grand Canyon Carpark

The Grand Canyon Carpark is the best and easiest location to park your car safely for the day.

2. Evans Lookout Carpark

Should the Grand Canyon Carpark be at capacity, the second option is the Evans Lookout Carpark, next to the Evans Lookout.

This (much smaller) car park has also recently been upgraded, with marked parking bays and a new, wheel-friendly walking path to the lookout.

Evans Lookout Carpark
Evans Lookout Carpark

This car park is designed for visitors to Evans Lookout and should be treated as a fallback option if the main car park is full.

Clockwise or Anti-Clockwise?

Parking at the Grand Canyon Carpark allows visitors to do the walking track in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction.

If you’re going in a clockwise direction, follow the walking trail to Evans Lookout, where you can continue the main walking track. If you prefer to go in an anti-clockwise direction, follow the trail southbound.

If you end up parking your car at the Evans Lookout Carpark, it makes sense to do the Grand Canyon Walk in a clockwise direction.

About the Neates Glen parking area:

This parking area is the first one you will see along Evans Lookout Road.
NSW National Parks has advised us not to recommend this car park to visitors because this is a small council car park that overflows very quickly. This results in negative impacts on the residents who live there, as well as the roadside vegetation, which has been driven over, trampled and littered.

Grand Canyon Track Notes

Just over 6 km long, the Grand Canyon Walk is a true bushwalking adventure.

With beautiful views, lush rainforest, pretty waterfalls, creek crossings, high sandstone walls, and large rock overhangs, this walking track has something for everyone. The cooler temperatures in the valley make this walk a pleasant adventure during the warmer summer months as well.

While it has some very steep sections, the track can be conquered by anyone with a reasonable fitness level, as long as you bring sufficient water with you. The hardest part is the climb out of the canyon, which often takes longer than anticipated.

Start of the Grand Canyon Walk at Evans Lookout
Start of the Grand Canyon Walk at Evans Lookout

A set of hiking poles might also come in handy during this track, especially for the steeper parts. A good pair of hiking boots is also essential.

Let’s go through some of the highlights along this historic track, starting from the Evans Lookout, walking in a clockwise direction.

1. Evans Lookout

The Evans Lookout was named after George Evans, a local solicitor who was supposedly the first settler to discover this spot back in 1882. The lookout offers breathtaking views of the immense Grose Valley and beyond.

Evans Lookout
Evans Lookout

The views are best at sunset and sunrise on a clear day when those impressive cliff walls often have that unique orange glow.

Don’t forget to also quickly visit the Valley View lookout. It’s only a short stroll away from the Evans Lookout, and the views are just as impressive.

2. The Descent

From the Evans Lookout, the Grand Canyon walking track descends into the canyon, heading towards Greaves Creek.

Steep descent into the Grand Canyon
Steep descent into the Grand Canyon

Note that this is a very steep descent, which is easy enough to do if you start the walk from the Evans Lookout. But if you’re doing the Grand Canyon Walk in an anti-clockwise direction, this steep section back up to the lookout is very hard.

Climbing out of the valley on the other side of the walk is also a big challenge, so make sure you leave some water (and ideally a snack) for when you have to start that climb out of the canyon, whichever direction you’re hiking.

3. Beauchamp Falls (Optional)

While not officially part of the Grand Canyon walking track, it might be worth doing an extra side trip to visit Beauchamp Falls, a pretty 10 metres high waterfall on Greaves Creek.

Beauchamp Falls in the Blue Mountains
Beauchamp Falls

To get to Beachamp Falls, you will need to do a small section of the Rodriguez Pass, which is signposted at one of the creek crossings.

Although short, this path to Beauchamp Falls is very challenging, with steep parts and lots of huge boulders to negotiate. It’s best only to do this if you’re well prepared and you consider yourself an experienced bushwalker.

Intersection Grand Canyon Walk and Rodriguez Pass
Intersection Grand Canyon Walk and Rodriguez Pass

The Rodriguez Pass itself is a long and challenging bushwalk through the valley that eventually connects with Govetts Leap further north.

Note that this track may be closed due to recent bad weather events. Always check the NSW National Parks website before undertaking any challenging hikes, and respect any closures you may encounter.

4. Grand Canyon

As you continue hiking on the main track, the Grand Canyon Walk enters an area of lush rainforest, mostly following Greaves Creek with various creek crossings and small waterfalls.

Fenced path along the Grand Canyon Walk

The scenery here is superb and does make you feel like you’re doing a solid bushwalk, far away from civilisation.

Footbridge in the Grand Canyon

In the canyon, the path is well-maintained and reasonably easy to follow, but pay attention to where you’re walking as there will be a few sections with rough and uneven surfaces.

Creek crossing along the Grand Canyon Walk

With all the creek crossings and various rock overhangs, it’s essential to stay focused on the trail to avoid any unexpected injuries.

5. The Rotunda

If you have brought lunch or snacks with you, the Rotunda is a great spot to have a break and fuel up.

The Rotunda on the Grand Canyon Walk

You can easily recognise the Rotunda as a large rock overhang, created as a result of the flowing creek carving out the cliff. There’s even a little sandy “beach” underneath where you can sit down and relax for a little while.

From the Rotunda, it’s another half hour or so out of the canyon to the Neates Glen car park on Evans Lookout Rd.

6. The Ascent

That final, steep climb out of the canyon is on a well-maintained, zig-zag style walking path.

As you make your way back up, you can quite literally feel the climate slowly changing from humid to dry.

Rainforest in the Grand Canyon

Like the descent/ascent at the other side of the track at the Evans Lookout, this climb out of the canyon is challenging, so please make sure you’re well prepared for that.

Once you’ve arrived at the Neates Glen parking area, follow the walking path back to either the Grand Canyon Carpark or the Evans Lookout Carpark, depending on where you parked your car.

Things to Do Nearby

If you still have enough energy left in your system after completing the Grand Canyon Walk, the Cliff Top walking track is a great additional hike.

This 3 km walking track between Evans Lookout and Govetts Leap Lookout, along the cliff edge of the Grose Valley, offers some of the most spectacular views you can experience in the Blue Mountains.

Govetts Leap Lookout
Govetts Leap Lookout

Otherwise, if you don’t want to do another hike, simply drive to the Govetts Leap Lookout. It’s only a short distance from the Evans Lookout, and the views you get to enjoy are very much worth the extra trip.

Once you’ve finished hiking and sightseeing, it’s time to head into the Blackheath town centre for a well-deserved lunch and a coffee.

FAQs About the Grand Canyon Walk

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the Grand Canyon Walk with answers.

What is the best spot to park your car?

The best location to park your car is at the purpose-built Grand Canyon Carpark on Evans Lookout Road in Blackheath.

How long is the walk?

The Grand Canyon Walk is a 6 km long circuit walk and takes approximately three hours to complete, depending on stops.

How hard is the walk?

The Grand Canyon Walk is graded as moderate to hard (grade 3) with a few very steep sections.

What should I bring?

It’s important to wear good hiking shoes and bring at least 600ml of water and some light snacks or fruit. If you’re hiking alone, let someone know about your plans.

Keen to do more walking tracks in the area? Check out our list of the best hikes in the Blue Mountains for some great options.
 

Grand Canyon walking track in the Blue Mountains

 

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2 Comments
  1. We were just in the BM, visiting from England. It was really misty and wet and almost didn’t do this walk but a local said it would actually be good on a wet day. What an incredible hike! Thanks for the tips, loved it. We did Overcliff Undercliff and Three Sisters the day before and definitely think this was the best hike.

    Reply
    • Brilliant! It’s true, when it’s a bit misty and wet, the Grand Canyon Walk can actually be very pretty. Glad to hear you had a great time in the Blue Mountains.

      Reply
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