Last updated: August 30, 2023
The Leura Cascades walking track is a short but scenic bushwalk along Leura Falls Creek, leading up to a beautiful lookout point with amazing views of the Jamison Valley.
Make a day of it and enjoy lunch outdoors at the Leura Cascades picnic area, one of the most scenic Blue Mountains picnic spots.
Keep reading to learn more about this beautiful area in the Blue Mountains!
| Leura Cascades Walk | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 1 km (return) |
| Time: | 1 hour (including stops) |
| Grade: | Easy |
| Dogs: | Not allowed |
How to Get There
The Leura Cascades picnic area and car park are located on Chelmsford Drive in Leura (see map location).
The car park can be accessed via Cliff Drive, which links Echo Point, Scenic World and eventually Cahill’s Lookout further west in Katoomba.
Although the car park is quite large, it can fill up quickly on busy days and weekends, so it’s best to get there early to secure a parking spot.
Here is a map of the area and the walking trail:
The Leura Cascades picnic area has partially been reopened following an extended closure due to storm damage and associated hazards. The car park and a section of Cliff Drive are still closed. Alternative parking is available at the Solitary restaurant on Cliff Drive. For the latest updates, go to the Blue Mountains City Council website.
Leura Cascades Walking Track
The Leura Cascades walking track is an easy, picturesque walk that follows Leura Falls Creek through a rainforest landscape, with several small waterfalls and bridges along the way.
The start of the walking track can be found at the southern end of the picnic area, near the artificial cave-like shelters and arch.
The walking path along Leura Falls Creek is easy to navigate, but there are a few staircases and creek crossings to negotiate.
Overall, though, it’s a pretty safe and easy walking trail, and kids will love it.
There are various spots along the path where you can go and have a closer look at the creek, with the water flowing over the rocks.
However, the highlight of the walking trail is the beautiful lookout point right at the end.
Lookout and Waterfall
This lookout offers superb views towards the Jamison Valley and the cliff walls surrounding Leura Falls Creek.
The lookout is situated above Bridal Veil Falls, where Leura Falls Creek drops into the Valley. This waterfall is also referred to as Leura Falls, and to add to the confusion, there is also a Bridal Veil Falls at the Govetts Leap Lookout near Blackheath.
From the lookout point, there are two ways to head back to the picnic area and car park.
You can either return via the same path, or go up the metal stairs from the lookout and turn this into an extended circuit walk.
Leura Cascades Round Walk
This extended walk is officially called the Leura Cascades Round Walk and is highly recommended as a family-friendly walking trail.
It includes a couple more lookout points, such as the Majestic Lookout, which offers views of the waterfall from higher up.
This alternative path back to the picnic area forms part of the popular Prince Henry Cliff Walk, a 7 km bushwalk between Katoomba Falls at Scenic World and Gordon Falls in Leura.
The Prince Henry Cliff Walk follows the cliff edge facing the Jamison Valley, passing various beautiful lookout points that offer some of the best views in the Blue Mountains.
Another great walk in the Leura Cascades area is the Bridal Veil Falls Circuit.
This is a 4 km loop that includes the Bridal Veil View lookout and the base of Bridal Veil Falls. It’s quite a challenging walk, but highly recommended.
Leura Cascades Picnic Area
The picnic area has excellent facilities, such as toilets, tables, seating, and tree-shaded sections. It’s the perfect spot to have lunch in beautiful surroundings after completing the walking track.
It’s recommended to wander around and explore the area a bit more. Did you know, for example, that part of what is now a scenic picnic area was once a public swimming bath?
The Katoomba Municipal Baths were opened in 1913 by the Hon. Arthur Griffiths, Minister for Public Works, with separate sections for women and men.
The baths were part of a larger development project to make the Katoomba area more appealing to locals and tourists.
This project also involved building Chelmsford Avenue, connecting Leura and Katoomba, and the concrete arched Chelmsford Bridge.
Numerous trees were also planted, and a picnic ground was created at the baths to further enhance the area as a popular recreational destination.
A lot has changed since then, but on a warm sunny day, one could only wish the baths were still there.
