Last updated: December 3, 2022
The Lockleys Pylon walking track is an exciting bushwalk in the Blue Mountains, offering scenic 360-degree views of the Grose Valley and beyond.
This part of the Blue Mountains is still relatively quiet and unspoiled, which makes the track to this unique landmark all the more enjoyable.
The extra stretch to Du Faur Head from Lockleys Pylon is worth the effort, with even more views to take in. Read on to find out more!
| Lockleys Pylon Walking Track | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 7 km (return) |
| Duration: | 2-3 hours |
| Grade: | Moderate (steep sections, rough surface) |
| Dogs: | Not allowed |
How to Get There
The start of the Lockleys Pylon walking track is on Mount Hay Road, which you can access from Leura (see map location).
From the Great Western Highway, take the Leura exit and turn right at the roundabout crossing the overpass. Turn right into Britain Street, followed by a left turn into Mount Hay Road.
After about 10 km on this unsealed road, you will arrive at a small car park. If this car park is full, there are spots nearby where you can try to park, as long as you don’t block the road.
A 4WD vehicle isn’t required to conquer Mount Hay Rd. However, in wet conditions or after a period of rainfall, it’s recommended not to go there with a conventional 2WD vehicle.
Public transport is not an option. With Leura’s train station about 15 km away and no buses heading there, traveling by car is the only feasible option.
Lockleys Pylon Track Notes
The Lockleys Pylon Track is approximately 7 km return and is moderately challenging, but anyone with a reasonable fitness level can easily complete this fantastic hike.
The path overall is quite easy to follow, and there is a bit of a steep climb at the end to get to the summit of Lockley Pylon. The extra stretch to Du Faur Head also requires a bit of climbing.
Below is a map of the walk:
P: Car park.
1: Lockleys Pylon.
2: Du Faur Head.
The Pinnacles
Once you’ve parked your car, it’s time to start hiking. Look for the signpost which marks the start of the trail.
The first section of the walking track is uphill, heading towards a unique rock formation named The Pinnacles.
If you have time to spare, it might be worth exploring this rock formation and the surrounding area a bit more.
From the Pinnacles, the track continues through a beautiful landscape of heath vegetation, with scenic views of Fortress Ridge to the west to take in.
Keep an eye out for a short detour that leads to a lookout point with great views of Fortress Ridge and Fortress Creek in the valley below.
Lockleys Pylon
As the path continues, Lockleys Pylon will slowly start to appear in the distance, while the panoramic views of the valleys and mountains on both sides of the track keep getting better.
Have a good look around and see if you can identify Mount Hay and Mount Banks in the distance.
Once you get to Lockleys Pylon, a set of stairs followed by a well-maintained path will get you to the summit of this very distinctive landmark.
Lockleys Pylon was named after John Gilmour Lockley, a writer and journalist who supported conservation efforts to save the Blue Gum Forest from logging in the 1930s.
While it’s not all that far to the peak, there are some steep sections that can be a bit challenging. Once at the top, you will notice several different paths you can choose from to head back down.
But before heading back, you will want to spend some time up there to take in the amazing 360-degree views of one of the most beautiful parts of the Greater Blue Mountains.
Du Faur Head
Once you’ve reached Lockleys Pylon, it’s worth continuing the walking track to Du Faur Head, a rock formation on the edge of the escarpment facing the Grose Valley.
From there, you can go even further and hike all the way to the Blue Gum Forest in the valley, but only do that if you’re well prepared with food and other supplies.
Allow for an extra hour of hiking and sightseeing if you plan to continue to Du Faur Head. It’s worth it, as the views are fantastic.
Summary
What makes the Lockleys Pylon track particularly enjoyable is that it is quite unique compared to other, more popular hikes in the Blue Mountains, such as the Grand Canyon walk and the walking tracks in the Wentworth Falls area.
With the strong winds and alpine-like landscape, this walk is somewhat reminiscent of the hike up to Mount Kosciuszko.
Check out our list of the best walks in the Blue Mountains for more great hikes like the Lockleys Pylon track.
This walk is amazing, thanks for sharing. The road there is quite poor, but take it slow. I went on to Du Faur Head, 195 steps down, and back up! But the view was awesome to sit and have lunch.
Thanks Annette, you’re right, continuing on to Du Faur Head from Lockleys Pylon is definitely worth the effort!