The walking track to Mount Hay is a short and mildly steep hike to the summit of a recognisable mountain peak in an isolated part of the Blue Mountains.
You can get there by driving to the end of Mount Hay Road, an adventurous unsealed road that can be a bit of a challenge in its own right.
Nearby Butterbox Point is a must-visit too, as it offers stunning views of the Grose Valley and the surrounding cliff walls.
| Mount Hay Summit Walk | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 4 km (return) |
| Time: | 2 hours |
| Grade: | Moderate (steep sections) |
| Butterbox Point Track | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 2 km (return) |
| Time: | 1 hour |
| Grade: | Easy (narrow sections) |
How to Get There
Both walking tracks to Mount Hay and Butterbox Point start from the Mount Hay and Butterbox Point Carpark, located at the very end of Mount Hay Road (see map location).
Mount Hay Rd is accessible from the Great Western Highway, near the Leura Mall exit. The first 3 km of this road are sealed, followed by 13 km worth of unsealed road.
While you may find many sources online saying that Mount Hay Rd is doable for 2WD vehicles, we recommend going there with a 4WD vehicle.
The road is very long and often has many potholes, and going there with a car with higher ground clearance can make a big difference.
In the above map:
A: Car park
B: Mount Hay Summit
C: Butterbox Point
The starting point of both walks is at the northern end of the car park.
Mount Hay Summit Walk
Once you’ve reached the car park at the end of Mount Hay Rd, look for the information board where you can read more about this unique area in the Blue Mountains.
The start of the walking track is right next to this information board, with Mount Hay visible in the distance.
The path to the summit of Mount Hay is pretty easy to follow, but there are a few sections where you might go a bit off track. But with the summit always in sight, you won’t get lost too easily.
Overall, the track is well maintained, but there are sections where the track is a little overgrown. There are also a few sections where some rock scrambling and light climbing are required, so wearing proper shoes is recommended.
Not too far from the walk’s starting point is an intersection with the Butterbox Point track. If you’re heading to Mount Hay’s summit first, go straight ahead.
As you get closer to the summit, the vegetation also becomes denser. Like Mount Banks further north, Mount Hay is a basalt-capped mountain created by volcanic lava flows that occurred millions of years ago.
This basalt creates highly fertile soil, resulting in rich vegetation at the top of the mountain. This also means the views from the top are mostly obscured by trees.
So, for that reason, you don’t necessarily need to go all the way to the summit to make the most of this hike.
The views of the surrounding valleys and cliffs are fantastic straight from the beginning of the track, and it’s up to you how far you wish to walk.
Once you’ve finished admiring the views on the Mount Hay Track, retrace your steps to the intersection with the Butterbox Point walking track for chapter two of this adventure.
Butterbox Point
At the intersection, make your way westbound to Butterbox Point. The views along this track and at Butterbox Point are arguably even better than those along the Mount Hay summit walk, so you will be in for a treat.
It’s important to point out that there are sections where this track becomes very narrow along the cliff edges. As such, it’s crucial to be careful at all times, even more so in wet and windy conditions.
From the first intersection, the track soon hits a second intersection with a track that provides access to the Butterbox Canyon.
At this intersection, stay on the main path, going to Butterbox Point.
The walking track then arrives at an interestingly shaped rock formation with a cave structure at the bottom. At this point, the trail splits in two, with both sections rejoining at the other side of the rock formation.
You can go either way, but choosing the path on the right means you’re going to be very close to the cliff edge, which is quite scary and risky; not recommended.
If the walking track overall is a bit muddy, or if it is windy, we strongly recommend choosing the path on the left to avoid any dangerous situations.
Once the two paths rejoin, the track eventually leads to Butterbox Point, where you can enjoy even more panoramic Grose Valley views.
Last updated: May 4, 2024
