The walk from Narrow Neck to Castle Head is a short bush trail that leads to a scenic lookout with sweeping valley views toward Mount Solitary.
This relatively easy 4.5 km return walk begins at the Narrow Neck Plateau Trail, extending from Glenraphael Drive in the Katoomba area of the Blue Mountains.
| Narrow Neck to Castle Head Lookout | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 4.5 km (return) |
| Time: | 2 hours |
| Grade: | Easy / moderate (mildly steep sections) |
| Dogs: | Not allowed |
Getting There
The Narrow Neck Plateau, also referred to as the Narrow Neck Peninsula, is a plateau southwest of Katoomba that separates the Megalong Valley from the Jamison Valley.
Glenraphael Drive runs along the top of the plateau and transitions into the Narrow Neck Plateau Trail, a management trail that extends to the southernmost tip of the peninsula.
To reach this area, turn onto Glenraphael Drive from Scenic Drive and follow it until you reach a gate with a car park (see map location).
It’s worth noting that this car park is located beyond the one serving the Golden Stairs and the walking track to Ruined Castle.
While Glenraphael Drive is an unsealed road, it remains in good condition. It is typically manageable with a 2WD vehicle, although a 4WD is recommended after rainfall.
Map
Below is a map of the walk starting from the car parking area.
A: Narrow Neck Fire Trail car park.
B: Castle Head Lookout.
Track Notes
The track to Castle Head Lookout is relatively short at 4.5 km return from the gate on the road.
While there are a few mildly steep sections and some areas with a rough surface to navigate, it’s farily easy overall.
Start of the Walk
After parking your car, head to the gate and begin your hike southbound along the management trail known as the Narrow Neck Plateau Trail.
In roughly 15 minutes, you’ll reach an intersection with the Castle Head Track, where you’ll turn left and enter the bush.
The trail involves some gentle climbing and descending before leading to an unofficial lookout that offers stunning views of the Jamison Valley.
On a clear day, you can spot the iconic Three Sisters and may even glimpse the Kings Tableland plateau further to the east.
Trig Station
Just before reaching the final destination, Castle Head Lookout, the track passes an old trig station that marks the highest point of the headland.
From the trig station, it’s only a short walk through a stretch of low-growing vegetation to arrive at the lookout.
Castle Head Lookout
The views from Castle Head Lookout are truly breathtaking, with various landmarks, mountains, and valleys visible on a clear day.
Directly ahead, you can spot the Ruined Castle, set against the backdrop of the imposing Mount Solitary.
To the left (east) lies the Jamison Valley, while the Cedar Creek Valley stretches out to the west. The Cedar Creek Valley sits between Castle Head and the southern end of the Narrow Neck Peninsula.
On the other side of Narrow Neck is the Megalong Valley, which you can’t actually see from the lookout point.
Once you’ve finished taking in the views, simply retrace your steps back to the management trail and parking area!
More Hiking
If you still have time and energy, you might consider continuing along the Narrow Neck management trail to the southernmost tip of the peninsula.
While not particularly difficult, this extension adds nearly 10 km to your walk, making it a lengthy journey.
For more details about the Narrow Neck walking trail, you can visit the NSW National Parks website.
