The Prince Henry Cliff Walk is an iconic 7 km hike between Scenic World in Katoomba and the Gordon Falls Lookout in Leura.
It follows the cliff edge overlooking the Jamison Valley with numerous beautiful lookouts along the way to enjoy some of the best views in the Blue Mountains.
Prince Henry Cliff Walk | |
---|---|
Distance: | 7 km (one way) |
Duration: | 3-4 hours (depending on stops) |
Grade: | Moderate / hard |
Dogs: | Not allowed |
Getting There
This adventurous hike can be commenced from either Scenic World in Katoomba or Gordon Falls Lookout in Leura. Both locations have ample car parking available.
To start the walk from Scenic World, drive into Katoomba Street from the Great Western Highway, then follow Cliff Drive to the car park at Scenic World.
Otherwise, to start the walk from the Gordon Falls lookout and picnic area, turn into Leura Mall from the Great Western Highway and follow Olympian Parade to the parking area.
You can also use public transport and catch a bus from Katoomba station to Scenic World or from Leura station to Olympian Parade.
Map
Below is a map of the entire walk. Click this link to see it on Google Maps.
Track Notes
Named in honour of the third son of King George V and Queen Mary, the Prince Henry Cliff Walk was completed in 1936 after several years of construction.
The track was established to help boost local tourism and to serve a public need after years of economic depression in the early 1930s.
Since its inception, the Prince Henry Cliff Walk has evolved into one of the most iconic hikes in the Blue Mountains.
We’re going to discuss the walk along the following four sections:
- Katoomba Falls and Katoomba Cascades
- Echo Point and the Three Sisters
- Leura Cascades and Bridal Veil View
- Olympian Rock, Elysian Rock and Gordon Falls
Overall the signposting for this track is good, with several signposts along the way to keep you on the right path.
1. Katoomba Falls and Katoomba Cascades
At Scenic World, look out for the green signpost, which marks the starting point of the Prince Henry Cliff Walk.
This is also the starting point of the Katoomba Falls Round Walk, a family-friendly trail with several lookouts that offer views of the waterfall.
Turn left to stay on the main walking track at the first major intersection. However, if you have time and energy and are keen to see the waterfall from close by, continue straight to do the round walk.
What’s great is that the Katoomba Falls Round Walk reconnects with the Prince Henry Cliff Walk when it comes out of the valley a few hundred metres further away, so you won’t miss anything.
After passing several lookouts, the first major milestone of the walk is the popular Katoomba Cascades, a scenic water spectacle on the Kedumba River.
The cascades are where the Kedumba River drops 150m into Jamison Valley via Katoomba Falls, a beautiful segmented waterfall.
From there, the track continues along the cliff edge towards Echo Point, passing several lookouts offering panoramic views of Jamison Valley, Katoomba Falls, Narrow Neck, and Mount Solitary.
2. Echo Point and the Three Sisters
The most popular lookout in the Blue Mountains is undoubtedly Echo Point. Visited by millions of tourists each year, Echo Point offers the best views of the Three Sisters.
From Echo Point, follow the Three Sisters Walk to continue on the main walking track.
Just before reaching the Three Sisters, the Prince Henry Cliff Walk makes a left turn (signposted) from where the track continues along the cliff edge, heading towards the Leura Cascades.
3. Leura Cascades and Bridal Veil View
Similar to Katoomba Cascades, the Leura Cascades are a series of small waterfalls on Leura Falls Creek, leading to a scenic lookout point with an amazing view of Jamison Valley.
The Prince Henry Cliff Walk connects with the Leura Cascades Walking Track and continues to Bridal Veil View and the Tarpeian Rock Lookout.
These lookouts offer views of the waterfall (Bridal Veil Falls) where Leura Falls Creek drops into the valley.
A short detour will get you to these two lookout points, both of which are properly signposted.
4. Olympian Rock, Elysian Rock and Gordon Falls
The last section of the Prince Henry Cliff Walk offers a few more lookout points that typically don’t get very crowded yet offer some of the best views in the Blue Mountains.
Leura’s best-kept secret is the Olympian Rock Lookout. While most tourists visit Echo Point to see the Three Sisters, the Olympian Rock lookout point offers views of the Three Sisters from a different angle.
If you look closely, you can even see glimpses of the Ruined Castle in the distance, situated between Mount Solitary and Castle Head.
Buttenshaw Bridge
An interesting highlight in this final section of the walking track is the historic Buttenshaw Bridge which links the two lookouts that form part of Elysian Rock.
The original bridge was built in 1936 and was replaced by a modern 14-metre long steel bridge in 2015 by the Blue Mountains City Council.
The views from this remarkable piece of engineering, across a deep rock chasm on the cliff edge, are pretty special.
Gordon Falls
The Gordon Falls Lookout and picnic area mark the end of the challenging Prince Henry Cliff Walk.
The views from the lookout to Mt Solitary, Kings Tableland, and the waterfall are superb, though the waterfall is hardly visible during periods of dry weather.
With a large parking area, tables, and toilet facilities, the picnic area at Gordon Falls is a great spot to rest and recharge after an adventurous half-day of hiking.
And that marks the end of the Prince Henry Cliff Walk!