Grand Cliff Top Walk – Wentworth Falls Section
WENTWORTH FALLS SECTION
GRAND CLIFF TOP TRACK
Grade 3
Time: 3-3.5 hours (excluding side trips)
Distance: 11 km
Ascent: TBA m -
Map: 8930-1S Katoomba
Start: Wilson Park, Falls Road, Wentworth Falls
SOME BACKGROUND
The Grand Cliff Top Walk Wentwrth Falls section links several heritage tracks in Wentworth Falls.The star attractions are Wentworth Falls and uninterrupted views of the Jamison Valley!
Time permitting you can explore other waterfalls such as Den Fenella, Empress and Sylvia Falls which are not on the Grand Cliff Top Walk.
DARWIN'S WALK
The Grand Cliff Top Walk starts with the Darwin’s Walk which follows the Jamison Creek as it makes its way to the cliff edge.
The start of the track is in Wilson Park near the tennis courts.
The track follows the Jamison Creek crossing it several times. This is not the most spectacular walk in the mountains, but it beats walking in the streets!
The track is closed between Fletcher Street and Weeping Rock. It is supposed to re-open in 2025. This is your first detour!
DETOUR - FLETCHER STREET TO PICNIC AREA
At the barrier, turn into Fletcher Street. You will walk about 1.2 km in suburbia.
Turn left into Falls Road and walk to the Wentworth Falls Picnic area. Veer left on Falls Road and then right onto Sir Henry Burrell Drive until you reach the Wentworth Falls Lookout where the Wentworth Falls Track starts.
Wentworth Falls Lookout
A misnomer as there are no views of the Falls except for the ledge.
Wentworth Falls TRACK
Take the Wentworth Falls Track on the right past Wentworth Falls Lookout. Follow the track to Fletchers Lookout.
SIDE TRIP: WEEPING ROCK
Weeping Rock is 100 m from Wentworth Falls track. Turn right onto Weeping Rock Circuit. The loop will deliver you back on the Wentworth Falls Track and back to to the Picnic Area.
FLETCHER LOOKOUT AND UNDERCLIFF/OVERCLIFF TRACK
Turn left at the intersection with Wentworth Falls Track to go back to Fletchers Lookout and the Undercliff Track.
THE UNDERCLIFF TRACK
Peter Mulheran noticed that there was a ledge below Princes Rock running from Fletchers Lookout to the Den Fenella gully. Soon a track likened to a “Gallery” was built by Mulheran with side tracks to two lookouts offering the best views of the Falls and of the Valley. This was in the late 1880’s.
The Undercliff track follows a ledge in the cliff (like National Pass): overhangs, views, creeks await you. The ledge is mostly wide. Narrower sections are fenced or were walled by Mulheran.
FLETCHERS LOOKOUT
Fletchers Lookout overlooks the top of the Falls and offers views of Prince Regent’s Glen, the higher reaches of the Jamison Valley.
The lookout is named after David Fletcher (1825-1890) who was one of the trustees of the Reserve.
Return to the intersection of the Undercliff and Wentworth Falls tracks.
MULHERAN FOUNTAIN
One of the three fountains made by Peter Mulheran is found here.
EAGLES NEST LOOKOUT
According to the early tourists of the area more than a century ago, Eagle’s Nest Lookout offers the “Best View of the Falls”.
VALLEY VIEW LOOKOUT
Further along is the “Best View of the Valley” according to those early tourists!
PRINCES ROCK TRACK INTERSECTION
Ignore the intersection with Princes Rock Track on the right. This is where you access the Undercliff Track from the Princes Rock Track.
The Undercliff Track turns north and enters the Den Fenella Gully where it finishes at the bridge with a four-way intersection: the Undercliff Track, the Overcliff Track and the Den Fenella Track.
If you have enough, follow the Den Fenella Track uphill back to the Picnic area.
SIDE TRIP: DEN FENELLA GULLY
The Den Fenella Track follows Den Fenella Creek to the edge of the cliff. This a small delightful canyon.
LADY FENELLA
Lady Fenella was a Scottish noblewoman who lived in the late 10th Century. Her son was killed by King Kenneth II. She sought revenge by constructing an elaborate trap in a cottage near Fettercairn and lured the King into the cottage. The statue of a boy stood in the main room. When at Lady Fenella’s urging, the King touched the head of the statue, concealed crossbows sent arrows into the King.
Lady Fenella fled to the coast but was cornered by the king’s men at the top of a waterfall overlooking a valley. To avoid capture, she threw herself from the waterfall to her death. The valley is called Den Fenella.
Captain James Murray who lived in this part of Scotland as a young lad, gave its name to the gully.
DEN FENELLA GULLY
The creek tumbles in small waterfalls and cascades on the slippery sandstone to the edge of the cliff.
DEN FENELLA LOOKOUT
An amazing lookout on a ledge of the cliff with a tenacious tree growing there!
Retrace your steps back up to the bridge and take the Overcliff Track.
THE OVERCLIFF TRACK
The Overcliff Track follows the cliff top towards the Valley of the Waters. The track climbs up along large rocks amid the forest. Pass the closed Lady Sees Lookout until you arrive to Breakfast Point Lookout.
BREAKFAST POINT LOOKOUT
The lookout showcases another example of the stone walls or parapets built by Peter Mulheran. The lookout was suggested as a good place to have breakfast. It offers extensive views of the Jamison and Kedumba Valleys between the Kedumba Walls and Mount Solitary.
LYREBIRD LOOKOUT
This lookout on top of the cliff is named after Lyre Birds Dell Glen. It offers views on the Valley of the Waters gap and Mount Solitary as well as the sounds of the waterfalls and cascades.
Continue along the track through swamps while admiring the views.
OVERCLIFF TRACK SPLIT
The track splits into two branches. The lower left branch ends near the Queen Victoria Lookout on the Valley of Waters track; the upper right branch terminates 160 m down from the Conservation Hut (a good choice if you need a coffee!).
The left track has not been renovated so you get a taste of what the overcliff-undercliff tracks looked like!
The right branch has been renovated!
INTERSECTION WITH THE VALLEY OF WATERS TRACK
Once on the Valley of Waters track, walk uphill – is there any other way? – towards the Conservation Hut. The shortcut track is 30 m below the Conservation Hut.
VALLEY OF THE WATERS TRACK
Continue downhill on the Valley of the Waters track. Soon you arrive at the Queen Victoria Lookout
QUEEN VICTORIA LOOKOUT
Named in honour of Queen Victoria, the lookout offers two viewing points over the Valley of the Waters and Prince Regents Glen, the upper part of the Jamison Valley.
Kedumba Walls
Lincoln's Rock
Kings Tableland
Lions Head
Jamison Valley
Korrowal Ridge
Broken Rock Range
Mount Solitary
Cathedral Point
JAMISON VALLEY FROM QUEEN VICTORIA LOOKOUT
EMPRESS LOOKOUT
The Empress in question is Queen Victoria. Technically this is another Queen Victoria lookout!
Empress Falls are better heard than seen from this lookout. The vegetation was recently cleared by National Parks and now you can see the top of Empress Falls. You get better views however from the track below.
The lookout marks the start of the steep descent into the Valley of the Waters or the Gorge as it used to be known. It is also a convenient spot for those who are climbing back up to catch their breath…
THE GORGE
SIDE TRIP: EMPRESS FALLS - SYLVIA FALLS
Continue down the Valley of the Waters track: more steps, stairs and ladders await you! Remember you will need to climb back up to the intersection with the Nature Track.
Cross Isobel Creek on the stepping stones (the first creek crossing) and down the wooden stairs where the Captain’s Ladders used to be. Empress Falls appears between the trees.
EMPRESS FALLS
At 30 m, Empress Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls of the Valley of the Waters creek. It is popular with photographers, swimmers and abseilers.
The falls are named in honour of Queen Victoria who was proclaimed Empress of India in 1876. 1897 marked her Diamond Jubilee and the Wentworth Falls Reserve Trustees named the falls, Empress Falls.
Cross at the intersection of Isobel and Valley of the Waters creeks using the stepping stones (the second crossing) and continue down to Sylvia Falls.
SYLVIA FALLS
“One of the prettiest is that, for which the name of Sylvia Falls is suggested, and the name is indeed very appropriate ; the waters are broken into a thousand ripples by the rugged rocks, and with the sun shining on it has a very silvery appearance, rendered still more beautiful by the numberless ferns growing in the crevices of the rocks.”
The Mountaineer – Fri 3 May 1895.
The silvery appearance of the water tumbling over the rocks gives its name to this lovely waterfall, one of the most photogenic waterfalls of the walk!
Continue down to Edith Falls. where the track crosses the Valley of the Waters creek (third crossing).
EDITH FALLS
Edith Falls marks the end of the maintained part of the Valley of the Waters track. The old stepping stones have been replaced by large sandstone steps.
NATURE TRACK
Step onto the Nature Track on a small wooden bridge to the picnic table.
ISOBEL FALLS
Isobel Falls do not have a high flow but it is a nice cool spot to rest on a hot day or before the last steep climb out.
The falls are named after Isobel Kendall Bowden (1908-1986), a local artist, historian and conservationist.
LILLIAN'S BRIDGE TRACK
Leave the Nature Track and take the left track:the Lillian’s Bridge Track!
LILLIAN'S BRIDGE
Lillian’s Bridge crosses above the Valley of the Waters. If you are lucky you may see some canyoners making their way to Empress Falls.
The track continues uphill and then flattens out. The track follows the edge of the Fairmont Resort and Golf Course. You are now officially in Leura!
