Prince Henry Cliff Walk in the Blue Mountains

One of the best walks to take in the views of the Blue Mountains, the Prince Henry Cliff Walk is accessible at several points and can be undertaken in stages. This is great because at 7kms one-way, it may be seen as a little too long. During our visit several sections were closed because of severe storms over previous months. Fortunately, most of the lookouts were accessible, so we could still see the amazing views of the Blue Mountains.

Running from Katoomba to Leura, the walk passes Katoomba Falls, Echo Point and the Three Sisters as well as the Leura Cascades. Additionally, there are over 20 lookouts along the way, each providing outstanding views of the Jamison Valley.

Parking

Parking is available at Katoomba Cascades, Echo Point lookout, or Gordon Falls near Leura. However, during busy times it is difficult to find a park with most streets also being paid parking. We chose to start early in the morning for the first part of the walk, so parking at Katoomba Cascades was available.

We accessed the second section from Cliff Drive to Leura Cascades near Kiah Lookout, which was only a short walk from our accommodation.

During our visit, the section from Echo Point to Katoomba Falls was closed for repairs.

Katoomba Cascades

This section also forms part of the Night Walk, with the pathway lit and floodlights illuminating sites along the way. We chose to walk it during the day, because we wanted to see the larger views over the valley.

Located only a short walk from the carpark, the Cascades were flowing well after recent rain. The well-maintained steps down to the base of the cascade make this an easy walk. At the bottom, you are able to walk close to the falls, there are also several places to sit in the shade and enjoy the view.

The cascades are very easy to get to because of the well maintained track as long as you can walk up and down the initial steps. The Blue Mountains had lots of rain, prior to us visiting, which made the walk and waterfalls a great experience.

Katoomba Falls

From the cascades, the path leads to a series of lookouts, for spectacular views over the valley. One of the best is the view of Katoomba Falls. Created from the flow of the Kedumba River, it flows over the escarpment, this is the same river that creates the Cascades. Several of the lookouts give different perspectives of the falls.

At one point, the Scenic World Skyway Cale Car made its trip across the valley, which was interesting to see. This is another great way to get a view of the falls. The cable car runs from Scenic World across the gorge, where passengers can disembark and walk to Echo Point (currently closed in 2022).

The path from the cascades is relatively flat, making the walk to Katoomba Falls lookout not too difficult. There are plenty of places to rest and admire the views along the way, so there is no need to be too energetic. The view of the falls is amazing, which makes the short walk worth the effort.

Leura Cascades on the Prince Henry Cliff Walk

We chose to walk to the Leura Cascades from our accommodation because it was so close. Access to the Prince Henry Walking Track from Kiah Lookout was only a five-minute walk away. However parking is limited, so if you wish to drive it might be better to start at the Leura Cascades Picnic Area.

The upper section of the track was easy to walk, with a well-maintained track and a gentle downward grade, however as the track became steeper, the track deteriorated, becoming narrower and damaged by water run-off. There are also a large number of steps, as you descend towards the falls, which all have to be climbed again when returning. We took our time and enjoyed the many great views from the lookouts along the way.

Keep a lookout for native wildlife as you walk. We saw a lyre bird but were not quick enough to take a photo.

This section of the Prince Henry Cliff Walk was great fun, taking us around 40 minutes return despite all the steps. This included time for photos, admiring the views and a side track to Copelands Lookout.

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To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.