Victoria Falls to Pierces Pass
Download & Print Map and Notes
2 Days
8.9 km One way
854 m
Experienced only
Free Beacon Hire
A Personal Locating Beacon (PLB) is a hand-held device that, when triggered, sends a message to the emergency services with your location. The emergency services staff can then look at your trip intention forms and decide how best to help you. In the Blue Mountains, you can borrow these for no charge, just complete this Trip intention form, and a borrowing form. The device can be picked up from:
NPWS Office – Govetts Leap Rd Blackheath – 9am to 4pm 7 days Ph: 02 4787 8877
Katoomba Police Station – 217 Katoomba St Katoomba – Anytime Ph: 02 4782 8199
Springwood Police Station – 4 Jerseywold Avenue Springwood – Anytime Ph: 02 4751 0299
More info.
(0km) Victoria Falls Rd car park → Victoria Falls Lookout
100 m
2 mins
0m
-15m
Moderate track
From the car park, this walk follows the sign to ‘Grose Valley Lookout’ down the hill. The walk then winds down some steps for approximately 50m to a lookout.
Victoria Falls Lookout
Victoria Falls Lookout, Blue Mountains NP, has an easterly aspect over the Grose Valley. Although the lookout is named after the wonderful Victoria Falls, there are no views of the falls from this lookout.
(0.1km) Victoria Falls Lookout → Int. Victoria Creek Cascades and Victoria Falls Tracks
1.3 km
39 mins
24m
-358m
Hard track
Continue straight: From the lookout, this walk heads past the ‘Victoria Falls’ sign, down the hill. It leads across the hill for a short while before turning right and following the steps downhill for approximately 100m. The track then tends left, steeply down through a rocky outcrop, then continues winding across the hill under rocky outcrops (on the right). The track winds left, down through the rock again, to steeply zigzag down the hill for some time, moving away from the rocky outcrop, into ferns and more grassy undergrowth. The track heads steeply down towards the sound of the cascades at the signposted intersection.
(1.38km) Int. Victoria Creek Cascades and Victoria Falls Tracks → Victoria Creek Cascades
90 m
3 mins
14m
0m
Hard track
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign to ‘Cascades’, heading towards the noise of the falling water. It follows the hillside through the rainforest vegetation to the creek bank. The track then continues over the slippery rocks to the bottom of the falls. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Veer right.
Victoria Cascades
Victoria Cascades, Blue Mountains NP, is a shorter run of water than the larger Victoria Falls. These cascades rush over a slope of rock to continue down to Victoria Falls. The cascades, made by Victoria Creek, are worth a look on your way down to Victoria Falls. However, on a a trip up from Victoria Falls, these smaller cascades may be somewhat overshadowed by the larger falls.
(1.38km) Int. Victoria Creek Cascades and Victoria Falls Tracks → Int. Top of Falls and Victoria Creek Tracks
20 m
0m
-2m
Moderate track
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign to ‘Burra Korain Flat’, heading down the stairs for a short distance to another signposted intersection.
(1.39km) Int. Top of Falls and Victoria Creek Tracks → Top of Falls
20 m
1 mins
1m
-1m
Hard track
Turn sharp right: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Top of Falls’ sign, down the hill to Victoria Creek. The track then turns left, descending steeply on some rocks. This walk continues downstream along a rockshelf to the top of Victoria Falls. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Continue straight.
(1.39km) Int. Top of Falls and Victoria Creek Tracks → Int. Bottom of Falls and Victoria Creek Tracks
100 m
2 mins
0m
-19m
Hard track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign to ‘Burra Korain Flats’ heading up the hill and then down to a railing, overlooking the Victoria Falls. The track then winds down the slippery hillside, descending to an intersection in front of a large, mossy rock.
(1.49km) Int. Bottom of Falls and Victoria Creek Tracks → Victoria Falls
50 m
2 mins
13m
0m
Hard track
Veer right: From the intersection, the track follows the hillside towards the sound of a waterfall, keeping the creek some distance below to your left. The track soon opens out onto the cliff of the waterfall. The track then swings around the right-hand side to go up the scree slope to venture behind the waterfall. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Veer right.
Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls, Blue Mountains NP, is a large waterfall dropping over a grey rock overhang. The cascade is produced by Victoria Creek dropping over the approximately-15m cliffs. A scree slope leads up behind the falls, and below the falls the rocks are very slippery. These falls are well worth a visit, with the great views from the top of the falls, and the accessibility of the bottom of the falls, making a great trip.
(1.49km) Int. Bottom of Falls and Victoria Creek Tracks → Burra Korain Flat Camping Area
1.3 km
29 mins
22m
-126m
Hard track
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the track downhill towards the creek, keeping the creek to you right, so soon come to a clearing beside the creek. Here the walk crosses the creek to find a sign pointing to ‘Burra Korain Flat’ (visible before crossing the creek). (This creek may be impassable after rain). The walk turns left to follow the ‘Burra Korain Flat’ sign downhill, keeping the creek to your left for over 1km. The track winds and undulating through ferns and rocky outcrops, to open out into the Burra Korain Flat Camping Area, which is signposted.
Burra Korain Flat Camping Area
Burra Korain Flat Camping Area, Blue Mountains NP, is a small clearing between the Victoria Creek and Grose River. The campsite is well signposted and has nice sitting logs and plenty of space for a few tents. Water can be accessed from either river or creek but should be treated before use.
End of day 1
This is the planned overnight stay for the end of day 1, happy camping.
(2.84km) Burra Korain Flat Camping Area → Int. Pierces Pass and Grose River Tracks
3.9 km
1 hr 50 mins
312m
-415m
Experienced only
Continue straight: From the campsite, this walk heads down the hill to the creek and then across it. The track continues up through a grassy area to a clearing with a fireplace and BBQ and a sign to ‘Acacia Flat’.
Continue straight: From the camping area, this walk follows the ‘Acacia Flats’ sign down to the creek. The track crosses the creek and continues along the right-hand bank, heading downstream. The track then undulates and winds on the right side of the creek for approximately 3km in a south-easterly direction. The track crosses a number of creeks, and continues undulating along the south side of the Grose River to an intersection, with a sign pointing back to Burra Korain.
Continue straight: From the camping area, this walk follows the ‘Acacia Flats’ sign down to the creek. The track crosses the creek and continues along the right-hand bank, heading downstream. The track then undulates and winds on the right side of the creek for approximately 3km in a south-easterly direction. The track crosses a number of creeks, and continues undulating along the south side of the Grose River to an intersection, with a sign pointing back to Burra Korain.
(6.73km) Int. Pierces Pass and Grose River Tracks → Pierces Pass car park
2.1 km
1 hr 23 mins
496m
-22m
Hard track
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk heads down into the creek bed, in the unsignposted direction (ie neither towards ‘Burra Korain’ nor ‘Acacia Flats’). The track heads upstream for approximately 20m, where it crosses to the other side. The track crosses to the right of a small pool, which is above a small rocky section of the creek. The track then heads up from the creek to begin steeply climbing up the stairs, then follows the top of the spur for some time. The track tends left across the hill as the spur line widens, then the walk meanders up along the hillside for approximately 400m. As the vegetation becomes scattered with boulders, the track turns in to the cliffs of Pierces Pass. The vegetation becomes thicker and darker under the rainforest vegetation as the track leads between the cliff lines. The walk leads up many stairs to an intersection approximately 10m before the roots of a large upturned tree, with the creek below to the left.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill, past the roots of the upturned tree. The track continues to wind up the hill and below a rocky outcrop. The track tends left out of the gully to come up to the car park.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill, past the roots of the upturned tree. The track continues to wind up the hill and below a rocky outcrop. The track tends left out of the gully to come up to the car park.
Pierces Pass
Pierces Pass, Blue Mountains NP, is a passage through the cliffs from the Bells Line of Road. The pass is popular with rock climbers, who use it as an access track to the cliffs.
Maps for the Victoria Falls to Pierces Pass walk
You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.
| Katoomba | 1:25 000 Map Series | 89301S KATOOMBA | NSW-89301S |
| Mount Wilson | 1:25 000 Map Series | 89301N MOUNT WILSON | NSW-89301N |
| Katoomba | 1:100 000 Map Series | 8930 KATOOMBA | 8930 |
Cross sectional view of the Victoria Falls to Pierces Pass bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Victoria Falls to Pierces Pass
Daily actual walking time estimates
| Day | Walking Time | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 hr 18 mins | 3 km |
| 2 | 3 hrs 13 mins | 6 km |
Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001
Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.
| Length | 8.9 km | ||
| Time | 2 Days | ||
| . | |||
| Grade 5/6 Experienced only |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Very steep (4/6) |
| Quality of track | Rough unclear track (5/6) | ||
| Signs | Minimal directional signs (4/6) | ||
| Experience Required | Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6) | ||
| Weather | Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6) | ||
| Infrastructure | Limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6) |
Some more details of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk
Gradient
Around 7km of this walk is very steep, whilst the remaining 1.8km has short steep hills.
Quality of track
4.4km of this walk follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely and another 3.9km follows a rough unclear track. The remaining (590m) follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.
Signs
5km of this walk has minimal directional signs and another 3.5km has directional signs at most intersection. The remaining (100m) is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
Around 8km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 590m requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 9km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
8km of this walk has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) and another 560m is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats). The remaining (40m) has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).
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Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Victoria Falls to Pierces Pass walk starts at the Victoria Falls Rd car park (gps: -33.573667, 150.29213)Your main transport option to Victoria Falls Rd car park is by;
Car. There is free parking available.(get details)
The Victoria Falls to Pierces Pass ends at the Pierces Pass car park (gps: -33.570115, 150.33863)
Your main transport option to Pierces Pass car park is by;
Car. There is free parking available.(get details)
Short URL = http://wild.tl/vftpp
Gallery images
There are other downloads I am still working on.
You will probably need to login to access these — still all free.
* KML (google earth file)
* GPX (GPS file)
Special Maps/ brochures
* A3 topo maps
* PDF with Lands Topo map base
* PDF with arial image (and map overlay)
I wanted to get the main site live first, this extra stuff will come in time.
Happy walking
Matt 🙂
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