Echo Point to Leura Forest Circuit

Echo Point Information Centre

This modern building at Echo Point is a great source of information. It is open daily from 9am-5pm (except Christmas Day). There is a large range of books, maps and information about the area (and ice creams). There are toilets opposite the entrance

[Toilet Accessible]

, and mobility parking opposite

[Parking Accessible]

. For more information, phone 1300 653 408. More info.

(0km) Echo Point Archway Intersection → Int of Prince Henry Cliff Walk and Lady Carrington Lookout Tracks

610 m
14 mins
25m
-43m

Moderate track

From the intersection, this walk heads along the ‘Three Sisters walkway’[1] footpath, initially keeping the metal fence to the right. The smooth concrete path leads up and over a rise then leads gently downhill for about 80m to a signposted three-way intersection[2].
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Three Sisters 400m’ arrow[3] downhill along the concrete path, keeping the valley to the right. After about 15m the walk leads past a stone seat

[Seat]

(on the left), with a blue tongue lizard sculpture[4]. The walk continues gently downhill for another 60m to pass another sandstone seat (on the left)

[Seat]

. From here the path winds gently downhill for another 70m to find yet another sandstone seat (on the left)

[Seat]

. The path continues downhill for another 45m to find a clear intersection marked with a large ‘Three Sisters Walk’ sign[5]. On the right is a small flat loose gravel area with two seats

[Seat]

.
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the track winding up the hill and through the bush, away from the cliffs and the valley, for about 50m before coming to the intersection of the Lady Game track.
Turn left : From the intersection, the walk follows the ‘Leura Cascades’ sign along the bush track, winding around through the bush and following the cliffs (further down the hill to the right) around the valley until coming to the intersection with the Lady Carrington Lookout track.

(0.61km) Int of Prince Henry Cliff and Lady Carrington Lookout Tracks → Lady Carrington Lookout

20 m
1 mins
0m
-12m

Easy track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads out to the cliffs, going down a small flight of stairs and following the metal railing. Shortly after, the walk breaks out onto a fenced-off rockshelf, signposted as Lady Carrington Lookout. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Veer right.

Lady Carrington Lookout

Lady (Cecelia) Carrington was wife of Lord (Charles Robert Wynne) Carrington. The couple explored parts of the Blue mountains in the late 1800’s and had a number of places named in their honour. Lady Carrington Lookout is long, narrow and fenced (twice). The lookout is perched up on a sandstone block and provides views over Jamison Valley.

(0.61km) Int of Prince Henry Cliff and Lady Carrington Lookout Tracks → Tallawarra Lookout

170 m
4 mins
6m
-17m

Easy track

Veer left: From the intersection, the walk follows the ‘Leura Cascades’ sign along the bush track which winds through the forest, gradually climbing up a long gentle hill. The track then flattens out and follows a metal fence-line to the ‘Tallawarra Lookout’ shortly after (marked on some maps as ‘Tallawalla Lookout’).

Tallawarra Lookout

Tallawarra Lookout[6] is a small, fenced lookout near Silver Mist Picnic Area, along Prince Henry Cliff walk. The lookout provides an excellent view of Sublime Point and Kings Tableland. Leura Falls and Gordon Creek both flow through the valley below. There are a few bench seats just near the lookout. (Note: the lookout is marked as ‘Tallawalla Lookout’ on some maps.)

(0.78km) Tallawarra Lookout → Millamurra Lookout

60 m
2 mins
6m
-3m

Moderate track

Veer left: From the lookout, this walk follows the ‘Leura Cascades’ sign along the bush track winding around the edge of the valley for a short while before coming to the fenced-off rock platform signposted as ‘Millamurra Lookout’.

Millamurra Lookout

Millamurra Lookout is on a fenced, elevated rock platform on the side of the Prince Henry Cliff Walk. There are views of the Jamison Valley, including the Leura Falls Creek and Sublime Point. There is also a great view along the Kings Tableland escarpment to the right.

(0.84km) Millamurra Lookout → Int of Prince Henry Cliff and Honeymoon Lookout Tracks

390 m
10 mins
26m
-26m

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track, keeping the valley down to the right, as it continues along for a short while before coming to the Honeymoon Lookout, which is up the hill on the left-hand side of the track. The track passes the lookout and comes to the intersection of the bush track heading up to the lookout straight after.

(1.22km) Int of Prince Henry Cliff and Honeymoon Lookout Tracks → Honeymoon Lookout

30 m
1 mins
8m
0m

Easy track

Turn left : From the intersection, this walk heads up the short hill to the concrete platform just off Cliff Drive, signposted as ‘Honeymoon Lookout’. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn left.

Honeymoon Lookout

Honeymoon Lookout is a fenced lookout on Cliff Drive, just north of Katoomba High School. There is a short track that links this lookout to Prince Henry Cliff Walk. There is a bus stop at the lookout. The area is shaded by a few trees and provides views out to Sublime Point and Kings Tableland.

(1.22km) Int of Prince Henry Cliff Walk and Honeymoon Lookout Tracks → Honeymoon Point

100 m
2 mins
1m
-16m

Easy track

Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the bush track, keeping the valley and the cliffs down the hill to the right as it winds through the forest, until it comes to the signposted ‘Honeymoon Point’, shortly after the metal fence starts of the right.

(1.33km) Honeymoon Point → Banksia Lookout

30 m
2 mins
0m
-36m

Easy track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads out to the cliffs along the track, until coming to an intersection signposted as ‘Banksia Lookout’. The view is largely blocked by trees. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn sharp right.

Banksia Lookout

Banksia Lookout is a fenced lookout along the Prince Henry Cliff Walk, down a few steps from Honeymoon Point. The lookout provides views of Sublime Point and Kings Tableland. The clearing for the old sewage treatment plant, down in the valley on the Sublime Point Trail, is still visible from this lookout.

(1.33km) Honeymoon Point → Banksia Streamlet

70 m
2 mins
3m
-4m

Easy track

Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track heading away from the lookout, keeping the valley down the hill to the right as it winds down a set of wooden steps to the signposted Banksia Streamlet.

(1.39km) Banksia Streamlet → Lomandra Lookout

190 m
1 mins
19m
-6m

Moderate track

Continue straight: Keeping the valley down the hill to the right, the walk crosses the streamlet at the wooden bridge. The track continues up the wooden steps on the other side to the top of the hill, where the track flattens out and continues past a picnic chair and along the side of the hill to the Lomandra Lookout.

Lomandra Lookout

Lomandra Lookout is a fenced lookout along Prince Henry Cliff Walk, near Katoomba. Unlike other lookouts in the area, there are no sweeping distant views, but atop this cliff there is a great close-up view of the canopy of the surrounding bush. There is a bench seat on the rock platform, making a nice place for a rest.

(1.59km) Lomandra Lookout → Int of Prince Henry Cliff Walk and Burrabarroo Lookout Tracks

330 m
9 mins
25m
-23m

Easy track

Continue straight: From the Lomandra Lookout, this walk follows the bush track, keeping the valley down to the right, as it winds through thick forest along the side of the hill, winding all the way around and up a set of wooden steps to the signposted intersection of the ‘Burrabarroo Lookout’ track.

(1.92km) Int of Prince Henry Cliff Walk and Burrabarroo Lookout Tracks → Burrabarroo Lookout

50 m
1 mins
0m
-8m

Moderate track

Turn sharp right: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Burrabarroo’ sign along the track, passing a picnic seat and climbing up a short set of rock steps to the top of a rock platform. The walk continues down the steps on the other side, around the base of a rock platform and along the bush track for a short while longer, to the Burrabarroo lookout. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Continue straight.

Burrabarroo Lookout

This small, fenced lookout is just off the Prince Henry Cliff Walk, near Carrington Park. The view looks over the valley and out to Sublime Point and Kings Tablelands in the distance. The lookout is perched on the top of a rocky buttress at the end of a small point, giving great views.

(1.92km) Int of Prince Henry Cliff Walk and Burrabarroo Lookout Tracks → Int of Prince Henry Cliff Walk and Leura Forest Track

350 m
9 mins
29m
-18m

Moderate track

Veer left: From the intersection, the walk follows the ‘Leura Cascades’ sign, climbing up the wooden steps and continuing along the bush track that winds through the forest, until coming to the intersection with the Carrington Park track.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Leura Cascades 1km’ sign down the wooden steps and along the bush track, winding through the forest until coming to the signposted intersection of the ‘Leura Forest’ Track.

(2.27km) Int of Prince Henry Cliff Walk and Leura Forest Track → Int of Federal Pass and Jamieson Lookout Tracks

40 m
1 mins
3m
-3m

Moderate track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Leura Forest’ sign along the bush track, winding down the hill for a short while before dropping down a set of wooden steps, to the signposted intersection with the ‘Jamieson Lookout’ track.

(2.31km) Int of Federal Pass and Jamieson Lookout Tracks → Jamieson Lookout

20 m
1 mins
0m
-6m

Easy track

Turn sharp left: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Jamieson Lookout’ sign along the short bush track to the rock shelf at the Jamieson Lookout. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Veer left.

Jamieson Lookout

Jamieson Lookout is a fenced lookout at the east end of the Federal Pass track, and just off Prince Henry Cliff Walk. The lookout has a bench seat and provides great views up the Jamison Valley, along Kings Tableland escarpment and past Mount Solitary. The lookout is perched up on a large rock buttress, giving views unobscured by trees.

(2.31km) Int of Federal Pass and Jamieson Lookout Tracks → Fern Bower

90 m
3 mins
0m
-36m

Hard track

Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the dirt path, heading down the long set of wooden and rocky steps. The walk winds down past a picnic chair under a cliff overhang, and continues down the steps into the valley and through the forest to the Fern Bower information sign.

Fern Bower

Fern Bower is an especially pleasant part of the Blue Mountains National Park, protected from heat and providing a great environment for fern trees, bracken ferns and moss to thrive. Fern Bower is a signposted area along the Federal Pass walking track, just below Jamieson Lookout and next to Linda Creek. This is a nice place to stop, rest and enjoy the bird noises.

(2.41km) Fern Bower → Int of Federal Pass and the Amphitheatre track

320 m
13 mins
10m
-150m

Hard track

Continue straight: From the information sign, the walk follows the track down the steps, passing a ‘Rich History’ information sign before coming down to the signposted intersection with the Amphitheatre track, at the top of a metal staircase.

(2.73km) Int of Federal Pass and the Amphitheatre track → Lila falls crossing

20 m
1 mins
0m
-18m

Moderate track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Federal Pass Leura Forest’ sign down the long metal staircase, to cross the bridge over Linda Creek in front of Lila Falls.

Lila Falls

Lila Falls is a thin waterfall on Linda Creek. The Federal Pass crosses the creek (on a bridge) in front of these falls, just below the intersection with the amphitheatre. The waterfall is not the most spectacular one in this valley, but it is a nice cool spot to catch your breath.

(2.75km) Lila Falls crossing → Marguerite Cascades

180 m
11 mins
37m
-90m

Hard track

Continue straight: From the Lila Falls, this walk follows the track heading down the hill, winding down a wooden walkway keeping the creek to the left. The track hugs the rock wall and passes under a shallow overhang. The walk continues down a staircase, then turns back down into the gully where it come to the taller and slender Linda Falls. After passing Linda Falls the walk follows the wooden steps down through the gulley, crossing the creek again before heading down to the Marguerite Cascades.

Marguerite Cascades

Marguerite Cascades are a series of small cascades finishing with a taller waterfall of a few metres height, dropping into a shallow sandy pool. The cascades are on Linda Creek and a small bridge crosses the creek at the base of the falls as part of the Federal Pass walking track. The cascades are a nice place to sit and listen to the water running and the local birds in this cool shady area.

(2.92km) Marguerite Cascades → Leura Forest

320 m
11 mins
50m
-14m

Hard track

Continue straight: From the ‘Marguerite Cascades’[7], this walk follows the timber steps downhill, winding steeply for a short while until coming to an intersection with a faint track, marked with a timber ‘Federal Pass’ sign[8], just beside a foot bridge[9].
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk crosses Linda Creek just below a pleasant cascade[10] using the foot bridge with a handrail[11]. This walk then continues along the bush track that winds along the valley floor, to the signposted ‘Leura Forest’. From here, the walk continues along the wide bush track, passing a few picnic tables, and winding through the forest to an open area with a large gazebo and an information sign at the intersection of the Federal Pass and the Dardenelles tracks.

Leura Forest

Leura Forest is a great picnic area in the Jamison Valley at the junction of the Federal Pass and Dardenelles Tracks. This place was home to a popular tea house (also known as ‘Lady Carrington Dining Hall’) from the late 1800’s[12]. Today walkers can still enjoy the historic rotunda and the foundations of the original tea house[13]. The picnic area provides a great rest spot under the shade of the lilli pilli and coachwood forest.

(3.24km) Leura Forest (Int of Federal Pass and Dardenelles Tracks) → Bottom of Giant Staircase

870 m
27 mins
108m
-89m

Hard track

Turn right: From the pergola at Leura Forest, this walk follows the ‘Dardenelles Track’ sign (the sign is up the hill behind the pergola) which heads up the stairs towards the cliff face, before turning left behind Leura Forest. The walk then leaves the shade of the forest, along a track with many fallen logs, until coming to the base of the Giant Staircase (signposted).

(4.12km) Bottom of Giant Staircase → The Three Sisters Bridge intersection

200 m
19 mins
151m
-20m

Hard track

Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the sign up the ‘Giant Staircase’. This climbs steeply (with handrails) until coming to an intersection with a bridge that goes across to the First of the three Sisters. Along the way, there are chairs in which to rest from the climb and enjoy the magnificent views of the valley.

(4.32km) The Three Sisters Bridge Intersection → The Three Sisters

10 m
0m
0m

Very easy

Veer left: From the intersection, the walk crosses the bridge over to the Three Sisters. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn left .

The Three Sisters

This well-known rock formation can be found just south of Katoomba, and can be viewed from many of the cliffside lookouts, from Narrow Neck all the way around to Sublime Point. Historically, this formation appears in Aboriginal ‘Dream Time’ stories, where three sisters were transformed into stone. This iconic rock formation is popular amongst tourists and bushwalkers alike. More info.

(4.32km) The Three Sisters Bridge Intersection → Top of the Giant Staircase

40 m
4 mins
31m
0m

Hard track

Veer right: From the bridge, the walk heads up the staircase steeply to the top. The stairs have handrails and climb up the side of the cliffs to the intersection with the Lady Game Lookout track.

(4.36km) Top of the Giant Staircase → Lady Game Lookout

10 m
1 mins
0m
-12m

Very easy

Turn left : From the intersection, the walk follows the footpath down the hill towards the Three Sisters for about 10m before coming to the Lady Game Lookout. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Continue straight.

Lady Game Lookout

Lady Game Lookout is a narrow, fenced lookout above the Three Sisters. The track to this lookout starts just near the archway which marks the start of the Giant Staircase. Lady Game Lookout provides a bird’s-eye view over the Three Sisters and is a popular stop whilst exploring the area.

(4.36km) Top of the Giant Staircase → Int of Lady Game Lookout Track and the Three Sisters Footpath

20 m
1 mins
10m
0m

Easy track

Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the footpath up and away from the lookout, passing under a rock archway and continuing up the gentle hill to the intersection with the Cliff Drive access track.

(4.38km) Int of Prince Henry Cliff Track and the Three Sisters Footpath → Oreades Lookout

20 m
1 mins
11m
0m

Easy track

Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads up the stone/concrete steps on the main path to almost immediatly find an unnamed, fenced lookout platform[15] (on the left).

(4.4km) Oreades Lookout → Int of Prince Henry Cliff Track and the Three Sisters Footpath

110 m
3 mins
18m
-2m

Easy track

Continue straight: From Oreades Lookout, this walk heads uphill along the path for about 30m to pass a stone seat

[Seat]

(on the right), in a small sandstone overhang[16]. Check the miniature cicada sculptures[17] above the overhang. From here the walk leads moderately steeply

[Trip Hazard]

uphill along the smooth concrete path[18] for about 90m[19], to come to a clear intersection marked with a large ‘Three Sisters Walk’ sign[20]. On the left is a small flat loose gravel area with two seats

[Seat]

(4.51km) Int of Prince Henry Cliff Track and the Three Sisters Pathway → Int of the Three Sisters Pathway and Spooners Lookout path

200 m
5 mins
15m
-8m

Easy track

Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the large ‘Echo Point’ sign[21] uphill along the smooth concrete path. The path leads uphill for about 45m to find a sandstone seat (on the right)

[Seat]

. From here the path continues winding gently uphill for another 70m to pass another sandstone seat (on the right)

[Seat]

. From this seat the path continues gently uphill for another 60m past yet another similar stone seat

[Seat]

(on the right), this seat has a blue tongue lizard sculpture[22]. After another 15m this walk comes to a clear signposted Y-intersection[23].

(4.7km) Int of Three Sisters Walkway and Spooners Lookout path → Echo Point Archway Intersection

100 m
2 mins
4m
0m

Very easy

Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Katoomba & Echo point’ arrow [24] uphill along the concrete path, initially keeping the metal fence to the left. The path leads uphill for about 80m then over a rise to head downhill for short distance to an intersection with a track[25] (on the left) just before the stone archway[26] near Echo Point.

Maps for the Echo Point to Leura Forest Circuit 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.

Six Foot Track	1:50 000 Map Series	Six Foot Track	NSW-six-foot-track
Katoomba	1:25 000 Map Series	89301S KATOOMBA	NSW-89301S
Katoomba	1:100 000 Map Series	8930 KATOOMBA	8930

Cross sectional view of the Echo Point to Leura Forest Circuit bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Echo Point to Leura Forest Circuit

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	4.8 km
		Time	3 hrs
		.
Grade 4/6 Hard track	AS 2156.1	Gradient	Very steep (4/6)
		Quality of track	Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
		Signs	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
		Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
		Weather	Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)
		Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)

Some more details of this walks Grading

Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk

Gradient

2.9km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 940m has short steep hills. Whilst another 510m is flat with no steps and the remaining 440m is very steep.

Quality of track

2.2km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail and another 1.3km follows a smooth and hardened path. Whilst another 1.3km follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely and the remaining 20m follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.

Signs

Around 3.7km of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 1.1km has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required

Around 4.4km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 450m requires some bushwalking experience.

weather

Around 4.6km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 200m is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.

Infrastructure

Around 4.4km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 410m has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Echo Point to Leura Forest Circuit walk starts and ends at the Echo Point Archway Intersection (gps: -33.731963, 150.3127)
Your transport options to Echo Point Archway Intersection are by;

Bus. (get details)

Car. Parking fees apply in the area.
(get details)

Fire Danger

Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.

Weather Forest

This walk starts in the Central Tablelands weather district always check the formal BOM forecast or pdf before starting your walk.

Forecast snapshot

Park Information & Alerts

Download Pdf

Open iPhone app

Short URL = http://wild.tl/eptlfc

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 🙂