Echo Point to Leura Forest via Three Sisters and Giant Stairs loop
Download & Print Map and Notes3 hrs
512 m
Hard track
Echo Point Information Centre
(0km) Echo Point Archway Intersection → Int of Three Sisters Walkway and Spooners Lookout path
100 m
2 mins
0m
-4m
Very easy
(0.1km) Int of the Three Sisters Pathway and Spooners Lookout path → Oreades Lookout
300 m
8 mins
10m
-33m
Easy track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Three Sisters, Giant Stairway’ sign[6] moderately steeply downhill along the smooth concrete path[7]. After about about 90m[8] this path leads past stone seat (on the left) in a small sandstone overhang[9]. Check the miniature cicada sculptures[10] above the overhang. From here this walk continues downhill along the path for about 30m to find the fenced Oreades Lookout[11] (on the right).
(0.41km) Oreades Lookout → Int of Prince Henry Cliff Track and the Three Sisters Footpath
20 m
1 mins
0m
-11m
Easy track
(0.43km) Int of Lady Game Lookout Track and the Three Sisters Footpath → Top of the Giant Staircase
20 m
1 mins
0m
-10m
Easy track
(0.44km) Top of the Giant Staircase → Lady Game Lookout
10 m
1 mins
0m
-12m
Very easy
Lady Game Lookout
(0.44km) Top of the Giant Staircase → The Three Sisters Bridge Intersection
40 m
4 mins
0m
-31m
Hard track
(0.48km) The Three Sisters Bridge Intersection → The Three Sisters
10 m
0m
0m
Very easy
The Three Sisters
(0.48km) The Three Sisters Bridge intersection → Leura Forest (Int of Federal Pass and Dardenelles Tracks)
1.1 km
46 mins
109m
-259m
Hard track
Turn left: From the bottom of the Giant Staircase, this walk follows the Dardanelles Pass sign towards ‘Leura Forest’, keeping the main cliff face on the left. There are occasional good views out over the valley to the east. Gradually, the track begins to descend and becomes more shady. In this section of track, there are often fallen logs across the track, which will need to be climbed over. Gradually, the track descends down behind the pergola at Leura Forest.
Leura Forest
(1.56km) Leura Forest (Int of Federal Pass and Dardenelles Tracks) → Int of Federal Pass, Scenic Railway and Dardenelles Tracks
1.3 km
36 mins
117m
-99m
Moderate track
(2.85km) Int of Federal Pass, Scenic Railway and Dardenelles Tracks → Bottom of Giant Staircase
290 m
10 mins
36m
-33m
Moderate track
(3.14km) Bottom of Giant Staircase → Oreades Lookout
280 m
25 mins
203m
-20m
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.
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.
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).
(3.42km) Oreades Lookout → Int of Prince Henry Cliff Track and the Three Sisters Footpath
110 m
3 mins
18m
-2m
Easy track
(3.53km) Int of Prince Henry Cliff Track and the Three Sisters Pathway → Echo Point Archway Intersection
300 m
7 mins
19m
-8m
Easy track
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 via Three Sisters and Giant Stairs loop 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 via Three Sisters and Giant Stairs loop bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Echo Point to Leura Forest via Three Sisters and Giant Stairs loop
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 | 3.8 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 | Clearly signposted (1/6) | ||
Experience Required | No experience required (1/6) | ||
Weather | Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6) | ||
Infrastructure | Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6) |
Some more details of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk
Gradient
2.4km of this walk has short steep hills and another 680m has gentle hills with occasional steps. Whilst another 490m is very steep and the remaining 200m is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
1.6km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail and another 1.4km follows a smooth and hardened path. The remaining (870m) follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely.
Signs
This whole walk, 3.8km is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 3.8km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
Around 3.4km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 410m is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.
Infrastructure
This whole walk, 3.8km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
Similar walks
Other Nearby walks
Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Echo Point to Leura Forest via Three Sisters and Giant Stairs loop 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. There is free parking available.
(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
Short URL = http://wild.tl/eptlfvtsagsl
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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