Federal Pass
Download & Print Map and Notes3 hrs 45 mins
433 m
Hard track
Solitary Kiosk and Restaurant
(0km) Int of Cliff Drive and Prince Henry Cliff Walk → Int of Federal Pass and Jamieson Lookout Tracks
140 m
4 mins
9m
-6m
Moderate track
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk heads along the bush track, away from the Echo Tree Lookout, winding along the well-defined bush track for a short while before coming to the signposted intersection of the track to Leura Forest.
Turn left: 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.
(0.14km) Int of Federal Pass and Jamieson Lookout Tracks → Jamieson Lookout
20 m
1 mins
0m
-6m
Easy track
Jamieson Lookout
(0.14km) Int of Federal Pass and Jamieson Lookout Tracks → Fern Bower
90 m
3 mins
0m
-36m
Hard track
Fern Bower
(0.23km) Fern Bower → Lila falls crossing
340 m
14 mins
10m
-168m
Hard 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
(0.57km) Lila Falls crossing → Marguerite Cascades
180 m
11 mins
37m
-90m
Hard track
Marguerite Cascades
(0.75km) Marguerite Cascades → Leura Forest
320 m
11 mins
50m
-14m
Hard track
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk crosses Linda Creek just below a pleasant cascade[4] using the foot bridge with a handrail[5]. 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
(1.07km) Leura Forest (Int of Federal Pass and Dardenelles Tracks) → Int of Furber Steps and Scenic Railway Track
3.2 km
1 hr 33 mins
317m
-280m
Moderate track
Veer left: From the intersection, the walk follows the ‘Federal Pass’ sign towards ‘Scenic Railway’, keeping the main cliffs on the right. Not long after the intersection, the track passes ‘under the sisters’ rock formation (signposted[8]). From here, the track turns and continues along a relatively stretch and, at several points, passes some notable rock formations and caves embedded in the cliffs. There are occasional good views that are not shrouded by the trees. The walk continues until coming to the base of Katoomba Falls, crossing these using a metal bridge know as ‘Cooks Crossing’. (Just across the bridge, there is a picnic table.)
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads south-west away from Katoomba Falls along the bush track, soon passing the signposted ‘Turpentine Tree’. Shortly after this tree, the track comes to an intersection with another bush track and set of stairs (on the right, signposted as ‘Furber Steps’).
(4.24km) Int of Furber Steps and Scenic Railway Track → Scenic World
700 m
24 mins
233m
-36m
Hard track
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Scenic Skyway’ sign up the wooden steps and across the short wooden boardwalk to the other side. The track continues with the hand railing on the left, until reaching the base of the Furber Steps. From here, the walk continues up the concrete steps, zigzagging steeply up the side of the cliff, until reaching the Furber Lookout at the base of the last flight of steps.
Continue straight: From the Furber Lookout, this walk heads up the concrete stairs, climbing to the top. The walk passes the ‘Furber Steps’ signpost and continues along the bush track, winding up along the side of the hill until coming to the intersection of the Furber Steps and the Lynes Point tracks.
Turn left : From the lookout, this walk follows the bush track, heading down the short metal staircase to the intersection of the Lynes Point bush track at the bottom.
Continue straight: From the lookout, this walk heads up the stairs, climbing to the top. Here it continues along the bush track, winding past a large rock overhang with a bench seat underneath and through the forest for a short while, to the signposted intersection of the ‘Underfalls Walk’.
Continue straight: From the intersection, the track follows the bush track heading up the hill, winding up through the forest for a short while. Soon the track bends slightly around to the right and comes to the Rainforest Lookout, at the base of the set of wooden steps.
Turn left : From the Rainforest Lookout, this walk heads up the wooden steps, climbing to the top where it comes to a ‘T’ intersection with the ‘Round Walk’ track.
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Scenic Skyway’ sign down the wooden steps, then flattens out for a short distance before continuing up the other side, climbing up the long, steep set of wooden steps. At the top, the walk comes to the intersection of the Round Walk and the Juliets Balcony track (unsignposted).
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads to the top of the metal stairs. The track then continues steeply up through the bush, climbing to Vanimans Lookout.
Turn left: From Vanimans Lookout, this walk heads up the wooden steps, climbing up the hill through the bush until it comes to the intersection with the Prince Henry Cliff Walk.
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the only unsignposted bush track up the gentle hill. It winds up the wooden steps, bending around to the left until it flattens out at the intersection with the Scenic World footbridge.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads along the wooden footbridge that winds around the back of the Scenic World multi-story car park, to the concrete footpath. The walk continues around the main building, climbing up some concrete steps to the main entrance of Scenic World.
(4.24km) Int of Furber Steps and Scenic Railway Track → Scenic Railway (Bottom Platform)
170 m
4 mins
10m
-15m
Easy track
(4.41km) Scenic Railway (Bottom Platform) → Scenic World
300 m
26 mins
210m
-8m
Very easy
Scenic World
Maps for the Federal 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.
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 Federal Pass bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Federal Pass
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 | 4.4 km | ||
Time | 3 hrs 45 mins | ||
. | |||
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 | No experience required (1/6) | ||
Weather | Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6) | ||
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
3.1km of this walk has short steep hills and another 1.1km has gentle hills with occasional steps. Whilst another 380m is flat with no steps and the remaining 200m is very steep.
Quality of track
4km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail and another 410m follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely. Whilst another 300m follows a smooth and hardened path and the remaining 20m follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.
Signs
Around 3.8km of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 910m has directional signs at most intersection.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 4.7km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 4.7km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
This whole walk, 4.7km 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 Federal Pass walk starts at the Int of Cliff Drive and Prince Henry Cliff Walk (gps: -33.721566, 150.31951)Your transport options to Int of Cliff Drive and Prince Henry Cliff Walk are by;
Bus. (get details)
Car. There is free parking available.
(get details)
The Federal Pass ends at the Scenic World (gps: -33.728585, 150.30095)
Your transport options to Scenic World 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/fp
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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