Katoomba Falls Circuit
Download & Print Map and Notes
1 hr 45 mins
1.5 km Circuit
159 m
Hard track
Scenic World
Scenic World is one of the most renowned tourist attractions of Katoomba and the Blue Mountains. Located on the cliffs of the Jamison Valley , visitors can enjoy a ride on the Scenic Railway (the world’s steepest incline railway) or the Scenic Cableway, into the Jamison Valley, and explore the Scenic Walkway from the base. Alternatively, the Scenic Skyway offers a bird’s eye view over the valley, with a glass floor to enhance the experience. Scenic World also features a revolving restaurant, a cafe and a kiosk, in addition to the documentary theatre and souvenir shop. Rides can be purchased, starting from $16 for adults and $10 for children, and combination or family passes are available. More info.
(0km) Scenic World → End of wooden footbridge
120 m
3 mins
5m
-20m
Very easy
From the Scenic World main entrance, this walk follows the ‘Prince Henry Cliff Walk’ signs down the concrete steps and around to the back of the building, where it comes to a wooden footbridge that curves around behind the main car park. At the end of the footbridge, this walk comes to an intersection with the Prince Henry Cliff Walk.
(0.12km) End of wooden footbridge → Int of Prince Henry Cliff Walk and Katoomba Falls Round Walk
50 m
1 mins
0m
-13m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track down the gentle hill, winding down some wooden steps as the track bends around to the right. It then arrives at the signposted intersection of the ‘Prince Henry Cliff Walk’ and the track to the base of the Scenic Railway.
(0.17km) Int of Prince Henry Cliff Walk and Katoomba Falls Round Walk → Vanimans Lookout
40 m
1 mins
0m
-16m
Hard track
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads down the steep wooden steps, following the signs to the bottom of the Scenic Railway. The walk comes to the intersection of Vanimans Lookout at the bottom of the steps.
Vaniman’s Lookout
Vaniman’s Lookout is a fenced, long and narrow lookout on the cliff edge, opposite Reids Plateau. The view looks directly over the Three Sisters across the Kedumba Valley, under the Scenic Skyway. The lookout was considered one of the finest views on the Three Sisters in the 1900’s. The lookout was named after Chester Melvin Vaniman in 1905, a well-know adventurer and artist from the USA, who visited the Blue Mountains in 1903. More info.
(0.21km) Vanimans Lookout → Int of Katoomba Falls Round Walk and Juliets Balcony Track
110 m
3 mins
4m
-11m
Hard track
Turn right: From Vanimans Lookout, this walk follows the bush track heading away from the bottom of the wooden steps. The track winds around the side of the hill and down the steep metal stairs. At the bottom, the walk comes to the intersection of the Katoomba Falls Round Walk and Juliets Balcony track (unsignposted).
(0.32km) Int of Katoomba Falls Round Walk and Juliets Balcony Track → Juliets Balcony
10 m
1m
0m
Moderate track
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads up the short set of wooden steps, winding up to the raised rock platform, and along the bush track to the edge of the fenced-off rock shelf. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn right.
Juilets Balcony
Juliets Balcony is a spectacular lookout, perched on top of a rock buttress near Orphan Rock, under the Scenic Skyway. The lookout provides sweeping views of the start of the Kedumba Valley, from Katoomba Falls to the Three Sisters. The lookout is accessed by a staircase, off the Furber Steps track. The fenceline continues along the lookout, forming a long, fenced balcony.
(0.32km) Int of Katoomba Falls Round Walk and Juliets Balcony Track → Int of Katoomba Falls Round Walk and Furber Steps
60 m
1 mins
3m
-4m
Moderate track
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the long set of wooden steps winding down the side of the hill. After this, the walk flattens out for a short distance then continues up a short set wooden steps to the intersection of the Round Walk and the Furber Steps track.
(0.38km) Int of Katoomba Falls Round Walk and Furber Steps → Rainforest Lookout
10 m
0m
-1m
Moderate track
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Base of Scenic Railway’ signpost down the wooden steps to the bottom, where it comes to the Rainforest Lookout.
Rainforest Lookout
Unlike many lookouts in the area, Rainforest Lookout does not offer sweeping valley views. Instead, this lookout offers an opportunity to get up close and personal with the canopy of the rainforest. Spend some time in the cool shade listening to the birds and Witches Leap creek passing by. A sign at the lookout explains that there once were wood-fired barbeques here for picnics, but removed due to the toll on the local environment[3].
(0.39km) Rainforest Lookout → Int of Furber Steps and Katoomba Falls Lookout Track
20 m
1m
0m
Moderate track
Turn right: From the Rainforest Lookout, the track follows the bush track heading past the base of the wooden steps and then through the forest for a short while, until it reaches the signposted intersection of the Underfalls Walk.
(0.41km) Int of Furber Steps and Katoomba Falls Lookout Track → Katoomba Falls
180 m
6 mins
1m
-67m
Easy track
Turn left : From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Underfalls Walk’ sign down a short set of steps and across a small waterfall using the wooden bridge (This creek flows from Witches Leap all the way down to Veras Grotto). Once past the falls, the track continues through the rainforest, winding along the well-defined path until arriving at Katoomba Falls Lookout, right at the base of the falls.
Katoomba Falls
The Katoomba Falls are among the most famous waterfalls in the the Blue Mountains region. The Kedumba River falls about 150 meters in 2 main stages. The Undercliff Track, from the Furber Steps, can be used to access the first landing of the waterfall. The Katoomba Falls can be viewed from most lookouts in the the area, including from the bottom of the falls at Cooks Landing on Federal Pass, or from the track running next to the Kedumba River at the top of the falls. These falls are also a highlight for the trip across the Scenic Skyway.
(0.59km) Katoomba Falls → Witches Leap
350 m
9 mins
81m
-4m
Moderate track
Turn around: From the Katoomba Falls Lookout, this walk follows the only bush track, winding through the temperate rainforest for about 150 to 200 metres, before crossing a small creek at a wooden bridge. From here the walk continues up the short set of steps until reaching the signposted intersection of the Furber Steps.
Turn right: 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 right: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Caravan Park’ sign along the hardened path and up the wooden steps, continuing to wind up the side of the hill as the track climbs up a few more sets of wooden steps. This walk Witches Leap Creek at the small wooden bridge, winding up the wooden steps that zigzag up through the gully, to the intersection of the Witches Leap Lookout.
Turn right: 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 right: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Caravan Park’ sign along the hardened path and up the wooden steps, continuing to wind up the side of the hill as the track climbs up a few more sets of wooden steps. This walk Witches Leap Creek at the small wooden bridge, winding up the wooden steps that zigzag up through the gully, to the intersection of the Witches Leap Lookout.
(0.94km) Witches Leap → Int of Katoomba Kiosk Loop and Witches Leap Track
130 m
4 mins
20m
-4m
Moderate track
Veer right: From the Witches Leap Lookout, this walk heads up the wooden steps and up the hardened path that winds up through the gulley, climbing past a small rest area at a large rock overhang. The walk heads to the top of the hill, coming to the intersection of the Prince Henry Cliff Walk and the Reids Plateau loop walk.
(1.07km) Int of Katoomba Kiosk Loop and Witches Leap Track → Int of Katoomba Kiosk Track and Prince Henry Cliff Walk
30 m
1 mins
5m
0m
Moderate track
Turn left: With the Katoomba Falls track to the left and the picnic bench to the right, this walk heads north up the concrete stairs, passing a ‘Greenspace Project’ sign. The walk comes to the top of the stairs, to the signposted intersection of ‘Round Walk’ at the back of the small park near the Katoomba Kiosk.
(1.1km) Int of Katoomba Kiosk Track and Prince Henry Cliff Walk → Katoomba Falls Kiosk
50 m
1 mins
2m
0m
Easy track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk crosses through the park, passing the large information signs and the water fountain, arriving at the Katoomba Kiosk. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn right.
Katoomba Falls Kiosk
The Katoomba Falls Kiosk serves a variety of light and healthy meals including breakfast, lunch and Devonshire teas. A drink enjoyed here will add to the experience of any local bushwalk. For more information, phone (02) 4782-4868. More info.
(1.1km) Int of Katoomba Kiosk Track and Prince Henry Cliff Walk → Scenic World
430 m
9 mins
39m
-18m
Moderate track
Veer left: From the intersection, the walk follows the ‘Scenic Railway’ sign along the hardened bush track, winding along the side of the hill as the track heads through the forest, to the signposted intersection of the Round Walk and the Prince Henry Cliff Walk.
Veer right: 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.
Veer right: 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.
Maps for the Katoomba Falls 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 Katoomba Falls Circuit bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Katoomba Falls 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 | 1.5 km | ||
| Time | 1 hr 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 | Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6) | ||
| Weather | Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6) | ||
| 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
920m of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 260m has short steep hills. Whilst another 240m is flat with no steps and the remaining 110m is very steep.
Quality of track
850m of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail and another 610m follows a smooth and hardened path. Whilst another 40m follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely and the remaining 35m follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.
Signs
Around 1.4km of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 100m has directional signs at most intersection.
Experience Required
Around 1.3km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 250m requires some bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 1.5km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 1.4km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 90m has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).
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Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Katoomba Falls Circuit walk starts and ends at the Scenic World (gps: -33.728585, 150.30096)Your transport options to Scenic World are by;
Bus. (get details)
Car. There is free parking available.(get details)
Short URL = http://wild.tl/kfc
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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