Leura Park to Gordon Falls Lookout
Download & Print Map and Notes
2 hrs
3.6 km Return
380 m
Moderate track
Leura Cascades Picnic Area
Leura Cascades Picnic area is a open picnic area beside Cliff Drive, with Leura Cascades Creek running through the middle. There are a number of small cascades in the park, along with toilets and picnic tables. There are a few information signs and maps of the area. The park is well remembered for the artificial caves and arches that have been built to provide shelter and a sense of place. A small road runs through the park, providing access and parking, and garbage facilities are provided. There is also plenty of shade from some large pine trees.
(0km) Leura Cascades Picnic Area → Int of Prince Henry Cliff Walk and Leura Creek Service Trail
260 m
6 mins
9m
-12m
Moderate track
From cave-like shelters in Leura Cascades Picnic Area, this walk heads along the footpath, passing under the arch. Passing the toilet block, the path comes to the information board, from where the walk follows the ‘Leura Cascades Track’ sign down the steps. The path soon leads to a small stone wall with a view of some cascades and Chelmsford Bridge.
From the view of Chelmsford Bridge, this walk follows track downhill, keeping the handrail and creek to the left, soon coming to an intersection with ‘Prince Henry Cliff Walk’ just before a footbridge.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Leura Cascades’ sign across the footbridge to a ‘Y’ intersection.
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Prince Henry Cliff Walk To Gordon Falls’ sign up the timber steps. The walk continues along the bush track that steadily climbs to the top of the gentle hill, where it comes to an intersection with the Cliff Drive bush track.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Leura Cascades’ sign across the footbridge to a ‘Y’ intersection.
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Prince Henry Cliff Walk To Gordon Falls’ sign up the timber steps. The walk continues along the bush track that steadily climbs to the top of the gentle hill, where it comes to an intersection with the Cliff Drive bush track.
(0.26km) Int of Prince Henry Cliff Walk and Leura Creek Service Trail → The Rock
240 m
4 mins
9m
-6m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the bush track heading around the side of the hill, winding through the bush until it comes to the intersection of the short bush track to Cliff Drive.
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track winding around the valley down to the right for a short while, before coming to ‘The Rock’ lookout just off the track on the right.
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track winding around the valley down to the right for a short while, before coming to ‘The Rock’ lookout just off the track on the right.
The Rock
The Rock is a small, partially-fenced lookout, about 10 metres from the Prince Henry Cliff Walk near Bridal Veil Falls. The old timber fence only partially covers the cliff line and the walk to the lookout can be slippery. The view from the lookout includes close-up views of the crowns of several trees. There is no view of Bridal Veil Falls, but the view does extend across to the cliffs at Bridal View Lookout.
(0.5km) The Rock → Int of Prince Henry Cliff Walk and Bridal Veil Lookout Track
110 m
3 mins
7m
-5m
Moderate track
Turn left: From the lookout, this walk follows the bush track winding around the valley, down to the right, heading under a large rock overhang and continuing steadily up the long rocky hill to the signposted intersection of the Bridal View Lookout.
(0.6km) Int of Prince Henry Cliff Walk and Bridal Veil Lookout Track → Bridal Veil View lookout
200 m
4 mins
3m
-14m
Moderate track
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk follows the ‘Bridal View Lookout’ sign along the track, heading out towards the cliffs for a short while before winding down a set of metal stairs to the signposted ‘Bridal Veil View’ lookout. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Veer right.
Bridal Veil View Lookout
The Bridal Veil View is a small, fenced lookout at the base of a flight of stairs in the south-west corner of Leura. The lookout has a natural sandstone floor and provides superb, unobstructed view of the Bridal Veil Falls. The falls are about 150m away, and looking down from the top, the Bridal Veil likeness is apparent. The falls run most of the time, but are most spectacular after rain.
(0.6km) Int of Prince Henry Cliff Walk and Bridal Veil Lookout Track → Int of Prince Henry Cliff Walk and Tarpeian Rock Track
110 m
4 mins
16m
-8m
Moderate track
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Gordon Falls’ sign along the bush track, winding through the dense bush for a short while before gradually climbing up a gentle hill to the signposted intersection of the Tarpeian Rock track.
(0.71km) Int of Prince Henry Cliff Walk Tarpeian Rock Track → Tarpeian Rock
50 m
1 mins
1m
-7m
Easy track
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the ‘Tarpeian Rock’ sign along the bush track, heading through the dense scrub for a short distance before coming to the Tarpeian Rock lookout. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn right.
Tarpeian Rock
Tarpeian Rock is a great lookout, suspended high on a sandstone buttress, with circular patterns under foot. The view from the lookout extends from Kings Tableland on the left, to the ‘back’ of the Three Sisters and into Jamison Valley on the right. There are also great views across to Mount Solitary, Narrow Neck Plateau and the Ruined Castle. The name is derived from the Roman ‘Tarpeian Rock’, a steep cliff rocky point overlooking the Roman forum that was used as a place to execute people. Thankfully, this Tarpeian Rock has a much more peaceful feel about it. More info.
(0.71km) Int of Prince Henry Cliff Walk Tarpeian Rock Track → Olympian Lookout
520 m
15 mins
44m
-62m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the ‘Gordon Falls’ sign down the wooden steps and along the track. Notice the environment change to rainforest as the track winds around the valley down to the right. The walk follows the base of some tall rock overhangs, then climbs up a long set of wooden steps that continue on to rock steps, coming to ‘Olympian Rock’ lookout.
Olympian Lookout
Olympian Lookout is a fenced lookout, just off the Prince Henry Cliff Walk, near Olympian Pde in Leura. The lookout is on a sloped, natural sandstone surface and has some steps cut to help improve access. The lookout is right at the edge of the cliff and provides a great view across the Jamison Valley, out to Mount Solitary. The ‘back’ of the Three Sisters, and also Narrow Neck, are both visible on the right, and Sublime Point on the left.
(1.23km) Olympian Lookout → Elysian Lookout
230 m
13 mins
75m
-50m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the lookout, this walk follows the bush track past the “Welcome to the Blue Mountains National Park” sign, keeping the valley down the hill to the right as it winds through the bush. The walk comes to a lookout just before the Buttenshaw Bridge, which it then crosses, continuing up the steps to the Elysian Rock Lookout on the other side.
Elysian Rock
Elysian Rock is a fenced, small, narrow lookout on a rock buttress. The floor is mostly uneven, natural sandstone and there is a bench seat with no shade. The lookout is right at the edge of the cliff and gives a great view straight across the Jamison Valley and out to Mount Solitary. Narrow Neck and the ‘back’ of the Three Sisters are visible on the right-hand side, and Sublime Point on the left. The lookout is along the Prince Henry Cliff Walk, just west of a concrete bridge spanning a chasm and near the end of Elysian Place, Leura.
(1.46km) Elysian Lookout → Gordon Falls Lookout
320 m
10 mins
30m
-47m
Moderate track
Veer right: From Elysian Lookout, keeping the valley down to the right, this walk follows the bush track winding through the dense scrub-like forest as it heads up a few wooden steps onto a small platform and continues up the hill to the top, at the intersection of the Gordon Falls Lookout track.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the hardened dirt path winding down towards the cliffs, dropping down a few sets of wooden steps and one steep metal staircase as it winds down through the bush to the cliffs edge at the Gordon Falls Lookout.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the hardened dirt path winding down towards the cliffs, dropping down a few sets of wooden steps and one steep metal staircase as it winds down through the bush to the cliffs edge at the Gordon Falls Lookout.
Gordon Falls Lookout
Gordon Falls Lookout is a fenced lookout near the end of Lone Pine Rd, Leura. As the name suggests, there is a good view of Gordon Falls to the left. There is also a wonderful view along the escarpment to Sublime Point. The lookout is right at the edge of the cliff and also has a great view across the Jamison Valley, out to Mount Solitary. Narrow Neck and the ‘back’ of the Three Sisters are visible on the right-hand side.
Maps for the Leura Park to Gordon Falls Lookout 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 Leura Park to Gordon Falls Lookout bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Leura Park to Gordon Falls Lookout
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 | 3.6 km | ||
| Time | 2 hrs | ||
| . | |||
| Grade 3/6 Moderate track |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Short steep hills (3/6) |
| Quality of track | Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6) | ||
| 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
1km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 610m has short steep hills. The remaining (170m) is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
1km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail and another 440m follows a smooth and hardened path. The remaining (330m) follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.
Signs
Around 920m of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 860m is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
Around 1.5km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 230m requires some bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 1.8km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 1.2km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 600m is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
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Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Leura Park to Gordon Falls Lookout walk starts and ends at the Leura Cascades Picnic Area (gps: -33.719623, 150.3224)Your transport options to Leura Cascades Picnic Area are by;
Train. (get details)
Bus. (get details)
Car. There is free parking available.(get details)
Short URL = http://wild.tl/lptgfl
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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