Mt Solitary and Kedumba Valley Circuit
Download & Print Map and Notes3 Days
2863 m
Experienced only
Scenic World
(0km) Scenic World → Int of Prince Henry Cliff Walk and Katoomba Falls Round Walk
170 m
4 mins
5m
-33m
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
Vaniman’s Lookout
(0.21km) Vanimans Lookout → Int of Katoomba Falls Round Walk and Juliets Balcony Track
110 m
3 mins
4m
-11m
Hard track
(0.32km) Int of Katoomba Falls Round Walk and Juliets Balcony Track → Juliets Balcony
10 m
1m
0m
Moderate track
Juilets 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
(0.38km) Int of Katoomba Falls Round Walk and Furber Steps → Rainforest Lookout
10 m
0m
-1m
Moderate track
Rainforest Lookout
(0.39km) Rainforest Lookout → Int of Furber Steps and Katoomba Falls Lookout Track
20 m
1m
0m
Moderate track
(0.41km) Int of Furber Steps and Katoomba Falls Lookout Track → Katoomba Falls
180 m
6 mins
1m
-67m
Easy track
Rainforest Lookout
(0.41km) Int of Furber Steps and Katoomba Falls Lookout Track → Queen Victoria Lookout
30 m
1 mins
1m
-1m
Easy track
(0.44km) Queen Victoria Lookout → Int of Furber Steps and Lynes Point Track
10 m
0m
-1m
Moderate track
(0.45km) Int of Furber Steps and Lynes Point Track → Furber Lookout
30 m
1 mins
0m
-7m
Moderate track
(0.48km) Furber Lookout → Int of Furber Steps and Vera’s Grotto Track
90 m
7 mins
17m
-84m
Hard track
(0.57km) Int of Furber Steps and Vera’s Grotto Track → Vera’s Grotto
30 m
3 mins
27m
-3m
Easy track
Vera’s Grotto
(0.57km) Int of Furber Steps and Veras Grotto Track → Int of Furber Steps and Scenic Railway Track
130 m
6 mins
5m
-75m
Hard track
(0.7km) Int of Furber Steps and Scenic Railway Track → Scenic Railway (Bottom Platform)
170 m
4 mins
10m
-15m
Easy track
(0.87km) Scenic Railway (Bottom Platform) → Landslide
1.3 km
46 mins
175m
-178m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the wide track and signposts towards the ‘landslide’[6] (keeping the cliffs on the right). The walk winds along a bush track with small boulders strewn along it. There are a number of old mine shafts just off the track and some interesting historical items. The track continues under Malaita Point before breaking out of the vegetation to a worthy view of the valley, just before the landslide. As the track comes to the old landslide site, it become rougher with plenty of boulders over the track. There are also excellent views of the cliffs above and the landslide as the vegetation is quite sparse here.
The Landslide
(2.21km) Landslide → Bottom of Golden Staircase
1.6 km
42 mins
128m
-123m
Moderate track
(3.76km) Golden Stairs Track carpark → Bottom of Golden Staircase
640 m
27 mins
50m
-257m
Hard track
Turn right: From the lower side of Botting’s Lookout[16], this walk heads downhill along the eroded track[17]. The walk follows the steps through a narrow gully[18] then turns right to flatten out[19] and head under a small overhang between the cliff and fence (passing a ‘Caution Rockfall Hazard’ sign[20]). After about 100m of fence, the track turns right to cross a wide gully[21]. On the other side of the gully, this walk climbs down a series of metal[22] and stone[23] staircases. The walk flattens again before heading down another series of stairs. Finally, the track winds down the wide spur[24] to meet the signposted T-intersection with ‘Federal Pass’[25]. Now Turn right to join the main walk.
(3.76km) Bottom of Golden Staircase → Miners Campsite
2.3 km
51 mins
104m
-129m
Moderate track
Miners Campsite
(6.02km) Miners Campsite → Northern Ruined Castle campsite
300 m
7 mins
16m
-11m
Moderate track
Northern Ruined Castle campsite
(6.32km) Northern Ruined Castle campsite → Ruined Castle
730 m
20 mins
82m
-17m
Hard track
The Ruined Castle
(6.32km) Northern Ruined Castle campsite → Ruined Castle mine campsite
550 m
12 mins
12m
-31m
Moderate track
Ruined Castle mine campsite
(6.88km) Ruined Castle mine campsite → Intersection South of Ruined Castle
380 m
11 mins
10m
-46m
Moderate track
(7.26km) Intersection South of Ruined Castle → Bottom of Korrowall Knife-edge
1.3 km
35 mins
132m
-38m
Hard track
(8.59km) Bottom of Korrowall Knife-edge → Corowal Plateau campsite
650 m
31 mins
205m
-17m
Experienced only
Continue straight: From the top of Korrowall Knife-edge, this walk heads south following a worn track that initially heads steeply down beside the large rock wall[93] (keeping the wall to your left). The track passes a small cave[94] at the base of this cliff then climbs up beside the cliff[95] to the top of the ridge[96], past the rocks[97] to find a view to the left[98]. Here the faint track veers right[99] to follow along the base of another cliff[100]. The walk then heads up a short but steep climb[101], where a short flat walk[102] leads to a fantastic view on your right, looking over Cedar Creek valley to Narrow Neck[103]. After following this faint track a further 60m south along the base of another cliff[104], this walk then climbs up the middle of a steep gully [105] – just past the top of this climb, the track bends sharp left and leads up[106] the hill for about 50m to enter a lovely she oak forest[107], a clearing[108] and the Corowal Plateau campsite[109].
Corowal Plateau campsite
(9.24km) Corowal Plateau campsite → Chinamans Gully Campsite
820 m
19 mins
8m
-120m
Hard track
Chinamans Gully Campsite
(10.06km) Chinamans Gully campsite → Chinamans Gully view
390 m
8 mins
0m
-50m
Experienced only
(10.06km) Chinamans Gully campsite → Campsite View
60 m
2 mins
0m
-14m
Experienced only
End of day 1
(10.06km) Chinamans Gully campsite → Singa-Jingawell Creek Campsite
1.8 km
55 mins
179m
-206m
Experienced only
Singa-Jingawell Creek Campsite
(11.87km) Singa-Jingawell Creek Campsite → Solitary Pass
1.2 km
29 mins
61m
-105m
Experienced only
(13.05km) Solitary Pass → Int of Kedumba Camping and Solitary Tracks
1.2 km
40 mins
11m
-428m
Experienced only
(14.25km) Int of Kedumba Camping and Solitary Tracks → Kedumba River
1.4 km
31 mins
2m
-206m
Hard track
Kedumba River Campsite
(15.65km) Kedumba River → Int of Kedumba River track and Sublime Point trail
2.2 km
1 hr 8 mins
345m
-17m
Hard track
(17.84km) Int of Sublime Point trail and Kedumba Valley Rd → Jamison Creek Crossing
3.1 km
1 hr 5 mins
28m
-311m
Moderate track
Jamison Creek campsite
(20.99km) Jamison Creek Crossing → Leura Falls Creek Crossing
3.9 km
1 hr 36 mins
275m
-192m
Hard track
Leura Falls Creek Crossing
End of day 2
(24.9km) Leura Falls Creek Crossing → Old STP site
4.2 km
1 hr 52 mins
438m
-103m
Hard track
Old South Katoomba STP site
(29.13km) Old STP site → Lower Linda Creek Falls
550 m
16 mins
71m
-4m
Hard track
(29.68km) Lower Linda Creek Falls → Leura Forest
300 m
10 mins
50m
-9m
Moderate track
Leura Forest
(29.98km) Leura Forest (Int of Federal Pass and Dardenelles Tracks) → Bottom of Giant Staircase
870 m
27 mins
108m
-89m
Hard track
(30.85km) Bottom of Giant Staircase → Top of the Giant Staircase
240 m
23 mins
182m
-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.
(31.09km) Top of the Giant Staircase → Oreades Lookout
40 m
2 mins
21m
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[251] (on the left).
(31.13km) Oreades Lookout → Int of Prince Henry Cliff Track and the Three Sisters Footpath
110 m
3 mins
18m
-2m
Easy track
(31.24km) 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 [260] 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[261] (on the left) just before the stone archway[262] near Echo Point.
(31.54km) Echo Point Archway Intersection → Echo Point Information Center
30 m
1 mins
1m
0m
Very easy
Echo Point Information Centre
(31.57km) Echo Point Information Center → Echo Point
90 m
4 mins
3m
-22m
Very easy
Echo Point
(31.65km) Echo Point → Lady Darley Lookout
480 m
18 mins
54m
-66m
Moderate track
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk follows the footpath heading away from Echo Point, winding through the bush for a short while until coming to the Kedumba View at the information sign, near the end of the footpath.
Turn right: From the Kedumba View, the walk heads off the footpath and follows the bush track, keeping the valley to the left while winding through the bush and along the side of the hill, climbing up to the ‘Lady Darley Lookout’.
Lady Darley Lookout
(32.14km) Lady Darley Lookout → Allambie Lookout
140 m
4 mins
11m
-19m
Moderate track
Allambie Lookout
(32.28km) Allambie Lookout → Wollumai Lookout
100 m
3 mins
13m
-10m
Moderate track
Wollumai Lookout
(32.38km) Wollumai Lookout → Cliff View Lookout
240 m
8 mins
29m
-25m
Moderate track
Cliff View Lookout
(32.61km) Cliff View Lookout → Katoomba Falls Park
280 m
7 mins
28m
-10m
Very easy
Continue straight: From the intersection[285], this walk follows the stenciled concrete path gently downhill[286], keeping the view and handrailing to your left. After about 90m this walk flattens and comes to a second handrail[287] (on the right) at the start of a slightly steeper uphill section. After about 45m this walk flattens a bit and continues to meander along following the path gently downhill for about 120m to come to 3-way intersection[288], marked by a signposted mobility parking bay beside Cliff Drive.
(32.89km) Katoomba Falls Park → Katoomba Cascades
130 m
3 mins
1m
-18m
Moderate track
Katoomba Cascades
(33.02km) Katoomba Cascades → Kedumba River lookout
180 m
4 mins
4m
-22m
Moderate track
Kedumba River lookout
(33.2km) Kedumba River lookout → Int of Prince Henry Cliff Walk and Reids Plateau loop
130 m
5 mins
31m
-4m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the hardened footpath, keeping the handrailing on the left as the path begins to wind uphill, climbing up some wooden steps to the top, where it comes to the large clearing at the intersection of the Reids Plateau track and the Katoomba Falls Round Walk.
(33.33km) 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
(33.35km) Int of Katoomba Kiosk Track and Prince Henry Cliff Walk → Scenic World
430 m
9 mins
39m
-18m
Moderate track
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 Mt Solitary and Kedumba Valley 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 |
Jamison | 1:25 000 Map Series | 89302N JAMISON | NSW-89302N |
Katoomba | 1:25 000 Map Series | 89301S KATOOMBA | NSW-89301S |
Katoomba | 1:100 000 Map Series | 8930 KATOOMBA | 8930 |
Cross sectional view of the Mt Solitary and Kedumba Valley Circuit bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Mt Solitary and Kedumba Valley Circuit
Daily actual walking time estimates
Day | Walking Time | Length |
---|---|---|
1 | 5 hrs 48 mins | 12.1 km |
2 | 6 hrs 24 mins | 14.8 km |
3 | 4 hrs 27 mins | 8.9 km |
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 | 33.8 km | ||
Time | 3 Days | ||
. | |||
Grade 5/6 Experienced only |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Very steep and difficult scrambles (5/6) |
Quality of track | Rough unclear track (5/6) | ||
Signs | No directional signs (5/6) | ||
Experience Required | High level of bushwalking experience recommended (5/6) | ||
Weather | Forecast, unforecast storms and severe weather likely to have an impact on your navigation and safety (5/6) | ||
Infrastructure | No facilities provided (5/6) |
Some more details of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk
Gradient
13km of this walk is very steep and another 12km has short steep hills. Whilst another 6km has gentle hills with occasional steps and a 2.6km section is very steep with difficult rock scrambles. The remaining 1.2km is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
13km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail and another 8km follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely. Whilst another 7km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and a 3km section follows a rough unclear track. The remaining 2.3km follows a smooth and hardened path.
Signs
16km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection and another 11km has minimal directional signs. Whilst another 3.6km Has no directional signs and the remaining 3.6km is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
14km of this walk requires a leader a with moderate level of bushwalking experience and another 8km requires some bushwalking experience. Whilst another 6km requires no previous bushwalking experience and the remaining 4.8km requires a leader with a high level of bushwalking experience.
weather
13km of this walk is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety and another 10km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation). Whilst another 10km is affected by forecast, unforecast storms and severe weather events that may impact on navigation and safety and the remaining 450m forecast, unforecast storms and severe weather likely to have an impact on your navigation and safety.
Infrastructure
14km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced) and another 11km has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged). Whilst another 4.8km has no facilities provided and the remaining 4.8km 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 Mt Solitary and Kedumba Valley 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)
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/msakvc
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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