McKeowns Valley Lookdown Walk
Download & Print Map and Notes1 hr 9 mins
2.2 km Return
220 m
Moderate track
Jenolan Caves House
Jenolan Caves House, built in 1898, is a heritage-listed building which houses dining, a variety of accommodation options, and other services for visitors to the caves. Jenolan has two licensed restaurants: Trails Bistro is open from breakfast onwards and closes early evening. Trails serves a range of light meals including sandwiches, salads and hot food. Chisholm’s Restaurant is open each morning for breakfast and each evening for dinner from 6.00pm. Essential items and beautiful souvenirs may be purchased from Things Jenolan, located on the ground floor of Caves House. Don’t forget to explore one of the many caves to explore in the area. For more information, call Jenolan Caves on 1300 76 33 11.
(0km) Caves House → Carlotta Arch Lookout
410 m
12 mins
74m
-21m
Moderate track
From the opposite side of the Jenolan Caves Road from Caves House[2], this walk follows the ‘Six Foot Track’ sign up the concrete steps[3]. The walk then follows the stone footpath up the side of the valley for about 80m to pass the ‘Southside Show Caves’ information sign[4] then just over 30m later to the ‘Grand Arch’ information sign (and view of the Arch)[5]. The walk continues fairly gently up the path for 100m (as it bends right) to find ‘Caves House’ information sign[6]. The path soon starts leading much more steeply up as it begins to Zig Zag up past a seat[7] and more views down to caves house[8] for 150m beside the limestone cliffs[9]. At the top of this climb the path leads over a small small rise then gently down to a fenced lookout beside ‘Carlotta Arch’[10][11].
Carlotta Arch
Carlotta Arch is a large and spectacular cave remnant overlooking Blue Lake. It is believed that the arch was named in honour of a daughter of a surveyor – General P.F. Adams. Adams is credited with having taken some of the earliest photos at Jenolan.
(0.41km) Top of Carlotta Arch Steps → Bottom of Carlotta Arch Steps
30 m
1 mins
1m
0m
Moderate track
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk goes down the stairs until coming to the entrance of the cave. On the way, this walk goes under the towering Carlotta’s Arch. The lookout has great views of the valley and Blue Lake. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn right.
(0.41km) Carlotta Arch Lookout → Int of 6FT and Carlotta Arch Track
10 m
0m
0m
Very easy
Continue straight: From the ‘Carlotta Arch’[12][13] lookout, this walk follows the gravel path[14] (past the top of the steps) gently uphill (initially keeping the arch to your right) a short distance to an intersection with the sign posted ‘Six Foot Track’ (on your right), where another sign points back to ‘Caves House’[15].
(0.43km) Int of 6 ft track and Carlotta Arch Track → Carlotta Carpark Intersection
100 m
2 mins
7m
-8m
Easy track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads along the gravel footpath until coming to an intersection with a track signposted as the way to the ‘Devil’s Coachhouse’.
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk heads along the gravel footpath, following the ‘carpark no 2’ sign. The walk soon passes by the entrance to a cave, before going slightly uphill to an intersection. (There is a large car park to the left).
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk heads along the gravel footpath, following the ‘carpark no 2’ sign. The walk soon passes by the entrance to a cave, before going slightly uphill to an intersection. (There is a large car park to the left).
(0.53km) Carlotta Carpark Intersection → McKeowns Valley Lookdown
600 m
19 mins
92m
-18m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads up the footpath, zigzagging its way up the hill and, at one point, passing by Jenolan Caves Rd. Continuing up the hill, the walk soon comes to a great unofficial lookout over the valley and the Six Foot Track. The trail continues up the hill for about 20m before meeting up with Burma Rd, where there are several private dwellings. The track follows the ‘McKeown’s Valley’ sign, heading to the right and winding around the hill, before zigzagging up the hill again and passing a sign pointing back towards ‘Caves House’. At the top of the hill, the walk comes to an intersection with a dirt road, marked by another ‘Caves House’ sign.
Maps for the McKeowns Valley Lookdown Walk 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 |
Jenolan | 1:25 000 Map Series | 89303N JENOLAN | NSW-89303N |
Katoomba | 1:100 000 Map Series | 8930 KATOOMBA | 8930 |
Cross sectional view of the McKeowns Valley Lookdown Walk bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the McKeowns Valley Lookdown Walk
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 | 2.2 km | ||
Time | 1 hr 9 mins | ||
. | |||
Grade 3/6 Moderate track |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Short steep hills (3/6) |
Quality of track | Smooth and hardened path (1/6) | ||
Signs | Clearly signposted (1/6) | ||
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
1km of this walk has short steep hills and another 75m is flat with no steps. The remaining (35m) has gentle hills with occasional steps.
Quality of track
This whole walk, 1.1km follows a smooth and hardened path.
Signs
This whole walk, 1.1km is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 1.1km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 1.1km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
This whole walk, 1.1km 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 McKeowns Valley Lookdown Walk walk starts and ends at the Caves House (gps: -33.820325, 150.02117)Your main transport option to Caves House is by;
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/mvlw
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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