Best 10 Blue Mountains Hikes [Hiking in The Blue Mountains]

Why Blue Mountains Hikes Are So Popular?

The Blue Mountains National Park is one of eight national parks and reserves in the World Heritage-listed Greater Blue Mountains Area (GBMA). The Blue Mountains ranges in New South Wales, 90 minutes from the Blue Mountains. The Blue Mountains are home to 99 species of eucalyptus, the most diverse eucalyptus forest in the world.

In the Blue Mountains, you can genuinely appreciate Australia's incredible bushland. Incredible scenery, such as rugged cliffs, remote peaks, tumbling waterfalls, silent forest air and abundant wildlife, are all found in the Blue Mountains.

Known for its stunning mountains, valleys and unique rainforests, the Blue Mountains are the perfect destination for hikers, explorers and nature lovers. In addition, the Blue Mountains contain rugged plateaus, cliffs and deep gorges, protecting a unique ecosystem filled with rare flora and fauna.

If you are a nature lover and adventurer, the Blue Mountains are a must-see. Whether you're looking for a stroll or a multi-day hike, the Blue Mountains' bushwalking routes cater for all walking ability levels.

How to Prepare for Hiking in The Blue Mountains?

The Blue Mountains are a hiking destination that is to be noticed. As you witness its stunning scenery and traverse rugged terrain through eucalyptus forests and around waterfalls, you'll understand its beauty and why it's an ideal destination for hiking. Before hiking the Blue Mountains, you need to make some preparations.

Step 1: Learn About The Blue Mountains

Check the Blue Mountains weather forecast, road conditions, river levels and fire hazards before you go. It's essential to check the weather conditions before making plans or heading out. Rain does not necessarily prevent walking, but wet roads are more dangerous.

Step 2: Plan Your Routes

It would help if you decided on the hiking distance based on your physical health. The terrain in the Blue Mountains is rugged, so please choose a hiking route that is of appropriate difficulty. Know your route and where the emergency paths are if things go wrong.

• Check the weather conditions when planning the excursion if you need to change your plans.
• Tell your family and friends where you are going and when you will return.
• Check fire danger levels, restrictions, and total fire bans for your route and destination.
• Make sure you have a contingency plan.

Step 3: Pack Hiking Essentials

Hiking requires carrying as little as possible, but remember to bring essentials. Bring enough drinking water (regardless of the weather) and snacks to replenish energy.

Please wear comfortable athleisure clothing. Try to protect your feet by wearing comfortable hiking or running shoes. The temperature difference in the mountain areas is significant, so bring a warm jacket. Wear a sun-protective coat, hat and sunglasses if the weather is sunny and hot. If hiking in the rainy season, please bring a raincoat.

There are more Blue Mountains hiking essentials you should pack:

Outdoor activities can be dangerous, so carry emergency medicine in an emergency. Especially outdoors in Australia, you may encounter attacks from venomous insects and wild animals.

Many first-time overnight hikers think they can get away with just sleeping on the ground, and we're here to tell you that's a bad idea. Even if you're particularly good at sleeping on hard surfaces, the ground below your tent is rarely going to be lush grass and might be rocky or uneven; sleeping mats fix this problem.

Jackery Portable Power Stations can make hiking more fun and powerful since electricity is vital, especially for overnight hiking. 

Bring a small power station like the Jackery Explorer 300 Plus or Explorer 600 Plus to charge your electronics (GPS devices, communication tools, and personal electronics) on your hiking trip. They are only the size of a book or a ball, so you can easily take them everywhere.      

Step 4: Advice from Professionals

It's best to seek advice from an experienced hiking adventurer before setting off. If you have questions about hiking in the Blue Mountains, contact a local team of skilled professionals for their insight and advice.

Best 10 Hikes in The Blue Mountains 

The Blue Mountains is renowned for its scenic splendour, many hiking paths, and stunning vistas of undulating azure hills. These trails offer a diverse range of exploration opportunities. Here are ten great Blue Mountains trails if you're looking for a hike in the Blue Mountains.

1. Round Walking Track

Location: 78C2+JG, Katoomba NSW 2780, Australia (Open in Google Maps)

Website: Round Walking Track

Length: 1.2km

Difficulty: Easy

Hiking Time: 45 Min

The Round Walking Track is a short but spectacular trail surrounded by incredible views and waterfalls. You'll travel through wooded canyons to an observation deck that offers some of the most iconic views of the Blue Mountains National Park.

The Round Walking Track is ideal for hikers looking for a shorter route. At Reids Plateau, enjoy spectacular waterfall views and follow the trail to Vanimans Lookout, where you can enjoy unparalleled views of the Three Sisters and Katoomba Falls. 

2. Three Sisters Walk

Location: Cliff Dr, Katoomba NSW 2780, Australia (Open in Google Maps)

Website: Three Sisters Walk

Length: 1.5km

Difficulty: Easy

Hiking Time: 25-45 Min

The Three Sisters Walk is one of the most popular in the Blue Mountains. The Three Sisters Walk will take you past the Price of Wales Lookout, Queen Elizabeth Lookout, to Echo Point, then take you past Spooners Lookout, Oreades Lookout, Lady Game Lookout and Honeymoon Bridge Lookout, and finally to the Three Sisters.

Spooners Lookout is a privileged view of the Jamison Valley. At Spooners Lookout, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Three Sisters and the majestic Butte Mountain. Echo Point is the most popular lookout in the Blue Mountains and a great place to watch the sunset, with over 2 million visitors a year. 

3. Charles Darwin Walk

Location: Darwins Walk, Wentworth Falls NSW 2782, Australia (Open in Google Maps)

Website: Charles Darwin Walk

Length: 2.4km

Difficulty: Easy

Hiking Time: 2 Hours 25 Min

As the name suggests, the famous naturalist Charles Darwin often walked this trail as early as 1836. The trail begins at Wilson Park and leads to boardwalks and bushwalks through open forest, scrub and hanging bog until it reaches the track where it meets the Weeping Rock. The Charles Darwin Walk is popular with walkers because of the beautiful scenery and birds to watch, including honeyeaters, wrens and black crows. 

4. Pulpit Walking Track

Location: 98H9+JV, Blackheath NSW 2785, Australia (Open in Google Maps)

Website: Pulpit Walking Track

Length: 3.8km

Difficulty: Moderate

Hiking Time: 2-3 Hours

The Pulpit Walking Track is a 3.8 km long Class 4 walking track in the Blue Mountains National Park in New South Wales. During this time, you can admire the heathers, the moors, the waterfalls and the ever-changing scenery of the Val da Grose.

Pulpit Rock is an isolated pinnacle that stands atop a massive rock set back from the cliff face. Eucalyptus trees become a landscape feature as you approach the Pulpit Rock Lookout. If you like to discover stunning scenery and natural beauty, then Pulpit Walking Track is the place for you.

5. Leura Cascades Fern Bower Circuit

Location: 78HC+H8, Leura NSW 2780, Australia (Open in Google Maps)

Website: Leura Cascades Fern Bower

Length: 4.5km

Difficulty: Moderate

Hiking Time: 3 Hours

Leura Cascades Fern Bower is a scenic forest trail that follows Leura Falls Creek and hugs the majestic cliff line surrounding Jamison Valley. Leura Cascades Fern Bower is filled with lush vegetation and tropical rainforest landscapes. Starting at the Leura Cascades picnic area, this easy trail offers a spectacular view of Bridal Veil Falls.

6. Wentworth Pass Loop Walking Track

Location: 79F9+WG, Wentworth Falls NSW 2782, Australia (Open in Google Maps)

Website: Wentworth Pass Loop Walking Track

Length: 5km (loop)

Difficulty: Moderate

Hiking Time: 4-5 Hours

The Wentworth Pass Loop Walking Track is a challenging hiking route. Wentworth Pass offers beautiful waterfalls, valley views, and stunning forests and woodlands. Starting at the Wentworth Falls picnic area, follow the flat path past Jamison Valley Lookout and Wentworth Lookout (stopping to admire the views at each lookout) to walk up about 200 steps to Fletchers Lookout of the cliff's edge. The pool below Wentworth Falls is perfect for relaxing on a warm day and enjoying the fresh, humid air.

7. The Grand Canyon Track

Location: Evans Lookout Rd, Blackheath NSW 2785, Australia (Open in Google Maps)

Website: The Grand Canyon Track

Length: 6.3km

Difficulty: Moderate

Hiking Time: 3-4 Hours

The Grand Canyon Trail is one of the most unique and fun hikes in the Blue Mountains., starting from Evans Lookout near Blackheath. Much of the Grand Canyon Trail is shaded by native plants, such as ferns and acacia. The Grand Canyon Trail is one of the oldest trails in the Blue Mountains, officially opened in 1907. This popular trail passes through dense forest, many streams, small waterfalls, massive sandstone walls and stunning rock overhangs.

8. Ruined Castle Walk

Location: New South Wales 2787, Australia (Open in Google Maps)

Website: Ruined Castle Walk   

Length: 8km

Difficulty: Hard

Hiking Time: 4-5 Hours

The Ruined Castle Walk is one of the most peaceful walks in the Blue Mountains. The castle ruins are a beautiful rock formation that offers excellent views of the valley, Wentworth Falls and Katoomba. This hiking route takes you through a dense forest with tall dogwood and sassafras trees.

The Ruined Castle Walk is a famous mining trail with embankments, rock chips and the collapsed ruins of miners' huts along the way. You'll enjoy unparalleled views of the Jamison Valley and Cedar Creek Valley when you reach the top.

9. Federal Pass

Location: Blue Mountains National Park NSW 2787, Australia (Open in Google Maps)

Website: Federal Pass   

Length: 13km (one-way)

Difficulty: Hard

Hiking Time: 6 Hours 30 Min

The Federal Pass is one of the most challenging walks in the Blue Mountains and one of the most beautiful in New South Wales. This epic walk cuts through the stunning wilderness of the Blue Mountains National Park and offers spectacular views of cliffs and waterfalls. This walk follows the foot of the cliffs between Leura and the Ruined Castle, where famous places such as the Three Sisters, Katoomba Falls, and the Golden Stairs are visited.

10. Six Foot Track

Location: New South Wales, Australia (Open in Google Maps)

Website: Six Foot Track   

Length: 46km

Difficulty: Hardest

Hiking Time: 3 Days

Six Foot Track is the most famous multi-day walk in the Blue Mountains. Six Foot Track was first built in 1884 and was known as the Horse Cage Trail. This challenging walk starts near Katoomba. You'll pass through cascading waterfalls and rushing rivers to Megaron Valley and villages, cross a unique swing bridge and climb mountains to reach the Jenolan Caves.

Jackery Portable Power Stations for Hiking

Take your Blue Mountains hiking adventures to the next level with Jackery Portable Power Stations. Jackery Portable Power Stations are made for people who like being outside and care about the environment and their comfort. They give your tools a safe way to get power while on the go.

Jackery ensures that their Portable Power Stations use lithium-ion and LiFePO4 batteries for a steady power source. These generators can use the sun's energy now that Jackery Solar Panels are added. This makes them an eco-friendly power source for the Blue Mountains's beautiful scenery.

We recommend Jackery Explorer 300 Plus and 600 Plus for hiking trips since they are compact, portable, and powerful. By taking them, you should never worry about losing electricity.

Jackery Explorer 300 Plus

The Jackery Explorer 300 Plus portable power station is a lightweight and efficient power supply designed to meet the power needs for various situations such as hiking, kayaking, picnicking, camping, road trips, and emergency power backup.

This power station has a unique Battery Management System (BMS). It has 52 safety features and 12 BMS algorithms that work together to keep the device and any attached appliances as safe as possible. It also has four kinds of physical security to ensure everyone is safe.

This model stands out because it has an intelligent app control feature that lets users quickly manage the battery through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. This makes it more modern and convenient to use. It's also very light - only 8.27 pounds - so it's an excellent choice for people who are always on the go.

Jackery Explorer 600 Plus

The Jackery Explorer 600 Plus is the best portable power option. It can power many outdoor devices, from GPS devices to camping lights, with its 800W output and 632Wh capacity. The Jackery Explorer 600 Plus is your go-to power station for all your activities because it is strong, durable, and light. It makes charging fun things to do outside easy.

The Jackery Explorer 600 Plus can meet all of your outdoor entertainment needs. A lot of different outdoor entertainment gadgets can connect to it. Its dual PD fast charging can go up to 100W, so your devices will be charged quickly. The Explorer 600 Plus can give you long-lasting power, a backup in an emergency, or quiet charging that won't bother anyone.

It's small and light (16.1 pounds/7.75 kg), making it convenient and easy to store. It's easy to take with you because the handle folds up. You can always get power to stay linked and charged on your hikes, no matter where they take you. 

Tips for Hiking in The Blue Mountains

There are always some safety precautions that need to be taken when going bushwalking. Here are a few things you should know before planning a hike in the Blue Mountains.

Let your friends and family know where you're going and when you'll be back. There may not be cell phone service in many areas of the Blue Mountains, so someone will know where to start to find you if you need help. If you want to spend the money on something other than a personal locator beacon, you can rent one from some police stations, parks and wildlife centres.

Whatever you do or don't do, please respect the hike and other hikers. In a nutshell, that means:

• Don't litter or throw fruit peels.
• Stay on the official trail.
• Don't disturb the environment around you (breaking branches, etc.).
• Be considerate of other hikers (no loud music, etc.)

Additionally, hiking in the Blue Mountains is dangerous in some ways because Australia is home to many wild animals, even hazardous ones. Most wild animals only attack when they are scared. For example, snakes bite and inject venom when they feel threatened. If you encounter a dangerous wild animal or insect, stay calm, don't panic, and give it enough space to disappear.

When you first start, choose a hike less than five miles long with less climbing. Plan your training ahead of time if you intend to take on a longer hike. Increase your weekly mileage by one or two miles to reach your goal distance.

Next, distance markers tell you the distance (one-way) to the viewpoint and how long it will take to get there (round-trip time). Ask a local or visitor centre if you have any questions about hiking, flora, fauna, or anything else.

Hiking in Blue Mountains FAQs

The following are the frequently asked questions about hiking in the Blue Mountains:

1. When is the best time of year to go hiking in the Blue Mountains?

Due to its proximity to Sydney, many Sydneysiders flock to the Blue Mountains on weekends and holidays. So visit the Blue Mountains on a weekday. The best time to visit the Blue Mountains is usually during the milder seasons (September to October in spring or March to May in autumn), especially if you're hiking. 

2. How do you get to the Blue Mountains from Sydney?

The best mode of transportation is by car. But travelling from Sydney to the Blue Mountains only takes 2 hours by train.

3. Where are the Blue Mountains trails for a day's adventure?

The best walking trails for a day trip to the Blue Mountains must be the Wentworth Pass loop walking track and the Grand Canyon Trail, as they are both filled with stunning views and exciting trails.

4. Is Three Sisters a must-see attraction in the Blue Mountains?

The Three Sisters are not only a unique geographical feature but also a cultural symbol. Blue Mountain First Nations folklore said three sisters were turned into stone during a tribal war and guarded the land forever. No trip to the Blue Mountains is complete without seeing the famous Three Sisters peaks. Echo Point Lookout is the perfect place to see the Three Sisters. The Three Sisters is ideal for photographers and nature lovers to enjoy sunrise and sunset.  

Final Thoughts

The World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains are the most visited national park in New South Wales. Hidden waterfalls, deep canyons, unique rock formations and rare animals are part of the famous Blue Mountains landscape. Its vast walking trails stretch over a million hectares and will take you to its absolute best.

Whether you're looking for a relaxing weekend or a fun day out with the family, check out the above list of the best Blue Mountains hikes. This article helps you plan your hike and enjoy the natural beauty.