Pulpit Rock to Evans Lookout Cliff Top Track

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Time 4 hrs 15 mins
One way 6.6 km One way
Climb 619 m
Grade 4 Hard track
Car
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The Cliff Top Track is one of the longer walks near Blackheath, and has constant views. The track follows the rim of the Grose Valley, with a side trip to Boyds Beach, and passes numerous lookouts with views of the Grose Valley and it's waterfalls. This walk is an excellent one way trip from Pulpit Rock to Evan's Lookout car park.

(0km) Pulpit Rock car park → Int. Pulpit Rock Trk and Pulpit Rock Lookout Trk

distance 270 m time 8 mins climb 0m descent -36m Moderate track
From the car park, the walk follows the sign to 'Pulpit Rock Lookout'[1], down the stairs from the car park. The track continues down to a shelter and toilet, and then steeply heads down another flight of stairs, before flattening out and then descending more stairs to the signposted intersection.

(0km) Int. Pulpit Rock Trk and Pulpit Rock Lookout Trk → Pulpit Rock Upper Lookout

distance 50 m time 1 mins climb 0m descent -14m Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk goes down the stairs, following the sign to 'Pulpit Rock'. The track heads down the hill to a flat area with awesome views over the Grose Valley. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn right.

Pulpit Rock Lookout

Pulpit Rock Lookout
Pulpit Rock Lookout, Blue Mountains National Park, looks over the Grose Valley and back towards Blackheath, with Bridal Veil Falls and the Govetts Leap cliff edge in view. The lookout has many levels with the uppermost lookout having the easiest access.

(0km) Int. Pulpit Rock Trk and Pulpit Rock Lookout Trk → Boyd Lookout

distance 1.6 km time 45 mins climb 170m descent -124m Moderate track
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk does not follow the signs to the 'Carpark' or 'Pulpit Rock', but instead leads away from the stairs and into a gully. The track rounds the gully, dropping into a creek before it heading uphill to the cliff tops again. The track continues to undulate along the clifftops, with the views of the valley to the left. The track winds in and out of gullys for approximately 1km to the fenced viewing area of Boyd Lookout.

Boyd Lookout

Boyd Lookout
Boyd Lookout, Blue Mountains National Park, looks over the Grose Valley with a spectacular view over Pulpit Rock to the east. It is an unfenced, informal lookout.

(2km) Boyd Lookout → Int. Popes Glen Trk and Pulpit Rock Trk

distance 1.2 km time 46 mins climb 148m descent -204m Moderate track
Continue straight: From the lookout, this walk heads along the hillside with the valley below to the left. The track leads along the hillside for some time, in and out of gullys, to then head down into a gully facing Horseshoe Falls. The track rounds the gully, passing across a creek to a railed lookout on the left. The track then heads under a cliffline to a railed section of track, which winds down the hill steeply to the street-signposted intersection after Popes Glen Creek.

(3km) Int. Popes Glen Trk and Pulpit Rock Trk → Boyd Beach

distance 340 m time 8 mins climb 21m descent -18m Moderate track
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign to 'Popes Glen' keeping the creek below on the right. The track continues for approximately 100m, rising to the left of a prominent rock feature. The walk passes another track on the right (with access to the creek), then continues to rise past the rock feature (on the right - The rock feature has a trail to its top.) This walk continues from the rock feature, heading down the hill to a signposted intersection.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill following the 'Boyds Beach' sign (under the bush). The walk winds down the rocky steps for approximately 40m to Boyd Beach. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Continue straight.

Boyd Beach

Boyd Beach
Boyd Beach, Blue Mountains National Park, is a small sandy bank on Popes Glen Creek. The beach is a quiet spot with nice ferns and shade. The beach is a short distance from the Popes Glen track.

(3km) Int. Popes Glen Trk and Pulpit Rock Trk → Horseshoe Falls Lookout

distance 140 m time 4 mins climb 26m descent -10m Moderate track
Turn sharp left: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Govetts Leap' sign through the ferns, with the creek to the left of the track, and comes to a set of stairs. The walk climbs the steep stairs to follow the railing around a rocky outcrop. The track then winds along the hillside for some time heading to pass a lookout on the left, as the track continues to the intersection near the Horseshoe Falls Lookout.

Horseshoe Falls

Horseshoe Falls
Horseshoe Falls, Blue Mountains National Park, are sourced by Popes Glen Creek which runs over the cliff into the Grose Valley. The Horseshoe Falls seem to be named after the shape of the valley into which they drop.

Horseshoe Falls Lookout

Horseshoe Falls Lookout
Horseshoe Falls Lookout, Blue Mountains National Park, is a small fenced lookout. There are views down to Horseshoe Falls and across the Grose Valley.

(3km) Horseshoe Falls Lookout → Govetts Leap Lookout

distance 340 m time 11 mins climb 62m descent -23m Hard track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk winds along the cliff top with the valley below to the left. The walk then leads steeply up the stairs to the intersection at the viewing area.
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads up the stairs, keeping the valley to the left. The walk heads up and around the hillside to cross over a bridge, then up more stairs to the intersection.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads across the grassed area towards a platform structure. The walk climbs some stairs onto Govetts Leap Lookout, with its great views and sandstone monuments.

Govetts Leap Lookout

Govetts Leap Lookout
Govetts Leap Lookout is named after the first European man to have enjoyed this view, William Govett, as an assistant surveyor in June 1831. Govetts Leap Lookout offers wonderful views over the Grose Valley and the spectacular Bridal Falls. The word `leap` is an old Scottish word meaning waterfall. The lookout is easily accessed from the car park[4], there are also toilets[5]and picnic shelters[6]nearby.

(4km) Govetts Leap Lookout → Barrow Lookout

distance 700 m time 17 mins climb 22m descent -84m Hard track
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk heads up the hill, following the sign to 'Evans Lookout' and keeping the Grose Valley below on the left. The track rises for approximately 400m and then heads down the hillside. The walk zigzags down the hill, with stairs, and then crosses a creek with cement steppingstones, coming to a signposted intersection on the other side.
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk heads up the winding stairs towards the cliffs. The soon comes to the railed Barrow Lookout, where there is a bench seat.

Govetts Leap (falls)

Govetts Leap (falls)
Govetts Leap, is a waterfall in the Blue Mountains National Park. The fall is fed by Govetts Leap Brook which runs over the cliff into the Grose Valley. The falls are best viewed from Govetts Leap and Barrow Lookouts. Leap is a scots dialect word for cataract or waterfall.

Barrow Lookout

Barrow Lookout
Barrow Lookout, Blue Mountains National Park, looks down to Govetts Leap falls and across the Grose Valley. The lookout is fenced and has a bench seat to rest.

(4km) Barrow Lookout → Evans Lookout toilets

distance 2.1 km time 53 mins climb 165m descent -104m Moderate track
Continue straight: From the lookout, this walk heads up the stairs, keeping the valley below on the left. The walk winds up the stairs for quite some time, then flattens out along the cliff top. This walk continues along the flat for approximately 100m before climbing up more stairs for approximately 200m, to a bench seat at the intersection. If the track begins to descend after the bench seat, then you have gone too far.
Veer left: From the intersection at the bench seat, this walk heads down the hill, with the valley on the left. The track flattens out for approximately 100m before swinging right, into a gully. The track climbs out of the gully and continues to undulate around the hillside for approximately 500m. The track then descends steeply into 'Haywards Gully' which has a boardwalk bridge. This walk follows the wooden boardwalk for approximately 30m, then continues along a flat, dirt track for approximately 60m. The track then climbs up the hill for approximately 100m to Evans Lookout car park.

Hayward Gully

Hayward Gully
Hayward Gully, Blue Mountains National Park, is named after the first white man, William Hayward, to reach the floor of Govetts Gorge, in 1847. The area is a small gully along the Cliff Top Walk between Evans Lookout and Barrows Lookout. The gully is a quiet place, with a bench seat to enjoy the flora and fauna, and views through the trees into the Grose Valley.

(6km) Evans Lookout toilets → Int. Valley View Lookout Trk and Evans Lookout Trk

distance 110 m time 2 mins climb 0m descent -12m Moderate track
Turn left: From the car park, the walk heads to the other end of the car park (towards the lookouts), to the intersection on the left of the information sign.
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill for approximately 30m to the intersection (on the right).

(6km) Int. Valley View Lookout Trk and Evans Lookout Trk → Valley View Lookout

distance 20 m time 1 mins climb 0m descent -11m Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill to the railed lookout approximately 20m down, towards the cliff edge. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn left.

(6km) Int. Valley View Lookout Trk and Evans Lookout Trk → Evans Lookout

distance 120 m time 3 mins climb 6m descent -15m Easy track
Turn sharp right: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Evans Lookout' sign along the hillside, keeping the cliffs to the left of the track. The walk heads along the flat track for approximately 100m to the tarmac surface of Evans Lookout.

Evans Lookout

Evans Lookout
Evans Lookout, Blue Mountains National Park, looks over the spectacular Grose Valley, with its deep gorges, green forest and prominent cliff lines. The fenced lookout is at the end of Evans Lookout Road. There is a rock shelter hut and toilets.

(7km) Evans Lookout → Evans Lookout car park

distance 80 m time 3 mins climb 20m descent 0m Moderate track
Turn sharp right: From the lookout, this walk heads up the hill towards a stone shelter. The track continues past the stone shelter and away from the cliff line, to soon arrive at the car park.

Maps for the Pulpit Rock to Evans Lookout Cliff Top Track 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.

Katoomba1:25 000 Map Series89301S KATOOMBANSW-89301S
Mount Wilson1:25 000 Map Series89301N MOUNT WILSONNSW-89301N
Katoomba1:100 000 Map Series8930 KATOOMBA8930

Cross sectional view of the Pulpit Rock to Evans Lookout Cliff Top Track bushwalking track

Terrain profile for Pulpit Rock to Evans Lookout Cliff Top Track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Pulpit Rock to Evans Lookout Cliff Top Track

Altitude analysis for Pulpit Rock to Evans Lookout Cliff Top Track

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.

Length6.6 km
Time4 hrs 15 mins
.




Grade 4/6



Hard track
AS 2156.1GradientVery steep (4/6)
Quality of trackFormed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
SignsDirectional signs along the way (3/6)
Experience RequiredNo experience required (1/6)
WeatherWeather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
InfrastructureLimited 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

6km of this walk has short steep hills and another 810m is very steep. The remaining (210m) has gentle hills with occasional steps.

Quality of track

Around 6km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles, whilst the remaining 370m follows a clear and well formed track or trail.

Signs

Around 6km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 540m is clearly signposted.

Experience Required

This whole walk, 7km requires no previous bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 7km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

Around 6km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 560m is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Pulpit Rock to Evans Lookout Cliff Top Track walk.

Other Nearby walks

A list of walks that start near the Pulpit Rock to Evans Lookout Cliff Top Track walk.

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Pulpit Rock to Evans Lookout Cliff Top Track walk starts at the Pulpit Rock car park (gps: -33.618010, 150.32846)

The Pulpit Rock to Evans Lookout Cliff Top Track ends at the Evans Lookout car park (gps: -33.646554, 150.32540)

Weather Forecast

This walk starts in the Central Tablelands weather district.

Current Alerts

Park Information

Blue Mountains National Park

Attracting over 3 million visitors annually, Blue Mountains National Park holds some of Australia's most spectacular and diverse wilderness areas. Explore the Grose Valley, with its sheer sandstone cliffs, waterfalls and scenic walking, or enjoy the famous views of the Three Sisters. Easy access makes a day trips very worthwhile, but with such diversity it would be great to stay in one of the many B&B's and spend a few days soaking up the region.

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