Conservation Hut to Empress Lookout

Download & Print Map and Notes

Tap again to allow map panning

Time 30 mins
Return 762 m Return
Climb 95 m
Grade 3 Moderate track
Bus Car
no_pets
This is a walk that engages the senses, from Conservation Hut into the Valley of the Waters. The walk starts off with coffee aromas from Conservation Hut and winds down through the inspiring bushland, with a number of views along the way. The turn-around point of Empress Lookout doesn't have the greatest views but the sounds of Empress Falls roaring through the canyon are quite enjoyable.

Conservation Hut

Conservation Hut
Conservation Hut is a small cafe perched above the Valley of the Waters, Blue Mountains National Park. The hut was opened in 1963 as a meeting place for the local conservation movement. Rebuilt, Conservation Hut opened as a cafe in 1993, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week. Around the Conservation Hut is a small parking area, public toilets, picnic shelters, town water and B&B's. For further information or bookings call (02) 4757 3827. More info.

(0km) Conservation Hut → Int of Valley of the Waters and Queen Victoria Tracks

distance 320 m time 8 mins climb 2m descent -75m Moderate track
From Conservation Hut, this walk follows the 'Valley of the Waters' sign down some timber and dirt steps passing a couple of picnic shelters. The track soon leads to the signposted intersection with the 'Short Cut Track' (still in view of the Conservation Hut).
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Valley of the Waters' sign down the steps, passing an information sign. After the handrail and more signs, the track passes a couple of faint tracks (on the left, leading to an old picnic area). Further down the steps, the walk comes the end of another handrail and a three-way intersection (signposted 'Overcliff Track' and 'National Pass').
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'National Pass - Valley of the Waters' sign down the timber steps. The track passes a few faint tracks (on the left, that lead to an unfenced view point). The walk continues down the steps, soon coming to an unsignposted intersection with the Lyrebird Cliff track (on a small sandstone rock platform).
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads down the wooden steps to almost immediately come to the signposted intersection with 'Queen Victoria Lookout' track.

(0km) Int of Valley of the Waters and Queen Victoria Tracks → Queen Victoria Lookout

distance 20 m time 1 mins climb 0m descent -17m Easy track
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Queen Victoria Lookout' sign down the steps towards the handrail. Soon the track passes a small lookout on the left and, shortly afterwards, the fence leads to the rock platform and fenced 'Queen Victoria Lookout'. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn left.

Queen Victoria Lookout

Queen Victoria Lookout
The Queen Victoria Lookout is perched above the Valley of the Waters, south-west of Conservation Hut. The fenced lookout has views into the narrow section of the valley. The views are made more dramatic by the roar of the waterfalls below and the mists which frequent the area. Empress Falls are only just visible - the main views extend down Jamison Valley. Kings Tableland (left) and Sublime Point(right) dominate the views and the eastern edge of Mount Solitary and beyond is also visible.

(0km) Int of Valley of the Waters and Queen Victoria Tracks → Empress Lookout

distance 60 m time 2 mins climb 0m descent -18m Easy track
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads down the steps away from 'Queen Victoria Lookout' keeping the rock face to the right. The track soon passes under a sandstone overhang and then down more steps to come to the fenced and signposted 'Empress Lookout'.

Empress Lookout

Empress Lookout
Empress Lookout is a fenced and signposted lookout, perched on a sandstone overhang above the Valley of the Waters Creek. There is a view down to part of the Empress Falls and into the canyon. The views are filtered through the surrounding trees. It makes for a good spot to catch your breath when walking into, or out of, the Valley of the Waters.

Maps for the Conservation Hut to Empress 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.

Katoomba1:25 000 Map Series89301S KATOOMBANSW-89301S
Katoomba1:100 000 Map Series8930 KATOOMBA8930

Cross sectional view of the Conservation Hut to Empress Lookout bushwalking track

Terrain profile for Conservation Hut to Empress Lookout

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Conservation Hut to Empress Lookout

Altitude analysis for Conservation Hut to Empress 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.

Length762 m
Time30 mins
.




Grade 3/6



Moderate track
AS 2156.1GradientShort steep hills (3/6)
Quality of trackClear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
SignsClearly signposted (1/6)
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

Around 270m of this walk has short steep hills, whilst the remaining 110m has gentle hills with occasional steps.

Quality of track

Around 320m of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail, whilst the remaining 55m follows a smooth and hardened path.

Signs

This whole walk, 380m is clearly signposted.

Experience Required

This whole walk, 380m requires no previous bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 380m is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

Around 270m of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 110m 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 Conservation Hut to Empress Lookout walk.

Other Nearby walks

A list of walks that start near the Conservation Hut to Empress Lookout walk.

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Conservation Hut to Empress Lookout walk starts and ends at the Conservation Hut (gps: -33.720216, 150.36290)

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.

Comments