Lockley's Pylon Track is an outstanding walk, offering some amazing views and interesting side trips. From Mt Hay Rd, the walk passes the prominent features of the Pinnacles (with an optional side trip exploring these) and climbs to Lockley's Pylon, which gives 360-degree views of the Mt Hay area and Grose Valley. Another optional side trip to Fortress Canyon Waterfall is well worth the walk, with its contrasting plateau, cliff and valley features creating some breath-taking scenery.
Please note: This is a 'return' style walk and therefore these graphs only show the terrain for the first half of the walk (until the turn around point.)
Cross sectional view of the Lockleys Pylon bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Lockleys Pylon bushwalking track
(0 km)
Lockleys car park
to
Middle Pinnacle Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 356 m
Time = 10 mins
Climb = 46 m
Descent = -3 m
From the car park, this walk heads past the sign for 'Lockleys Pylon Track' and another sign with a map on it. The track leads up a slight hill to tend right, along the edge of a spur. The track slowly climbs to the southern pinnacle (rocky outcrop) and then continues approximately 100m to the intersection below the middle pinnacle.
(0.36 km)
Middle Pinnacle
to
Middle Pinnacle N Int. Optional sidetrip: Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 267 m
Time = 6 mins
Climb = 13 m
Descent = -15 m
From the intersection, the walk heads up the hill towards the large rock features. The track continues for approximately 100m to an intersection on the left of a large rock. From the intersection, the walk heads around the large white rock (close to the intersection), soon coming to a small cave. From the cave, the walk heads around the rock (keeping the rock to the left), soon coming to an intersection. From the intersection, this walk heads along the ridgeline of the pinnacles, towards a far-off hill - Mt Hay. The track undulates along the top of the Pinnacles to the northernmost end of the Pinnacles, where there is a small cliffface and rock feature. From the intersection, this walk heads down the hillside towards the track below. The track leads down a small cliff then continues down the hillside to the intersection with another track below.
(0.36 km)
Middle Pinnacle
to
Mt Stead Trk Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 1.47 km
Time = 31 mins
Climb = 63 m
Descent = -61 m
From the intersection, this walk keeps the Pinnacles above to the right of the track, passing the most northern Pinnacle before coming to an intersection. From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill away from the Pinnacles. The track then descends a further 100m into a sandy and flat saddle, until the track rises out up the next hill. The track ascends the hill to gently undulate across the plateau, through the trees. The track then opens out onto a clearing where it continues up the hill for approximately 200m to the intersection on the next rise. The intersection is marked by a rocky outcrop to the left of the track.
(1.82 km)
Mt Stead Trk
to
Lockleys Pylon Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 1.57 km
Time = 36 mins
Climb = 81 m
Descent = -75 m
From the intersection, this walk heads off the main track to the rock feature, the summit of Mt Stead. From Mt Stead, this walk heads away from the rock feature on the knoll, to the intersection with the main track. From Mt Stead, this walk heads towards the surrounding valleys, leaving the rock feature behind on the left of the track. The track enters the tree line on the other side of the knoll and meanders through the trees for approximately 400m to open out onto a clearing. The track heads down through the clearing to pass to the right of two knolls. The track crosses the saddle and heads up the stairs on Lockleys Pylon to a sign marked intersection. From the intersection, this walk follows the sign to 'Lockleys Pylon' up the wooden stairs to the summit of Lockleys Pylon. This is marked by a stone cairn.
Lockleys Pylon
Alt = 922 m
Lockleys Pylon, Blue Mountains National Park, gives 360 degree views of the Mt Hay area with excellent scope over Fortress Creek Waterfall and into the Grose Valley.
(3.39 km)
Lockleys Pylon
to
Fortress Lookout Optional sidetrip: Route: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 162 m
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -46 m
From Lockleys Pylon, this walk heads south-west down the hill, keeping the valley to the right. The track heads down two short cliffs then wanders out to a point overlooking Fortress Creek waterfall.
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.
Current Park Closure information for Blue Mountains National Park Closure information last checked Tuesday 9th of February 2010 04:00 PM
Closed areas
Breakfast Point Lookout
Breakfast Point Lookout at Wentworth Falls is CLOSED until further notice.
Grand Canyon Track
Due to track restoration works the Grand Canyon track is completely CLOSED whilst major resoration works take place.
From January 11th until further notice:
There is no access for canyoners (7 days)
There is no access for walkers (7 days) from either end of the track.
There is no access to the Grose Valley from Evans Lookout via Grand Canyon
Current works will be completed by end of June 2010.
Other closure information
Exit from the Grose Valley to Evans Lookout is CLOSED due to significant landslide at Beauchamp Falls.
The causeway at the Glenbrook entrance to the Park is CLOSED due to flooding.
There is no access to the Glenbrook area of the Park, including Euroka Picnic and Camping Area, until further notice.
The Jamison Creek crossing at the top of Wentworth Falls is CLOSED due to storm and flood damage. Consequently, access to and from National Pass is closed at the crossing. The situation is currently being assessed and futher information will follow as it beocmes available.
Due to storm damage the following are CLOSED until further notice
Empress Canyon
National Pass
Wentworth Pass
Valley of the Waters
Undercliff track from Den Fenella to Princes Rock
Rocket Point
Darwins Walk
Vera Falls and all Valley tracks accessed via Valley of the Waters and National Pass
Access to Murphys Glen at Woodford closed
Burralow Picnic and Camping Area. Burralow Bridge is submerged and impassable, both access tracks have been damaged. At this stage the area is expected to be reopened Friday 12th February, conditions permitting.
Amphitheatre walking track at Leura
Mt Hay road
Victoria Falls Road
Pierces Pass Road
For updates and further information please contact the NPWS Heritage Centre at Blackheath, ph:4787 8877, open 7 days 9:00am to 4:30pm