Perry’s Lookdown to Lockley Pylon

(0km) Perry’s Lookdown car park and camping area → Perry’s Lookdown

80 m
3 mins
0m
-16m

Moderate track

From the car park, the walk follows the sign ‘Perry’s Lookdown Track’ down the hill to a railed lookout.

Perry’s Lookdown

Perry’s Lookdown, Blue Mountains NP, has views over the Grose Valley, with Blue Gum Forest nearly directly below and Lockleys Pylon to the south. The lookout is presumably named after Captain William Perry, the Deputy Surveyor General who worked under the leadership of Sir Thomas Mitchell.

(0.08km) Perry’s Lookdown → Dockers Lookout

60 m
3 mins
0m
-28m

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the Perry’s Lookdown, the walk follows the railed stairs down the hill for a short time until coming to a intersection signposted ‘Perrys Track’ and ‘Dockers Lookout’.
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk leads for a short distance down the railed path to the visible lookout area, Docker’s Lookout.

Dockers Lookout

Dockers Lookout, Blue Mountains NP, has views over the Grose Valley and Blue Gum Forest below. Mt Banks can be seen standing proudly to the north above the valley.

(0.14km) Dockers Lookout → Blue Gum Forest intersection

2 km
1 hr 32 mins
35m
-603m

Hard track

Turn around: From Dockers Lookout, the walk heads up the railed path for a short distance until coming to a signposted intersection.
Veer left: From the intersection, the walk follows the ‘Perry’s Lookdown Track’ sign down the hill. The track cuts across the hill to a bridge, where the track turns left and contours around the hill, before descending onto a lookout with memorial plaque and fire box.
Continue straight: From the lookout, the walk keeps the valley below on the left and heads down the steep stairs, through the gap in the cliffs. The stairs and handrail climb down through the cliffs, descending away from the main cliff before coming onto the top of a spur. The track tends right, over and down the spurline, and winds sharply down the spurline as it steeply descends for some time. The track heads down the spur, flattening out a few times before coming onto the relative flats of the Blue Gum Forest. The track heads down through the forest for a short time to a signposted intersection.

Blue Gum Forest

Blue Gum Forest, Blue Mountains NP, is a large stand of Eucalyptus deanei trees on the junction of the Grose River and Govetts Creek. The magnificent trees stand tall on the flats with low vegetation beneath. The trees of Blue Gum Forest represent the protection efforts of Myles Dunphy, who lead a group to raise the 130 pounds required to buy the Blue Gum Forest – quite a sum in 1931 during the depression – and save it from being cleared. The group were successful and the Blue Gum Forest is now protected within the Blue Mountains National Park. More info.

(2.17km) Blue Gum Forest intersection → Int. Lockleys Pylon and Du Faur Head Tracks

1.8 km
1 hr 15 mins
484m
0m

Hard track

Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk passes behind the ‘Camping only at Acacia Flat 10 mins’ sign, in the direction of the far valley side. The track meanders through the grass and ferns for a short time before crossing Govetts Creek. There is a fallen log upstream which many walkers have used to cross the creek. From the far bank, the track follows an arrow marker left, meandering through some more undergrowth. The track then steeply climbs up a hill to a fallen log, after which the track tends right, up the hill towards the top of the spurline. The walk then follows the spurline for some time as it heads up towards the cliffs. Nearer to the cliffs, the track travels through rockier and more dense vegetation. Once at the cliffline, the walk turns left along the base to steeply climb the rocky steps to an intersection between two rock features, in a saddle.

(3.94km) Int. Lockleys Pylon and Du Faur Head Tracks → Du Faur Head

90 m
2 mins
1m
-19m

Hard track

Turn left: From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill for approximately 20m to a rocky outcrop with stunning views down the Grose Valley. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn left.

Du Faur Head

Du Faur Head, Blue Mountains NP, is situated north of Lockleys Pylon. The knoll gives spectacular views up and down the Grose Valley and River. Du Faur Head is worth a visit on your way up or down to Blue Gum Forest from Lockleys Pylon.

(3.94km) Int. Lockleys Pylon and Du Faur Head Tracks → Int. Du Faur Track and Lockleys Pylon Trks

520 m
18 mins
95m
-8m

Hard track

Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads up towards the large grassy-looking knoll, keeping the cliffs and valley to the right. The track winds near the rock for a very short distance before climbing up a large step (just before a small rock overhang to the left). The track then winds over the several rocky knolls and meanders across a saddle before crossing a creek. From the creek, the walk climbs a staircase to arrive at an intersection with another bush track.

(4.46km) Int. Du Faur Track and Lockleys Pylon Trks → Int. Du Faur Head Trk and Lockleys Pylon N Tk

140 m
4 mins
20m
-3m

Hard track

Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk goes down the stairs, keeping the valley behind on the left. After descending the stairs, the walk follows a faint bush track back up the hill to to an intersection with another bush track.

(4.6km) Int. Du Faur Head Trk and Lockley Pylon N Tk → Lockley Pylon

90 m
4 mins
24m
0m

Moderate track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign to ‘Lockley Pylon’ up the wooden stairs to the summit of Lockley Pylon. This is marked by a stone cairn.

Lockley Pylon

Lockley 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.

(4.7km) Lockley Pylon → Middle Pinnacle

3 km
1 hr 7 mins
136m
-145m

Hard track

Turn around: From the cairn on top of Lockley Pylon, this walk heads down the wooden stairs away from the valley. The walk heads down the stairs to a signposted intersection.
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads down the stairs away from the knoll, past the ‘Lockley Pylon’ sign, and travels along the ridge. The track continues past two knolls on the right as it climbs from the clearing up to the tree line. The track meanders up through the trees for approximately 400m to an open area. The walk climbs to the top of the ridge, below the summit of Mt Stead, a rock feature to the right of the track.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads away from the views of the surrounding valleys and keeps the rock feature on the right of the track. The track enters the tree line then undulates down the plateau through the trees. The walk continues along a sandy saddle which is flat for approximately 100. The track then climbs out of the saddle and over a knoll to traverse the following saddle to the intersection below the northern Pinnacle.
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads towards the rocky knoll, keeping them above on the left. The track continues beneath the Pinnacles to come to an intersection below the last Pinnacle.

(7.7km) Middle Pinnacle → Lockley car park

360 m
10 mins
3m
-46m

Moderate track

Veer right: From the intersection, this walk keeps the pinnacles on the left of the track as it heads down the hill. The track tends right as it descends approximately 400m down to the signposted car park.

Maps for the Perry’s Lookdown to Lockley Pylon 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.

Katoomba	1:25 000 Map Series	89301S KATOOMBA	NSW-89301S
Mount Wilson	1:25 000 Map Series	89301N MOUNT WILSON	NSW-89301N
Katoomba	1:100 000 Map Series	8930 KATOOMBA	8930

Cross sectional view of the Perry’s Lookdown to Lockley Pylon bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Perry’s Lookdown to Lockley Pylon

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	8.1 km
		Time	5 hrs 30 mins
		.
Grade 4/6 Hard track	AS 2156.1	Gradient	Very steep (4/6)
		Quality of track	Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
		Signs	Minimal directional signs (4/6)
		Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
		Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
		Infrastructure	Limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6)

Some more details of this walks Grading

Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk

Gradient

Around 4.2km of this walk is very steep, whilst the remaining 3.8km has short steep hills.

Quality of track

Around 5km of this walk follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely, whilst the remaining 2.6km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.

Signs

7km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection and another 660m has minimal directional signs. The remaining (75m) is clearly signposted.

Experience Required

Around 6km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 1.8km requires some bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 8km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

Around 4.2km of this walk has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged), whilst the remaining 3.8km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Perry’s Lookdown to Lockley Pylon walk starts at the Perry’s Lookdown car park and camping area (gps: -33.599394, 150.34602)
Your main transport option to Perry’s Lookdown car park and camping area is by;

Car. There is free parking available.
(get details)

The Perry’s Lookdown to Lockley Pylon ends at the Lockley car park (gps: -33.651076, 150.37163)
Your main transport option to Lockley car park 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

Perry’s Lookdown to Lockley Pylon

(0km) Perry’s Lookdown car park and camping area → Perry’s Lookdown

Moderate track

Perry’s Lookdown

(0.08km) Perry’s Lookdown → Dockers Lookout

Moderate track

Dockers Lookout

(0.14km) Dockers Lookout → Blue Gum Forest intersection

Hard track

Blue Gum Forest

(2.17km) Blue Gum Forest intersection → Int. Lockleys Pylon and Du Faur Head Tracks

Hard track

(3.94km) Int. Lockleys Pylon and Du Faur Head Tracks → Du Faur Head

Hard track

Du Faur Head

(3.94km) Int. Lockleys Pylon and Du Faur Head Tracks → Int. Du Faur Track and Lockleys Pylon Trks

Hard track

(4.46km) Int. Du Faur Track and Lockleys Pylon Trks → Int. Du Faur Head Trk and Lockleys Pylon N Tk

Hard track

(4.6km) Int. Du Faur Head Trk and Lockley Pylon N Tk → Lockley Pylon

Moderate track

Lockley Pylon

(4.7km) Lockley Pylon → Middle Pinnacle

Hard track

(7.7km) Middle Pinnacle → Lockley car park

Moderate track

Maps for the Perry’s Lookdown to Lockley Pylon walk

Cross sectional view of the Perry’s Lookdown to Lockley Pylon bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Perry’s Lookdown to Lockley Pylon

Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001

Some more details of this walks Grading

Gradient

Quality of track

Signs

Experience Required

weather

Infrastructure

Similar walks

Other Nearby walks

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

Fire Danger

Weather Forest

Park Information & Alerts

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