Carrington Park to Leura Forest and pass loop

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Time 3 hrs
Circuit 4.8 km Circuit
Climb 674 m
Grade 4 Hard track
Train Bus Car
no_pets
This walk is a fantastic way to see Leura Forest. The walk descends from Carrington Park, visiting Leura Forest and following a loop along the base of the cliffs and beneath the Three Sisters, before climbing back up to Carrington Park. This walk explores a variety of forests types and a few waterfalls. Leura Forest is a lovely picnic area, a great place to relax.

Carrington Park

Carrington Park
Carrington Park is a medium-sized park on a traffic island, at the junction of Cliff Road and Merriwa St, Katoomba. The park is partially fenced and has a picnic shelter, picnic tables, garbage bins and children's play equipment.

(0km) Carrington Park → Int of Federal Pass and Jamieson Lookout Tracks

distance 230 m time 5 mins climb 5m descent -22m Moderate track
From Carrington Park, the walk crosses Cliff Drive and goes down the stairs and past the sign for 'Blue Mountains National Park'. The walk continues down the stairs until reaching an intersection signposted with the way to 'Echo Point' or 'Leura Cascades'.
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Leura Cascades 1km' sign down the wooden steps and along the bush track, winding through the forest until coming to the signposted intersection of the 'Leura Forest' Track.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Leura Forest' sign along the bush track, winding down the hill for a short while before dropping down a set of wooden steps, to the signposted intersection with the 'Jamieson Lookout' track.

(0km) Int of Federal Pass and Jamieson Lookout Tracks → Jamieson Lookout

distance 20 m time 1 mins climb 0m descent -6m Easy track
Turn sharp left: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Jamieson Lookout' sign along the short bush track to the rock shelf at the Jamieson Lookout. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Veer left.

Jamieson Lookout

Jamieson Lookout
Jamieson Lookout is a fenced lookout at the east end of the Federal Pass track, and just off Prince Henry Cliff Walk. The lookout has a bench seat and provides great views up the Jamison Valley, along Kings Tableland escarpment and past Mount Solitary. The lookout is perched up on a large rock buttress, giving views unobscured by trees.

(0km) Int of Federal Pass and Jamieson Lookout Tracks → Fern Bower

distance 90 m time 3 mins climb 0m descent -36m Hard track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the dirt path, heading down the long set of wooden and rocky steps. The walk winds down past a picnic chair under a cliff overhang, and continues down the steps into the valley and through the forest to the Fern Bower information sign.

Fern Bower

Fern Bower
Fern Bower is an especially pleasant part of the Blue Mountains National Park, protected from heat and providing a great environment for fern trees, bracken ferns and moss to thrive. Fern Bower is a signposted area along the Federal Pass walking track, just below Jamieson Lookout and next to Linda Creek. This is a nice place to stop, rest and enjoy the bird noises.

(0km) Fern Bower → Int of Federal Pass and the Amphitheatre track

distance 320 m time 13 mins climb 10m descent -150m Hard track
Continue straight: From the information sign, the walk follows the track down the steps, passing a 'Rich History' information sign before coming down to the signposted intersection with the Amphitheatre track, at the top of a metal staircase.

(1km) Int of Federal Pass and the Amphitheatre track → Lila falls crossing

distance 20 m time 1 mins climb 0m descent -18m Moderate track
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Federal Pass Leura Forest' sign down the long metal staircase, to cross the bridge over Linda Creek in front of Lila Falls.

Lila Falls

Lila Falls
Lila Falls is a thin waterfall on Linda Creek. The Federal Pass crosses the creek (on a bridge) in front of these falls, just below the intersection with the amphitheatre. The waterfall is not the most spectacular one in this valley, but it is a nice cool spot to catch your breath.

(1km) Lila Falls crossing → Marguerite Cascades

distance 180 m time 11 mins climb 37m descent -90m Hard track
Continue straight: From the Lila Falls, this walk follows the track heading down the hill, winding down a wooden walkway keeping the creek to the left. The track hugs the rock wall and passes under a shallow overhang. The walk continues down a staircase, then turns back down into the gully where it come to the taller and slender Linda Falls. After passing Linda Falls the walk follows the wooden steps down through the gulley, crossing the creek again before heading down to the Marguerite Cascades.

Marguerite Cascades

Marguerite Cascades are a series of small cascades finishing with a taller waterfall of a few metres height, dropping into a shallow sandy pool. The cascades are on Linda Creek and a small bridge crosses the creek at the base of the falls as part of the Federal Pass walking track. The cascades are a nice place to sit and listen to the water running and the local birds in this cool shady area.

(1km) Marguerite Cascades → Leura Forest

distance 320 m time 11 mins climb 50m descent -14m Hard track
Continue straight: From the 'Marguerite Cascades'[1], this walk follows the timber steps downhill, winding steeply for a short while until coming to an intersection with a faint track, marked with a timber 'Federal Pass' sign[2], just beside a foot bridge[3].
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk crosses Linda Creek just below a pleasant cascade[4] using the foot bridge with a handrail[5]. This walk then continues along the bush track that winds along the valley floor, to the signposted 'Leura Forest'. From here, the walk continues along the wide bush track, passing a few picnic tables, and winding through the forest to an open area with a large gazebo and an information sign at the intersection of the Federal Pass and the Dardenelles tracks.

Leura Forest

Leura Forest
Leura Forest is a great picnic area in the Jamison Valley at the junction of the Federal Pass and Dardenelles Tracks. This place was home to a popular tea house (also known as 'Lady Carrington Dining Hall') from the late 1800's[6]. Today walkers can still enjoy the historic rotunda and the foundations of the original tea house[7]. The picnic area provides a great rest spot under the shade of the lilli pilli and coachwood forest.

(1km) Leura Forest (Int of Federal Pass and Dardenelles Tracks) → Int of Federal Pass, Scenic Railway and Dardenelles Tracks

distance 1.3 km time 36 mins climb 117m descent -99m Moderate track
Continue straight: From Leura Forest, the walk follows the 'Federal Pass' sign towards 'Scenic Railway'. Shortly after crossing a small creek using a little bridge, the track begins to steadily go downhill then flatten out. The environment surrounding the bush track at this point is quite dense and, while very pretty, it is difficult to see views of the surrounding area, although there are occasional glimpses of Sublime Point Service Trail on the left. After a while, the track begins to steadily climb to a signposted intersection with 'Dardenelles Pass'. There are several signposts and a bench seat.

(2km) Int of Federal Pass, Scenic Railway and Dardenelles Tracks → Bottom of Giant Staircase

distance 290 m time 10 mins climb 36m descent -33m Moderate track
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the sign pointing along the 'Dardenelles Track' towards the 'Giant Steps' - this is the upper track, keeping the main cliffs on the left. After the first short rise, the track flattens out and continues with some great views over the valley. At several points, small seats have been installed to enjoy these views. The track soon comes to an intersection signposted as the 'Giant Staircase'.

(3km) Bottom of Giant Staircase → Leura Forest (Int of Federal Pass and Dardenelles Tracks)

distance 870 m time 27 mins climb 89m descent -108m Hard track
Continue straight: From the bottom of the Giant Staircase, this walk follows the Dardanelles Pass sign towards 'Leura Forest', keeping the main cliff face on the left. There are occasional good views out over the valley to the east. Gradually, the track begins to descend and becomes more shady. In this section of track, there are often fallen logs across the track, which will need to be climbed over. Gradually, the track descends down behind the pergola at Leura Forest.

(4km) Leura Forest → Lower Linda Creek Falls

distance 300 m time 10 mins climb 9m descent -50m Moderate track
Turn left: From the gazebo, this walk follows the wide bush track past the information sign and through the forest, passing a few picnic tables and coming to the Leura Forest signpost. From here the walk continues along the wide track to cross Linda Creek in a timber foot bridge with a handrail[8]. On the other side of the creek this walk comes to an intersection with a faint track, marked with a 'Federal Pass' sign[9].

(4km) Lower Linda Creek Falls → Lila Falls crossing

distance 200 m time 12 mins climb 95m descent -37m Hard track
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Prince Henry Cliff Walk' sign[10] up the timber steps keeping the cascade to your left[11]. The track leads steeply uphill for a short while, to come to the signposted 'Marguerite Cascades'[12].
Continue straight: From Marguerite Cascades, this walk climbs steeply up the wooden steps, then turns left and crosses Linda Creek. These steps climb to a bridge, where the walk passes the tall and slender Linda Falls. From Linda Falls the walk heads up the wooden and metal staircases. The walk then follows the wooden boardwalk that hugs the side of a rock wall under a shallow overhang before heading up some more steps and soon coming to a small bridge crossing Linda Creek in front of Lila Falls.

(4km) Lila falls crossing → Int of Federal Pass and the Amphitheatre track

distance 20 m time 1 mins climb 18m descent 0m Moderate track
Continue straight: From the Lila Falls, this walk crosses the bridge and heads up the metal staircase. At the top of this climb the walk comes to signposted intersection with the 'Amphitheatre track'.

(4km) Int of Federal Pass and the Amphitheatre track → Fern Bower

distance 320 m time 13 mins climb 150m descent -10m Hard track
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'Prince Henry Cliff Walk' sign up the timber steps, keeping the valley on the right. The walk winds up the long wooden steps through the rainforest, until it reaches the Fern Bower information sign.

(4km) Fern Bower → Int of Federal Pass and Jamieson Lookout Tracks

distance 90 m time 3 mins climb 36m descent 0m Hard track
Continue straight: From the information sign, this walk follows the bush track, heading up the long set of wooden steps that wind up through the forest. The walk passes a picnic chair under a rocky overhang on the right, and continues up to the top of the valley, where it comes to the intersection with the Jamieson Lookout track.

(5km) Int of Federal Pass and Jamieson Lookout Tracks → Carrington Park

distance 230 m time 5 mins climb 22m descent -5m Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads up the wooden steps and follows the bush track, winding up the gentle hill to the signposted intersection with the 'Prince Henry Cliff Walk'.
Turn left: From the intersection, the track follows the 'Echo Point' sign along the bush track, winding through the forest for a short while before climbing up a set of wooden steps, to the intersection with the Carrington Park Track (not signposted).
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the bush track up the stairs. Just past the sign for 'Blue Mountains National Park', the track emerges onto Cliff Drive. Crossing the road, the walk goes into Carrington Park.

Maps for the Carrington Park to Leura Forest and pass loop 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.

Six Foot Track1:50 000 Map SeriesSix Foot TrackNSW-six-foot-track
Katoomba1:25 000 Map Series89301S KATOOMBANSW-89301S
Katoomba1:100 000 Map Series8930 KATOOMBA8930

Cross sectional view of the Carrington Park to Leura Forest and pass loop bushwalking track

Terrain profile for Carrington Park to Leura Forest and pass loop

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Carrington Park to Leura Forest and pass loop

Altitude analysis for Carrington Park to Leura Forest and pass loop

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.

Length4.8 km
Time3 hrs
.




Grade 4/6



Hard track
AS 2156.1GradientVery steep (4/6)
Quality of trackRough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
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

2.6km of this walk has short steep hills and another 1.8km has gentle hills with occasional steps. The remaining (390m) is very steep.

Quality of track

3km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail and another 1.7km follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely. Whilst another 70m follows a smooth and hardened path and the remaining 40m follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.

Signs

Around 2.9km of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 1.8km has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required

This whole walk, 4.8km requires no previous bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 4.8km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

Around 4.5km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 290m has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Carrington Park to Leura Forest and pass loop walk.

Other Nearby walks

A list of walks that start near the Carrington Park to Leura Forest and pass loop walk.

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Carrington Park to Leura Forest and pass loop walk starts and ends at the Carrington Park (gps: -33.720233, 150.31744)

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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