Charles Darwin, National Pass and Nature Track walk
Closed:
(0km) Wentworth Falls Railway Station → Wilson Park
(0km) Wilson Park → Int of Charles Darwin and Parkes St Tracks
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk passes the blue sign (on the right) and turns right down the steps to immediately come to an intersection just before the bridge (and a 'Charles Darwin Walk' sign).
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows 'Charles Darwin walk' sign downstream, keeping the creek on the right. The track meanders alongside the creek over some timber platforms and through a lovely Banksia grove. Soon the track heads under a pipe bridge and comes to a clearing and intersection.
(1km) Int of Charles Darwin and Parkes St Tracks → Int of Charles Darwin and Fletcher St Tracks
(2km) Int of Charles Darwin and Fletcher St Tracks → Weeping Rock waterfall
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk heads down the steps following the 'Weeping Rock Circuit' sign to the creek a short distance away. Soon the track comes beside Jamison Creek, a lovely flat section of the creek on top of the waterfall. The track continues downstream and across a slippery rockshelf and down a staircase beside the falls. At the bottom of the stairs is another slippery rock platform and a pool at the bottom of Weeping Rock waterfall.
Weeping Rock
(3km) Weeping Rock waterfall → Int of Weeping Rock and Wentworth Falls Tracks
(3km) Int of Weeping Rock and Wentworth Falls Tracks → Top of Wentworth Falls
Queen's Cascades
(3km) Top of Wentworth Falls → Rocket Point Creek Intersection
Grand Stairway
(3km) Rocket Point Creek Intersection → Middle Wentworth Falls
Middle of Wentworth Falls
(3km) Middle Wentworth Falls → Top of the Slack Stairs
(3km) Top of the Slack Stairs → Int of Valley of the Waters and National Pass Tracks
(5km) Int of Valley of the Waters and National Pass Tracks → Lodore Falls
Lodore Falls
(5km) Lodore Falls → Empress Falls Crossing
Empress Falls
(5km) Empress Falls Crossing → Int of Valley of the Waters and Nature Tracks
(5km) Int of Valley of the Waters and Nature Tracks → Conservation Hut
Turn left: From the Empress Lookout, this walk heads up the wooden steps away from the lookout. The walk heads up the hill, soon passing under a sandstone overhang then up more steps, coming to a 'Y' intersection with the signposted 'Queen Victoria Lookout' track (on the right).
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk heads away from 'Queen Victoria Lookout' up the set of stairs to almost immediately come to a 'Y' intersection with the unsignposted Lyrebird Cliff track (on the right).
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads up the timber and dirt steps, away from the valley views. The track passes a few faint tracks (on the right, that lead to an unfenced view point). The track soon comes to a signposted intersection with the 'Overcliff Track'.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'National Pass - Tea Rooms' sign up the steps, with the handrail on the left. After a short time, the track passes a couple of faint tracks (on the right, leading to an old picnic area). Heading up the main steps, the walk passes another handrail (and signs) then an information sign, before coming to a three-way intersection with the 'Shortcut Track'.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads up the steps towards the building. The walk passes a couple of picnic shelters (on the right) before coming to the road and the front of the 'Conservation Hut'. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Veer right.
Conservation Hut
(5km) Int of Valley of the Waters and Nature Tracks → Lillians Glen
Continue straight: From post number 5 at Lillian's Bridge, this walk heads up the stairs away from the handrail, keeping the bridge and valley to the left. The track makes its way around the hill, passing a few handrails before heading down to some stepping stones across the creek. (This is a nice but slippery spot to enjoy, with a small waterfall to the right). After crossing the stepping stones, the track heads over a small rise to come back down and cross the creek again, on another set of stepping stones. This is signposted 'Lillians Glen'.
Lillian's Glen
(5km) Lillian's Glen → Edinburgh Castle Rock
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads past the sign saying 'Edinburgh Castle Rock' towards the unfenced rock and great views - this is Edinburgh Castle Rock.
Edinburgh Castle Rock
(6km) Edinburgh Castle Rock → Int of Nature and Edinburgh Castle Rock Tracks
(6km) Int of Nature and Edinburgh Castle Rock Tracks → Int of Nature Track and West St Trail
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Valley of the Waters Picnic Area' sign up the steps. The track soon flattens out and heads through the bush for a little while until coming to a 'T' intersection with the wide West St trail and a 'Nature Track Circuit' sign.
(6km) Int of Nature Track and West St Servicetrail → Int of Armstrong St Servicetrail and Nature Track
(7km) Int of Armstrong St Servicetrail and Nature Track → Corner of Armstrong St and Valley Rd
(7km) Corner of Armstrong St and Valley Rd → Wilson Park
(8km) Wilson Park → Wentworth Falls Railway Station
Maps for the Charles Darwin, National Pass and Nature Track walk 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 |
| Katoomba | 1:100 000 Map Series | 8930 KATOOMBA | 8930 |
Cross sectional view of the Charles Darwin, National Pass and Nature Track walk bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Charles Darwin, National Pass and Nature Track walk

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 | 8.6 km | ||
| Time | 5 hrs | ||
| . | |||
Grade 4/6 Hard track | AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Very steep (4/6) |
| Quality of track | Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6) | ||
| Signs | Directional signs along the way (3/6) | ||
| Experience Required | Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6) | ||
| Weather | Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6) | ||
| Infrastructure | Limited 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
3.2km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 2.7km has short steep hills. Whilst another 2.2km is flat with no steps and the remaining 400m is very steep.
Quality of track
4.1km of this walk follows a smooth and hardened path and another 2.4km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles. The remaining (2.1km) follows a clear and well formed track or trail.
Signs
Around 6km of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 2.9km has directional signs at most intersection.
Experience Required
Around 5km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 3.2km requires some bushwalking experience.
weather
Around 6km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 2.7km is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.
Infrastructure
Around 8km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 810m has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).
Similar walks
A list of walks that share part of the track with the Charles Darwin, National Pass and Nature Track walk walk.
Scenic Railway - Ruined Castle - Mt Solitary - Kedumba River - Wentworth Falls
29.3 km One way, 3 Days
Experienced only
Other Nearby walks
A list of walks that start near the Charles Darwin, National Pass and Nature Track walk walk.
Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Charles Darwin, National Pass and Nature Track walk walk starts and ends at the Wentworth Falls Railway Station (gps: -33.709737, 150.37644)
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
Short URL: http://wild.tl/cdnpantw