If you’re anything like us and rely very much on All Trails for hiking inspiration, you were probably also overwhelmed buy the fact a whopping 120 Blue Mountains walks are rated 4.5/5 or higher. So how do you choose the best ones?

We’ve spent years hiking in the area, both relying on public transport and with a car. It’s an easy 90-minute drive from Sydney, or about two hours on the train. And, after more than a decade of regularly making this trip to hit the trails, we’re sharing some of our favourites that we come back to time and time again.

Whether you’re after a short stroll to some epic views or a full-day adventure that you’ll feel in your legs for a few days after, there’s something in this stunning national park for you.

Grand Canyon

Where is it? Blackheath
How long is it? 6.3 kilometres
Difficulty: Medium

The best-rated bushwalk in the entire Blue Mountains on All Tails, this One of the most popular (and busy) walks in the the area for a very good reason; the Grand Canyon walk is simply stunning. There are lush ferns, cobblestone pathways and cascades all around. Parts of this track feel like you’re walking onto the set of a live-action Fern Gully, while others have you walking by refreshing waterfalls.

We will warn you though, this one does have a lot of steps. And since it’s a popular one, it can actually have some “traffic” problems in the steeper sections. That’s why we recommend visiting this one on weekdays or during the off-season when possible. It’s best to avoid during holidays, too.

Getting there: Driving is your best option for this track, and free parking is available. While you can get a train to Blackheath from Sydney, you’ll then need to hop on the 698 bus. It can get you to within a 22-minute walk from the start of the track. But, if you do, you’ll need to plan accordingly. It only comes every hour or two.

✅ We’ve done this walk!

Read more on the NSW National Parks website | Map it out on All Trails

Lockley’s Pylon

Where is it? Down Mt Hay Road, which meets the Great Western Highway at Leura
How long is it? 7.1 kilometres
Difficulty: Medium

Compared to some of the others on this list, this trail is certainly less trodden. While you won’t be alone, there’s much fewer crowds and the wide-openness makes you feel like you’re hiking toward the edge of the earth. With much of the track being exposed, you’ll be treated to plenty of scenery along this walk.

There’s a bit of an uphill scramble right at the end of this one, but it’s well worth it. The view of the Grose Valley from the end of the walk is some sight to see. Lockley’s Pylon is a bit of a peninsula surrounded by the lush, green valley and has views of rugged cliffs from all around.

Getting there: Driving is your only option for this one. No public transport options are available within a reasonable difference. You’ll probably struggle getting a taxi or ride share service there as the road can get a bit rough.

✅ We’ve done this walk!

Read more on the NSW National Parks website | Map it out on All Trails

Leura Cascades

Where is it? Leura
How long is it? 1 kilometre
Difficulty: Easy

A nice-and-easy walk that takes in plenty of small waterwalls and treats you to an incredible view before turning around, this is a great one to do with kids. It just 1 kilometre long and the elevation change is relatively small. (If you do want a bit of a longer walk, you can turn it into a loop.)

There’s also toilets and a picnic area at the beginning of the walk, so you can make the afternoon of it.

Getting there: Driving is your best option. You can take a train to Leura from Sydney, but you’ll then need to walk 28 minutes from the station to the beginning of the track… Which is probably longer than the actual walk will take you. But, if you’re up for a stroll, we do recommend this walk!

✅ We’ve done this walk!

Read more on the NSW National Parks website | Map it out on All Trails

Cliff Top Walking Track

Where is it? Blackheath
How long is it? 6.3 kilometres
Difficulty: Moderate, if you do the whole walk as there are stairs involved.

Not to be confused withe Grand Cliff Top Walk in Katoomba, this walk features a lot fewer people but views that are just as, well, grand. Starting at Govett’s Leap, the track follows the cliff’s edge to the right. Aside from beautiful views of the eucalyptus-filled Grose Valley, there’s also a waterfall or two along the way.

If you want to lengthen the walk, consider adding the Govett’s Leap to Boyd Lookout walk too. That’ll take you out about 2km to the left and back, adding an extra 4km to your hike.

Getting there: Driving is the easiest option, but you can also take a train to Blackheath from Sydney. From the station, you’ll then need to hop on the 698 bus. It can get you to within a 11-minute walk from the start of the track. But, if you do, you’ll need to plan your journey well as it only comes every hour or two.

✅ We’ve done this walk!

Read more on the NSW National Parks website | Map it out on All Trails

National Pass (Temporarily closed)

Where is it? Wentworth Falls
How long is it? 4.5 kilometres
Difficulty: Hard due to a lot of stairs near Wentworth Falls. The stairs are completely exposed to the sun, too, which can be draining on a hot day.

While the Grand Canyon may be All Trails’ best-rated walk, National Pass is our number one. In our view, this track has it all. Iconic Blue Mountains views, cascading waterfalls as you pass through the Valley of the Waters section and a nice combination of clear trails that let you take in views and stairs to get you a proper workout.

We frequented this one at least once a year, if not more. But, unfortunately, we haven’t been able to do this one in a while. parts of this walk have been frequently closed over the last few years due to land slides and other safety concerns. It’s usually open in sections, but the entire loop hasn’t been accessible lately. But, when it is open again, we highly recommend you try it; it’s spectacular.

Getting there: Driving is the easiest option, but we did this one plenty before we had a car, too, with a lot of extra walking. You can take a train to Wentworth Falls from Sydney, and then walk 33 minutes to the beginning of the walk at the Conservation Hut. Or, you can hop on the 685 bus and save about 10 minutes. But, the bus doesn’t come all that often, so you’ll need to plan ahead.

✅ We’ve done this walk!

Read more on the NSW National Parks website | Map it out on All Trails

Blue Mountains walks by type

Looking for more specific walks in the Blue Mountains? There’s probably hundreds in the area, and while the four above are our favourites, we know they’re not to everyone’s taste. So here are some more walks that we’ve done along with the top-rated and top-searched-for types of hikes you can try in the Blue Mountains. (We’ll also note whether we’ve done it and what we think!)

Blue Mountains hikes you can get to by train

All of these walks are within easy reach (a short walk or bus ride) from train stations in the Blue Mountains, meaning you don’t need to have a car to get to them! After a long day walking through the national park, that means you can safely rest the entire journey home.

• Charles Darwin Walk from Wentworth Falls Station: This easy track connects the quaint Blue Mountains town to the main event – the falls. It’s about 2km each way, and then you can choose your own adventure once connecting to the other tracks at the valley. (✅ We’ve done it!)
• Lyrebird Dell Walking Track from Leura Station: Starting about 1.5km from Leura Station, Lyrebird Dell is a short-and-sweet loop track itself at 1.6km, or use it to connect to others like Pool of Siloam and the local section of Prince Henry Cliff Walk. (✅ We’ve done it!)
• Three Sisters Walking Track from Katoomba Station: Now, Katoomba’s walks are about a 2km walk from the station, but the town’s plethora of cafes, pubs and restaurants break up the journey nicely. Plus, this town is where you’ll get those iconic views and access to plenty of other tracks. (✅ We’ve done it!)

Blue Mountains hikes with waterfalls

• Leura Cascades: As mentioned above, we think this is a great one to try. It’s short, kid-friendly and offers a few waterfalls along the way plus a great view at the turn-around point. (✅ We’ve done it!)
  • All Trails Rating*: 4.5 out of 5
• Valley of the Waters: While we mentioned National Pass above which does include part of Valley of the Waters, this walk throws in an extra waterfall along the way. (✅ We’ve done it!)
  • All Trails Rating: 4.6 out of 5
• Wentworth Falls: This one may not be an individual track, but any walk that passes by Wentworth Falls is well worth a visit. A few we’d recommend include National Pass, Lincoln’s Rock and the Overcliff-Undercliff. (✅ We’ve done it!)
• Grand Canyon: This beautiful walk does have a small waterfall along the way. While it’s a walk we highly recommend, if it’s waterfalls you’re after specifically, we’d stick to ones in the Wentworth Falls area. (✅ We’ve done it!)
  • All Trails Rating: 4.8 out of 5
• Cliff Top Walking Track: At the quieter Blackheath section of the Blue Mountains, this walk offers panoramic views of the Grose valley and the various waterfalls cascading over the cliffs into the valley below. (✅ We’ve done it!)
  • All Trails Rating: 4.6 out of 5
• Minnehaha Falls Track: Ticking off both waterfalls and swimming spots (see below), Minnehaha is a relatively short track down to a waterfall with a pool below it that’s safe for swimming. We haven’t had a chance to make it to this one yet, but reviews say the final stretch of this walk can be a bit steep. So try not to wear yourself out too much swimming, as you will need to climb back up!
  • All Trails Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Easy Blue Mountains hikes for kids or limited mobility

• Leura Cascades: Making the list for a third time, the length of this walk and the fact it’s not too step compared to others in the area make it a great option for kids. While it isn’t wheelchair- or pram-friendly, it is a gentler walk and doesn’t have uneven ground or tree roots to contend with. (✅ We’ve done it!)
  • All Trails Rating: 4.5 out of 5
• Govett’s Leap: There’s a few walks that start from this point (where there’s also a car park) that offer views of the valley. While they do have stairs, the early portions of the trail are very well maintained and have few tripping hazzards. There’s also the Fairfax Heritage Walking Trail, which is fully accessible (perfect for those with prams or wheelchairs). This walk does only have views toward the end, though. But does offer an accessible way to experience the bush. (✅ We’ve done it!)
• Maple Grove to Echo Point: A 3 kilometre walk ending at the iconic Three Sisters, this track is reported to be well maintained and easy for kids. It’s one of the few in the Blue Mountains with an elevation gain of less than 100 metres, too.
  • All Trails Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Blue Mountains walks with swimming holes or natural pools

• Jellybean Track: The Jellybean Track itself is only 800 metres and takes you to a rather large natural pool with plenty of area to swim. While we’ve not done Jellybean Track itself, we can recommend the Redhands Cave Walking Track. It starts from the same area and takes you to a cave with Indigenous rock art. (✅ We’ve been to the pool!)
• Fortress Falls via Fortress Ridge Walking Track: Not one for the faint hearted, this waterfall can’t really be seen, but you can sit in a natural infinity pool at the top of it. While the walk is only rated as “Moderate”, reviews note that the track can be overgrown and hard to follow in some places, so experience is highly recommeneded.
  • All Trails Rating: 4.7 out of 5
• Minnehaha Falls Track: Ticking off both the waterfall and swimming hole box, Minnehaha is a great option on a hot summer day. At roughly a kilometre each way, it’s not too long of a walk to get to the pool Just remember that you do need to climb back up at the end!
  • All Trails Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Blue Mountains hiking tours

Not comfortable going on a bushwalk in the Blue Mountains alone? There’s plenty of day tours available that also include transportation from Sydney.

Thinking of making your Blue Mountains visit into a getaway?

While the Blue Mountains are just 90 minutes from Sydney by car, or about two hours by train, the journey combined with a long walk may be a bit much for a day trip.

Luckily, the Blue Mountains has a great selection of charming towns and quaint accommodation options that make the perfect weekend away.

Search for accommodation in the Blue Mountains:

Where to go next…

*Ratings are accurate as of the time of publish.