We’ve been visiting a lot of places in the Blue Mountains lately, tackling some of the waterfall walks to see some spectacular sights. If you haven’t caught our last blogs, you can read them here.

Today, we head out to Wentworth Pass Loop in Wentworth Falls.

Let us say straight up, that this is a pretty long walk. It should take you around 4-5 hours and does have some quite steep parts with steps and a rough walking track. It is a grade four track so probably not the best one to start with if you haven’t been bushwalking in a while.

Now we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get onto discovering the 5km loop that is the Wentworth Pass Loop. This has to be one of the best walks in the Blue Mountains area; it takes you past Empress Falls and through the Valley of the Waters before bringing you out at Wentworth Falls.

For this walk, you’ll start at the Conservation Hut, a small cafe at the top of the Valley of Waters. Follow the Valley of the Waters sign down some steps and past picnic shelters. Continue walking past the Short Cut Track sign, and then follow the National Pass – Valley of the Waters sign down the timber steps. You’ll soon come to the intersection of the Queen Victoria Lookout track.

Take the short path at the left to the Queen Victoria Lookout and take in some of the views of the narrow section of the Valley of the Waters. You’ll hear the waterfalls below, and the mists in the area will make this shortcut even more special. Empress Falls are only just visible, and the views extend out to the Jamison Valley, Kings Tableland and Sublime Point as well as Mount Solitary.

Once you’ve done taking in the views, head back up the same track, and then veer right away from the Queen Victoria Lookout (you’ll know you’re heading in the right direction if the rock face is on your right). Walk under a sandstone overhang and down a few more steps and you’ll find yourself at Empress Lookout. At the lookout you’ll have views down to a section of the Empress Falls, and this is a great place to stop for a short rest before heading onto the rest of the track.

From here, you’ll head down the wooden steps, ensuring the valley is on your left side. Take the metal staircases zigzagging down the hill carefully, and take the left path when you come to the Nature Track intersection. The walk is still following the National Pass – Valley of the Waters sign, and you’ll soon cross Isabel Creek using stepping stones. These stones can get slippery of course, so be careful. Follow the track down a timber staircase, under a sandstone overhang and down the stone steps where you’ll pass by a great view of Empress Falls. Keep walking and you’ll find the track crosses the Valley of the Waters Creek right in front of Empress Falls. You’ll need to walk across stepping stones again to cross.

Take some time to stop and check out Empress Falls – it’s an amazing waterfall where you’ll notice the creek coming through a slot in the cliff, tumbling down into a sandy pool. This is a great place to stop for lunch or a rest before heading further along the loop.

From Empress Falls, you’ll head downstream along the track (track on the left) and then heading down some steps to the base of Sylvia Falls. Keep walking downstream and you’ll soon spot Lodore Falls. There is another creek crossing here at the base of the falls.

From Lodore Falls continue walking across the Valley of the Waters Creek, this time keeping the handrail and main valley to your right. You’ll come across an intersection with Wentworth Pass and National Pass – Conservation Hut pointing upwards. Turn right, and follow the Wentworth Pass sign, winding around the side of the hill. The pass is quite steep in parts here, but keep following the path down until you come to another Wentworth Pass track intersection. Turn left and continue following the Wentworth Pass sign.

Cross over the Valley of the Waters Creek again using some old metal bridges, and then through to the rainforest where the track becomes mostly flat. Again, continue to follow the Wentworth Falls sign up the hill and some rough stairs. You’ll have to do a scramble over a boulder to continue on the track (there is a rope installed to help you get over). At the next track intersection, turn right and follow the National Pass – Wentworth Falls sign along the track.

This track follows the base of the cliff giving great views to Wentworth Falls. Duck under the low sandstone overhang, and then head down a series of steep stairs. At the bottom, follow the handrail across the rock platform and you’ll come to the pool and creek crossing. This is the middle of Wentworth Falls. As you are crossing the middle of the waterfall, be careful of slippery rocks and unfenced ledges and use the sandstone block bridges to cross. Take a couple of minutes to stop and take a breath and enjoy the waterfall.

The walk keeps going from here. Cross the creek and follow the track to the next creek, and then head into the denser forest away from the creek. You’ll have to climb some stairs that have been cut into the rock, and you’ll have a steep climb to the top. At the top, the track flattens out and passes some great views of the valley and Wentworth Falls. Keep following the track and you’ll come across a sign to Rocket Point Circuit and a small creek crossing.

Keep walking straight along the track keeping the handrail on your left, crossing another small creek using stepping stones. The track will lead you to Queen’s Cascades, a large pool, and a fenced creek crossing which is the top of Wentworth Falls. Cross the creek keeping the view on your left, and walk up a set of log steps where you’ll come to a three way intersection.

Follow the Undercliff Track sign, and you’ll come across the track to Fletchers Lookout. Keep following the signs to Wentworth Falls Picnic Area where you will come out to the Wentworth Falls Lookout on Sir H. Burrell Drive. From the lookout, it’s only a short walk back to the Wentworth Falls Lookout Picnic Area and then onto the Conservation Hut.

Due to the number of waterfalls and creek crossings, it’s wise not to do the Wentworth Pass Loop after rain as the creeks can become impassable. Despite how great the local waterfalls look after rain, we rather you had a safe walk and be able to visit us again.

As this is such a long walk, make sure you pick up a track guide, which you should be able to find at the Tourist Information Centres. Wentworth Pass Loop is an absolute stunner of a walk, and if you do just one walk when you’re visiting us here at Mountain Whispers, we recommend this one.

Once you’ve done walking the Wentworth Pass Loop, head back to Mountain Whispers and relax in the spa with a glass of Champagne or beside the fire with a glass of red.

Book your Mountain Whispers luxury getaway today, and spend a day exploring the Wentworth Pass Loop.