Grand Canyon Cliff Top & Pope's Glen Track (16.8km)

The Grand Canyon Cliff Top and Pope's Glen Track is a 16.8-kilometre circuit in the heart of the Blue Mountains National Park, starting from Blackheath Railway Station. Graded as a level 4 walk, it typically takes around 7.5 hours to complete, offering a full-day immersion in one of New South Wales' most breathtaking landscapes. What sets this walk apart is the variety it offers—from rainforest gullies and rugged canyons to open cliff tops and dramatic valley views—all within a single route.

The only major descent and climb is through the Grand Canyon section, and it’s here that the walk truly begins to shine. This is not a canyon in the American sense, but a deeply carved sandstone gorge filled with ferns, mosses and the cool trickle of Greaves Creek. For those who haven't experienced a canyon environment before, this section feels especially enchanting—narrow passages, dripping rock overhangs, and dappled light create an atmosphere that feels worlds away from the town just a few kilometres behind you.

As you climb out of the canyon, the track transitions into more open terrain, tracing the cliff tops above the Grose Valley. The shift in vegetation is striking—pockets of wet forest give way to drier, hardier scrub, with open views appearing between stands of eucalypt. The Grose Valley unfolds to the north, its sheer cliffs and deep green slopes forming a vast, untamed amphitheatre that’s hard to look away from.

Neates Glen, near the beginning of the Grand Canyon Track, is a shaded, fern-filled gully where a creek threads through the landscape, setting the tone for the forested adventure to come. Further along, The Rotunda is a natural rock overhang beside Greaves Creek, where sand underfoot and filtered light make it a popular spot to pause, cool off, and listen to the water as it runs gently by.

Beyond the canyon, Evans Lookout delivers sweeping views across the Grose Valley. It’s a popular spot, with a rock shelter and toilet facilities, and it marks a transition point before continuing along the Cliff Top Walk. This section connects several quieter locations worth lingering at. Hayward Gully, named after the first European to descend into Govetts Gorge in 1847, is a peaceful nook where a bench offers the chance to stop and take in filtered views through the trees. Barrow Lookout is another worthwhile detour, offering a direct view of Govetts Leap Falls and the wider valley beyond.

Govetts Leap itself is one of the Blue Mountains' best-known lookouts. The waterfall, fed by Govetts Leap Brook, plunges over the cliff into the valley below. The name ‘leap’ comes from an old Scottish word for waterfall, and the lookout—named for surveyor William Govett who first recorded the spot in 1831—remains a dramatic place to take in the grandeur of this landscape. Facilities here include toilets, picnic shelters, and easy access from the car park, making it a good place for a rest.

Further along the trail, Horseshoe Falls Lookout offers a view of the falls as Popes Glen Creek slips off the edge of the plateau into the valley. The falls are modest in volume but beautiful in form, named for the curved shape of the gully into which they drop. Nearby, a short detour leads to Boyd Beach—a serene patch of sand on the edge of Popes Glen Creek, ringed by ferns and sheltered by tall trees. It’s a quiet spot and a great place to rest your legs before completing the final stretch of the track.

This walk weaves together some of the most varied and impressive terrain in the Blue Mountains. It’s not just the views that make it special, but the contrasts—the deep green of the canyon, the bright sandstone of the cliffs, and the shifting sounds of water, wind and birdsong that follow you throughout the day. For hikers with a good level of fitness and a desire to explore the richness of this World Heritage-listed region, it’s a truly rewarding experience.