I went to The Grand Canyon on Wednesday 09 December 2021, whilst on a 7 day visit to Blackheath.

The Grand Canyon Walk is widely regarded as one of the most impressive walking tracks in the Blue Mountains – I say in Australia.  The Walk, takes you through lush rainforest with several creek crossings, small waterfalls, high cliff walls and rock overhangs that together leaves you in awe.

Constructed and opened to the public in 1907, the 6 km long Grand Canyon walking track was the first of its kind, and has since been enjoyed by walkers for near and afar.

Kerry dropped me at the town-side start of the Braeside Track near McNicol St, and I took the Track to Evans Lookout Rd. I had thought the Track might be interesting, but it was really just like walking a fire trail with only a small waterfall providing any interest. Taking this walk meant that by the time I got to the start of the Grand Canyon walk I had already done 3.5kms.

I came out on the Evans Lookout Rd to the western side of the start of the Grand Canyon walk.  I went in at the Neates Glen carpark 1.5km from Evans Lookout. The distance of the walk is 5.5km and the guide says to allow 3.5 hours.

The track is well set out with some lovely stone steps and a metal rail in places, and the initial descent is a zig-zag through open woodlands. This quickly turned into a more dense rainforest. From here everything is wet and damp with lots of dripping water and mini waterfalls. Ferns and bracken abound as does rotting tree trunks and carved out sandstone shelters. There are large stepping stones over many creeks. Its a magical place!!

 

In the early stage you can see up to the top of the canyon, with its dramatic sandstone formations.

I crossed Greaves Ck on a wooden bridge, then soon crossed back again on stepping stones, and continued on. 

After a while I came to what is called the Rotunda – a large overhang and First Nations occupation shelter, with a creek to one side. This is a lovely place and there a couple of fellows were camping there on hammocks. I walked back along the shelter to the point where the creek enters the area. 

Not long after that I came to a completely enclosed tunnel in the track, created many years ago by a rock fall.  It is maybe 5m or more long and very dark – my camera flash provided enough light to watch my step. 

Next up was a lovely waterfall in a more open rocky area with sandstone on all sides. There is plenty of water in the falls and the pathway actually goes behind the waterfall. I had spent a few minutes looking for the path before I realised it followed a ledge that led you around the back of waterfall. Delightful area.

 

Walking on, the chasm was getting deeper and deeper. I came to a sign warning that I was close to a deep hole into the canyon and to take care. This is one of the entry points where serious canyoners abseil into the canyon proper. Thankfully there was a safety rail. 

 

 

 

 

The track follows a ledge of clay stone to one side created by the surge of floodwaters  over thousands of years. From this ledge the drop down to the creek can be up to 30m. As I walked along there were a series of round “holes” that looked down into the chasm, thought you could don’t see much. At one point  twisted tree roots form a natural bridge across the canyon. 

Further on I came to a smaller waterfall right at the edge of the track. Very pretty. 

Then you emerge from the ledge to the floor of the canyon. Somewhere near here I had read that you could double back up the creek and get to see the canyon from the bottom up. But with all the water flowing through the area I could not see where this might be. But this is a lovely area, tranquil and sheltered  and I was often picking my way over stepping stones.

 

At one point there was a stone missing, making it difficult to cross without getting feet wet so I collected some timber and made a bridge. A mother and daughter on the trail behind me were very grateful.

Along this last section of the walk there are some really lovely rock pools and waterfalls. 

 

Then I came to the point where I had to leave the creek and head up to Evans Lookout. There is a sign showing straight ahead to Beauchamp Falls and then the track to Junction Rock way down to the valley floor. I took the track to Evans Lookout for the hard grind up. Initially the pathway is through a mass of lovely ferns. It then opens up in a grove of Mountain Ash. The ascent is very steep – a really long, hard slog.

But the rewards at the top are worth is. Simply stunning mountains and rock faces.

Kerry drove around to pick me up and we spent the rest of the day trying to dodge the rain.