Nature Track

Conservation Hut

Conservation Hut is a small cafe perched above the Valley of the Waters, Blue Mountains National Park. The hut was opened in 1963 as a meeting place for the local conservation movement. Rebuilt, Conservation Hut opened as a cafe in 1993, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week. Around the Conservation Hut is a small parking area, public toilets, picnic shelters, town water and B&B’s. For further information or bookings call (02) 4757 3827. More info.

(0km) Conservation Hut → Int of Armstrong St Servicetrail and Nature Track

940 m
19 mins
32m
-27m

Moderate track

From Conservation Hut, this walk follows the footpath towards the car park, past the toilet block and onto the track signposted as the ‘Nature Track’. Following the ‘Nature Track’ sign, this walk heads down the steps and past a backyard. After passing some informal tracks (on the right,) the track widens and come to a sign pointing back to the ‘Nature Track Circuit – Valley of the Waters Picnic Area’.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Nature Track Circuit – Edinburgh Castle Rock’ sign along the trail, soon coming to a ‘T’ intersection with a wider management trail, and a sign pointing back to ‘Conservation Hut 11min’.

(0.94km) Int of Armstrong St Servicetrail and Nature Track → Int of Nature Track and West St Servicetrail

350 m
8 mins
17m
-17m

Easy track

Veer left: From the intersection, this walk heads downhill along the wide management trail. After about 60m, the trail passes a private track (and garden, on the right). Continuing along, the main trail soon narrows then widens again before coming to a ‘Nature Track Circuit’ sign at a three-way intersection.

(1.29km) Int of Nature Track and West St Trail → Int of Nature and West St Tracks

300 m
9 mins
5m
-39m

Moderate track

Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Nature Track Circuit – Edinburgh Castle Rock’ sign into the bush, along the narrower track. After a while, the track heads down some steps to come to a ‘T’ intersection, with the ‘Valley of the Waters Picnic Area’ sign pointing back.

(1.58km) Int of Nature and West St Tracks → Int of Nature and Edinburgh Castle Rock Tracks

240 m
6 mins
13m
-15m

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads down the timber steps, following the ‘Nature Track’ sign. After a short time, the walk heads down some metal stairs, then more timber steps before crossing a gully using a small metal bridge. After climbing out of the gully, the track starts heading gently downhill, coming to a three-way intersection marked with a ‘Edinburgh Castle Rock’ sign.

(1.83km) Int of Nature and Edinburgh Castle Rock Tracks → Edinburgh Castle Rock

10 m
1 mins
2m
-6m

Moderate track

Turn left: 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. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn left.

Edinburgh Castle Rock

Edinburgh Castle Rock is a signposted, unfenced viewpoint on the Nature Track, in the Blue Mountains National Park. The rock platform has an interesting formation, with an uneven surface of circular lines. From Edinburgh Castle Rock, there is a view left, up the valley towards the houses on the ridge. Looking right, down the Valley of the Waters, it is possible to see the escarpment of Kings Tablelands.

(1.83km) Int of Nature and Edinburgh Castle Rock Tracks → Lillian’s Glen

380 m
12 mins
15m
-86m

Moderate track

Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads past the two ‘Track’ signs, following the right-hand arrow away from ‘Edinburgh Castle Rock’. The track starts to wind down the steps, which become fairly steep before coming to post 8. From post 8, the walk follows the large rock wall (on the left), then heads down some steps and through a sandstone overhang to come to an unfenced view point, with great valley views. From the view point, this walk heads through the sandstone overhang, keeping the rockface to the left, passing post number 7. The track starts to head gently down the hill before becoming steeper and winding down the steps. Soon the track comes to a ‘Lillians Glen’ sign, just before a creek crossing.

Lillian’s Glen

Lillian’s Glen is a moss and fern filled section on the ‘Valley of the Waters’ Creek (where the Nature Track crosses the creek, south of Edinburgh Castle Rock). There are stepping stones to help cross the creek. Lillian’s Glen is a great spot to rest and enjoy the area, especially on warmer days. For the sure-footed, a short clamber upstream to Asmodeus Pool at the bottom of a waterfall, is worthwhile – a very nice spot at the end of a narrow canyon[2].

(2.21km) Lillians Glen → Lillian’s Bridge

260 m
7 mins
24m
-12m

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the ‘Lillians Glen’ sign, this walk crosses the creek using the stepping stones. After heading up the steps, the track leads back down to another set of stepping stones across the creek. (This is another nice but slippery spot to enjoy, with a small waterfall to the left). After crossing these stepping stones, the track heads up the steps and passes a few handrails before heading down to an intersection marked with a number 5 post, just before Lillian’s Bridge.

(2.47km) Lillian’s Bridge → Int of Valley of the Waters and Nature Tracks

170 m
6 mins
19m
-30m

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the number 5 post (just next to Lillian’s Bridge), this walk heads up the steps, keeping the handrail and valley to the right. The track bends and passes post 4 and comes to post 3 at the top of this climb. After a short time, the track passes post 2 and then starts to wind down the steps. Just after passing a ‘Welcome to the Nature Track’ information sign (point 1), the walk comes to a small clearing with a picnic table and small waterfall. From the picnic table, this walk crosses the small wooden bridge and heads up a few steps to come to an intersection, with a sign pointing back to the ‘Nature Track’.

(2.64km) Int of Valley of the Waters and Nature Tracks → Empress Lookout

90 m
4 mins
20m
-12m

Hard track

Veer left: From the intersection, this walk heads up the wooden steps, following the ‘National Pass – Tea Rooms’ sign. The walk soon heads though a long rock overhang to the base of a metal staircase. The walk climbs the series of steep metal staircases zigzagging up the hill. After climbing some wooden steps, the walk comes to the fenced and signposted ‘Empress Lookout’.

Empress Lookout

Empress Lookout is a fenced and signposted lookout, perched on a sandstone overhang above the Valley of the Waters Creek. There is a view down to part of the Empress Falls and into the canyon. The views are filtered through the surrounding trees. It makes for a good spot to catch your breath when walking into, or out of, the Valley of the Waters.

(2.73km) Empress Lookout → Int of Valley of the Waters and Queen Victoria Tracks

60 m
2 mins
18m
0m

Easy track

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).

(2.79km) Int of Valley of the Waters and Queen Victoria Tracks → Queen Victoria Lookout

20 m
1 mins
0m
-17m

Easy track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Queen Victoria Lookout’ sign down the steps towards the handrail. Soon the track passes a small lookout on the left and, shortly afterwards, the fence leads to the rock platform and fenced ‘Queen Victoria Lookout’. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn right.

Queen Victoria Lookout

The Queen Victoria Lookout is perched above the Valley of the Waters, south-west of Conservation Hut. The fenced lookout has views into the narrow section of the valley. The views are made more dramatic by the roar of the waterfalls below and the mists which frequent the area. Empress Falls are only just visible – the main views extend down Jamison Valley. Kings Tableland (left) and Sublime Point(right) dominate the views and the eastern edge of Mount Solitary and beyond is also visible.

(2.79km) Int of Valley of the Waters and Queen Victoria Tracks → Conservation Hut

320 m
8 mins
75m
-2m

Moderate track

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’.

Maps for the Nature Track 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 Nature Track bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Nature Track

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	3.1 km
		Time	2 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

2km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 1.1km has short steep hills. The remaining (90m) is very steep.

Quality of track

1.5km of this walk follows a smooth and hardened path and another 950m follows a clear and well formed track or trail. The remaining (650m) follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.

Signs

Around 2.1km of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 1km has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required

Around 2.4km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 740m requires some bushwalking experience.

weather

Around 2.9km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 260m is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.

Infrastructure

Around 1.7km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 1.4km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Nature Track walk starts and ends at the Conservation Hut (gps: -33.720222, 150.3629)
Your main transport option to Conservation Hut is by;

Car. There is free parking available.
(get details)

Fire Danger

Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.

Weather Forest

This walk starts in the Central Tablelands weather district always check the formal BOM forecast or pdf before starting your walk.

Forecast snapshot

Nature Track

Conservation Hut

(0km) Conservation Hut → Int of Armstrong St Servicetrail and Nature Track

Moderate track

(0.94km) Int of Armstrong St Servicetrail and Nature Track → Int of Nature Track and West St Servicetrail

Easy track

(1.29km) Int of Nature Track and West St Trail → Int of Nature and West St Tracks

Moderate track

(1.58km) Int of Nature and West St Tracks → Int of Nature and Edinburgh Castle Rock Tracks

Moderate track

(1.83km) Int of Nature and Edinburgh Castle Rock Tracks → Edinburgh Castle Rock

Moderate track

Edinburgh Castle Rock

(1.83km) Int of Nature and Edinburgh Castle Rock Tracks → Lillian’s Glen

Moderate track

Lillian’s Glen

(2.21km) Lillians Glen → Lillian’s Bridge

Moderate track

(2.47km) Lillian’s Bridge → Int of Valley of the Waters and Nature Tracks

Moderate track

(2.64km) Int of Valley of the Waters and Nature Tracks → Empress Lookout

Hard track

Empress Lookout

(2.73km) Empress Lookout → Int of Valley of the Waters and Queen Victoria Tracks

Easy track

(2.79km) Int of Valley of the Waters and Queen Victoria Tracks → Queen Victoria Lookout

Easy track

Queen Victoria Lookout

(2.79km) Int of Valley of the Waters and Queen Victoria Tracks → Conservation Hut

Moderate track

Maps for the Nature Track walk

Cross sectional view of the Nature Track bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Nature Track

Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001

Some more details of this walks Grading

Gradient

Quality of track

Signs

Experience Required

weather

Infrastructure

Similar walks

Other Nearby walks

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

Fire Danger

Weather Forest

Park Information & Alerts

Comments