Easy Hike & Swim: Should this be Your First Blue Mountains Hike?

Updated: 21 June 2025

Reading Time: 3 minutes

📍 Location: Grand Canyon Carpark

🚗 Getting There: Accessible by public transport 🚞 and car 🚙

🎟️ Entry Fees: Free!

🔎 Tips for Your Visit: Bring swimmers and a small towel for a refreshing waterfall swim 🌊

🍽️ Facilities: Bring plenty of drinking water with you. There are non-flush toilets at Grand Canyon carpark and there are non-flush toilets and an accessible toilet at Evans lookout. You can reach the toilet block via a concrete path.

⏳ Time: 3-4 hrs for the average person (not very challenging)

🥾 Distance: 6.3 km loop

🚞 Public Transport: Take the train to Katoomba Station. From Katoomba Station you can catch the 698 bus from KCarrington Hotel, Katoomba St to Evans Lookout Rd before Forest Park Rd

I’ve been to the Blue Mountain’s hundreds of times throughout my life. Whether its climbing, hiking, swimming or anything in between, the Blue Mountains has been my go-to nature retreat. However, I weirdly have never been on this track before. And well, it was a pleasant surprise!

I actually started the day off at Govetts Leap lookout and took the Cliff Top Track to the start of the Grand Canyon hike. This added 3.5 km both ways, making the total hike around 13.3 km. Looking back on the day, it was pretty tiring so I don’t recommend it for everyone, unless you’re keen to do a longer hike.

The multiple waterfalls along the Cliff Top Track are stunning.

When hiking in this area of the mountains, keep your eyes peeled for the wide range of wildlife! This Brown Antechinus is not a rat. It’s a native marsupial and its body is around 100mm long, so they are small! They eat beetles, spiders, cockroaches and other insects, and males only live for around 11 months.

After hiking through the Cliff Top Track I had lunch at one of the many viewpoints in front of the Grand Canyon Loop. This is where you need to make a decision, to do the hike clockwise or anti-clockwise. The hike is very straight forward and it is extremely hard to lose your way on the track. However, if you go through the traditional entrance (where most hikers start), you will hike around 30 minutes until you reach the swimming spot. Its hard to miss as there is a waterfall running right next to the main track.

If you want to end with a refreshing swim (to cool down from the hike) I recommend starting the hike at the exit (Neates Glen Parking Area), and doing it in reverse!

Charging up in the sun after an ice-cold waterfall swim 🏊‍♂️

There are not many restaurants in Blackheath that I would recommend. But, if you’re looking for a cozy dinner, Thai Silk Restaurant offers great Thai food right next to Blackheath Station.

We had the Laksa and a Red Duck Curry. Both very good!

That just about wraps up this post, if this added any value to you please don’t hesitate to let me know in the comments below!