Govetts Leap Loop
Download & Print Map and Notes4 hrs 30 mins
380 m
Hard track
(0km) Blackheath Station → Int. Pope’s Glen Trk and Dell St
1.2 km
26 mins
27m
-65m
Moderate track
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk heads up the Great Western Highway, keeping the Gardners Inn to the right. This walk turns right after the petrol station, turning onto Gardiners Cres. The walk continues down Gardiners Cres to take the first left onto Inconstant St. The walk then takes the first right onto Wills St, which later becomes Robertson Lane. Robertson Lane tends right into Gipps Lane, which is followed to the intersection with Dell St/Wills St (unsignposted, road changes name near this intersection).
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk heads up the road, leaving Gipps St behind on the left and passing a wooden house (also on the left). The walk passes Cleopatra St on the left before coming to the signposted intersection with the Pope’s Glen track on the right, near 49 Dell St.
(1.18km) Int. Popes Glen Trk and Dell St → Int. Popes Glen Trk and Boyd Bch Trk
2.1 km
49 mins
48m
-145m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads down a slight hill, keeping the creek on the left of the track. After some time, the walk crosses a bridge, then continues beside the creek until crossing a second bridge. The track continues for some time downhill, to a signposted intersection.
(3.3km) Int. Popes Glen Trk and Boyd Bch Trk → Boyd Beach
40 m
1 mins
0m
-3m
Moderate track
Boyd Beach
(3.3km) Int. Popes Glen Trk and Boyd Bch Trk → Horseshoe Falls Lookout
440 m
11 mins
41m
-31m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Govetts Leap’ sign through the ferns, with the creek to the left of the track, and comes to a set of stairs. The walk climbs the steep stairs to follow the railing around a rocky outcrop. The track then winds along the hillside for some time heading to pass a lookout on the left, as the track continues to the intersection near the Horseshoe Falls Lookout.
Horseshoe Falls Lookout
Horseshoe Falls
(3.74km) Horseshoe Falls Lookout → Govetts Leap Lookout
340 m
11 mins
62m
-23m
Hard track
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads up the stairs, keeping the valley to the left. The walk heads up and around the hillside to cross over a bridge, then up more stairs to the intersection.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads across the grassed area towards a platform structure. The walk climbs some stairs onto Govetts Leap Lookout, with its great views and sandstone monuments.
Govetts Leap Lookout
(4.07km) Govetts Leap Lookout → Braeside Walk North
620 m
15 mins
17m
-82m
Hard track
(4.69km) Braeside Walk North → Barrow Lookout
80 m
2 mins
5m
-2m
Hard track
Barrow Lookout
Govetts Leap (falls)
(4.69km) Braeside Walk North → Braeside Picnic Area
1.1 km
20 mins
52m
-5m
Hard track
Braeside Picnic Area
(5.83km) Braeside Picnic Area → Blackheath Station
2.9 km
53 mins
133m
-24m
Moderate track
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill past a car park area on the right, and up to the intersection of the management trails.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill passing a driveway on the left. The walk heads up the hill towards the white house at the top of the hill, to turn left (west) onto Braeside St, keeping the white house behind to the right. This walk continues up the street to the intersection with Boreas St.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads north up Boreas St to turn left onto Govetts Leap Road. This walk continues along Govetts Leap Rd to the intersection with Prince Edward St.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads uphill on Govetts Leap Rd, passing under the eaves of an old store on the right. The walk turns right onto the Great Western Highway, opposite the Ivanhoe Hotel. From here, this walk follows the footpath past the Gardners Inn to the pedestrian crossing, opposite Blackheath Station steps.
Turn left: From the pedestrian crossing, this walk crosses the Great Western Highway to turn right up the covered station steps. The walk follows the railway bridge to the top of the station staircase.
Maps for the Govetts Leap Loop 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 |
Mount Wilson | 1:25 000 Map Series | 89301N MOUNT WILSON | NSW-89301N |
Katoomba | 1:100 000 Map Series | 8930 KATOOMBA | 8930 |
Cross sectional view of the Govetts Leap Loop bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Govetts Leap Loop
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 | 8.7 km | ||
Time | 4 hrs 30 mins | ||
. | |||
Grade 4/6 Hard track |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Very steep (4/6) |
Quality of track | Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6) | ||
Signs | Directional signs along the way (3/6) | ||
Experience Required | No experience required (1/6) | ||
Weather | Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6) | ||
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
5km of this walk has short steep hills and another 2.6km is flat with no steps. Whilst another 730m is very steep and the remaining 390m has gentle hills with occasional steps.
Quality of track
3.5km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 3km follows a smooth and hardened path. Whilst another 1.1km follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely and the remaining 1km follows a clear and well formed track or trail.
Signs
Around 4.8km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 3.9km is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 9km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 9km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 4.7km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 4.1km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
Similar walks
Other Nearby walks
Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Govetts Leap Loop walk starts and ends at the Blackheath Station (gps: -33.633876, 150.2844)Your transport options to Blackheath Station are by;
Train. (get details)
Bus. (get details)
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
Park Information & Alerts
Short URL = http://wild.tl/gll
Gallery images
There are other downloads I am still working on.
You will probably need to login to access these — still all free.
* KML (google earth file)
* GPX (GPS file)
Special Maps/ brochures
* A3 topo maps
* PDF with Lands Topo map base
* PDF with arial image (and map overlay)
I wanted to get the main site live first, this extra stuff will come in time.
Happy walking
Matt 🙂
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