Hay Monolith
Download & Print Map and Notes1 Hr
2 km Circuit
102 m
Moderate track
(0km) Mt Hay car park → Rock Flat
610 m
12 mins
26m
-19m
Moderate track
From the car park, this walk heads past the gap in the train track-style fencing, passing a sign for ‘Butterbox Canyon’. The track traverses the saddle to rise up onto a flat area, continuing for approximately 20m to an intersection with a track to the left.
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads approximately 20m up the hill, keeping the rocky knoll to the left of the track, soon coming to the intersection.
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill, with Mt Hay to the right of the track. The track follows the ridgeline, undulating slightly for approximately 200m, then drops down to a rocky surface at the intersection.
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads approximately 20m up the hill, keeping the rocky knoll to the left of the track, soon coming to the intersection.
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill, with Mt Hay to the right of the track. The track follows the ridgeline, undulating slightly for approximately 200m, then drops down to a rocky surface at the intersection.
(0.61km) Rock Flat → Int. Valley Trk and Hay Wall Trk
100 m
2 mins
3m
-5m
Moderate track
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk heads along the hillside, keeping the hill on the left-hand side of the track and the main valley on the right. The track leaves the hillside, leading out through the low heath for approximately 50m, coming to an unsigned intersection.
(0.71km) Int. Valley Trk and Hay Wall Trk → Int. Hay Wall Trk and Hay Monolith summit Trk
240 m
5 mins
9m
-18m
Moderate track
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads down hill towards a small castle of rock, Mt Hay Monolith. The walk keeps the main valley to the right of the track. The track soon heads down some rocky surfaces to continue into a saddle. The walk heads across the saddle to a small, spherical cave (to the left of the track).
Veer right: From the spherical cave, this walk keeps the rock to the left of the track, heading towards the valley. The track leads around the base of the cliffs for approximately 80m before coming to a grassy pass into the cliff (on the left).
Veer right: From the spherical cave, this walk keeps the rock to the left of the track, heading towards the valley. The track leads around the base of the cliffs for approximately 80m before coming to a grassy pass into the cliff (on the left).
(0.94km) Int. Hay Wall Trk and Hay Monolith summit Trk → Hay Monolith summit
80 m
3 mins
16m
-2m
Moderate track
Turn left : From the intersection, this walk heads up through the grassy pass in the rock, away from the valley. The track leads across the plateau through the low heath, passing a track (on the right) after approximately 50m. The walk soon comes to a flat rock with two bolts in it, where there are stunning views over the Grose Valley. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn left.
(0.94km) Int. Hay Wall Trk and Hay Monolith summit Trk → Hay Monolith West
150 m
5 mins
14m
-25m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads around the cliffs (keeping them on the left of the track, and the Grose Valley to the right). After approximately 50m, the walk passes another track (on the left, heading up the monolith). This walk continues around the base of the cliffs and above the valley for approximately 100m, to the intersection in front of a fin-shaped rock.
(1.09km) Hay Monolith West → Hay Wall Lookout
250 m
8 mins
7m
-64m
Moderate track
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill, leaving the Hay Monolith behind and nearing the rim of the valley (on the right). The track passes a large, grey, rounded rock formation on the right, heading in the direction of the cliff edge, to a rocky point on the right of two banksia bushes, with stunning views of the valley. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn right.
(1.09km) Hay Monolith West → Int. Valley Trk and Hay Wall Trk
310 m
7 mins
29m
-10m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads down over some rocky surfaces (with the cliffs to the left and valley behind). The track continues below the cliffs, passing a few small caves on the left. After a short time, this walk rounds the hillside to a spherical cave on the left of the intersection, and a saddle to the right.
Turn right: From the spherical cave, this walk traverses a grassy saddle, keeping the valley to the left of the track. The track climbs up some rocky surfaces, then heads east up the spur line, coming to the intersection in the low heath.
Turn right: From the spherical cave, this walk traverses a grassy saddle, keeping the valley to the left of the track. The track climbs up some rocky surfaces, then heads east up the spur line, coming to the intersection in the low heath.
(1.4km) Int. Valley Trk and Hay Wall Trk → Mt Hay car park
590 m
13 mins
21m
-26m
Moderate track
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads away from the Grose Valley and along the hillside, keeping the ridge above and to the left of the track. The track passes many rocky outcrops (with the valley below to the right) as the walk comes to an intersection just above a saddle (on the right).
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads away from the rocky outcrops on the hill to traverse the saddle and rise up to the car park.
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads away from the rocky outcrops on the hill to traverse the saddle and rise up to the car park.
Maps for the Hay Monolith 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 Hay Monolith bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Hay Monolith
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 | 2 km | ||
Time | 1 Hr | ||
. | |||
Grade 3/6 Moderate track |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Short steep hills (3/6) |
Quality of track | Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6) | ||
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
This whole walk, 2km has short steep hills.
Quality of track
This whole walk, 2km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.
Signs
This whole walk, 2km has directional signs at most intersection.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 2km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 2km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
This whole walk, 2km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).
Similar walks
Other Nearby walks
Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Hay Monolith walk starts and ends at the Mt Hay car park (gps: -33.629907, 150.40203)Your main transport option to Mt Hay car park 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
Park Information & Alerts
Short URL = http://wild.tl/hm
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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