17 Best Blue Mountains Lookouts (with local tips)
Are you looking for the best Blue Mountains Lookouts? If you’re wondering where to find the best views in the Blue Mountains you need to go up high in the mountains just outside Sydney.
The Australian Blue Mountains are a UNESCO World Heritage-listed wilderness area known for their dramatic landscapes with sheer sandstone cliffs that tower over deep forested valleys and rolling farmlands. The Blue Mountains are easily accessible from the city and a popular day trip from Sydney.
I live in Sydney and often go to the Blue Mountains to enjoy the spectacular views, the serenity of the bush, and the crisp, fresh air. I’ve compiled this guide to the best lookouts in the Blue Mountains and included lots of local tips to help you plan your visit.
At the top of the list are the most popular and most accessible views that are ideal if you’re visiting from Sydney.
Some of these Blue Mountains lookouts can be accessed by public transport or on a day tour from Sydney, but if you have a car and a bit more time, there are more stunning Blue Mountains views that are harder to get to but just as dramatic as the famous Three Sisters.
Here are the best lookouts in the Blue Mountains.
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NOTE: Bushfires, rockfalls and track maintenance mean that Blue Mountains lookouts and walking trails are sometimes closed for safety reasons. For more information check with the Blue Mountains National Park before you go.
1. Echo Point Lookout & The Three Sisters Katoomba
Easy access by public transport or car
At the top of the list is Echo Point in Katoomba. It’s the most famous lookout in the Blue Mountains and it’s here you’ll find the iconic view of the Three Sisters. Echo Point is considered the best Blue Mountains lookout by many and it’s a must-see for first-timers.
It’s certainly the most popular Blue Mountains lookout but it’s also the most visited and often crowded. At peak times, weekends and school holidays, there are thousands of sightseers in Katoomba and you may have to share the view with busloads of tourists.
You can drive to Echo Point and there’s easy access by public transport. If you’re travelling by train from Sydney, catch the 686 Bus from Katoomba station or jump on the red Blue Mountains Explorer Hop-on-hop-off bus.
To the right of Echo Point is the start of the Prince Henry Cliff Walk to Katoomba Falls, one of the most popular walks in the Blue Mountains. At Katoomba Falls, there are spectacular views of the Three Sisters. The return walk from Katoomba Falls to Echo Point takes around an hour.
You can also hike into the Jamison Valley on the Giant Stairway from Echo Point and walk on a challenging trail to Scenic World. This hike takes 2-3 hours, and you can take the scenic railway back up the cliff or climb 800 stairs. (The scenic railway is much more fun!)
While the view of the Three Sisters is stunning, Echo Point is busy and touristy. If you’ve been there once and have a car there are many other gorgeous, less-visited viewpoints on this list of best Blue Mountains Lookouts.
2. Cahill’s Lookout Katoomba
Easy access by public transport or car
Next on the list is Cahill’s Lookout located on the cliff tops on Cliff Drive in Katoomba. West-facing and one of the best Blue Mountains Lookouts for sunset, Cahill’s Lookout has a sensational view of the Narrow Neck that juts out into the Jamison Valley.
It’s easiest to get here by car but you can catch a local bus 686 along Cliff Drive or the red hop-on-hop-off bus.
3. Govett’s Leap Blackheath
Easy access by car or public transport
Govetts Leap in Blackheath Govett’s Leap is my favourite Blue Mountains Lookout and I’ve been enjoying the view here since I was a little girl. Located on the opposite side of the ridge to Katoomba Govett’s Leap has breathtaking views of the Grose Valley.
The majestic scenery is always impressive and the heights are dizzying. On either side of Govett’s Leap, waterfalls plunge into the Grose Valley at Horseshoe Falls and Bridal Veil Falls.
A few minutes to the left of the main lookout at Govett’s Leap, George Phillip’s Lookout overlooks Horseshoe Falls and the Grose Valley. The view is stunning, especially in July and early spring when the yellow wattle bushes bloom.
To find George Phillip’s Lookout follow the Fairfax track from the Blackheath visitor’s centre or take the path to the left of Govett’s Leap from the picnic area. Stop for a moment and listen to the waterfall, the wind blowing up the valley and the birds singing.
Govett’s Leap is easy to access by car and you can drive to the lookout point or catch the 698 bus down Govett’s Leap Road to the National Park visitor’s centre. It’s also a pleasant walk from the train station (30 minutes).
4. Evan’s Lookout Blackheath
Easy access by car or public transport
On the other side of Blackheath is Evan’s Lookout, one of the best Blue Mountains Lookouts. The breathtaking view from Evans Lookout offers a different perspective of the stunning Grose Valley.
Evan’s Lookout is easily accessible by car and the 698 bus can drop you part way down Evans Lookout Road but you’ll have to walk the rest of the way to the lookout.
Another option is to walk over the ridge on the bush track from Govett’s Leap. This lovely clifftop hike delivers glorious escarpment views and takes just over 2 hours.
Evan’s Lookout is also the starting point of the Grand Canyon hiking trail, a popular 3-hour walk into the valley. This is the perfect walk to do on a hot day as the path follows a stream into the lush green Canyon and it’s one of my favourite trails in the Blue Mountains.
The trail has some steep sections with a steep climb out of the canyon.
TIP: If you’re feeling adventurous consider abseiling into the Grand Canyon on a canyoning expedition. I enjoyed canyoning here in the summer and can recommend it. The stream water is clear and surprisingly cold, even in warm weather.
5. Princes Rock Lookout Wentworth Falls
Easy access by public transport or car
Inside the Blue Mountains National Park at Wentworth Falls, there’s a choice of lookout points, and Princes Rock Lookout gives the best view of Wentworth Falls from above.
It’s easiest to drive there but the waterfall is also accessible by public transport and it’s a pleasant half-hour walk from Wentworth Falls Station to the National Park.
The return walk to the Princes Rock Lookout takes around 20 minutes from the car park.
6. Jamison Lookout Wentworth Falls
Easy access by public transport or car
For more spectacular views at Wentworth Falls, take the National Pass trail to Jamison Lookout and keep walking to the top of the waterfall. The National Pass Trail in Wentworth Falls is an epic hike around the cliffs and the trail crosses the stream and descends via a very steep staircase to the base of the waterfall.
Look for the historic photos of walkers from 1912 embedded in the cliff face. This is not a walk for the unfit or the faint-hearted, but the views are nothing short of spectacular.
Wentworth Falls is at its best after rain but the walking track and the steep staircase carved into the sandstone cliff face can be muddy and slippery so take care.
**Note**The National Pass has now reopened after a fatal rockfall.
7. Sublime Point Leura
Easy access by car
Sublime Point in Leura is one of the best Blue Mountains Lookouts and has a truly beautiful view. With a sweeping 360° outlook from the viewpoint, you can see the other side of the Three Sisters and get a different perspective of the Jamison Valley than you do from Echo Point in Katoomba.
It’s easiest to drive here and from the car park, it’s a short walk, around 175 metres to the lookout point.
8. Olympian Rock Leura
Easy access by car
Equally as beautiful as Sublime Point, Olympian Rock has an awe-inspiring view of the Jamison Valley, over the bare cliffs and forested valleys of the Blue Mountains National Park.
This Blue Mountains lookout point is windy and cold in the late afternoon when the shadows reach across the valley so rug up when you visit. Olympian Rock is on the Grand Cliff Top Walk between Wentworth Falls and Katoomba but it’s easy to reach by road.
Park on the street at Olympian Parade or in the small car park and walk down the stairs to enjoy this stunning Blue Mountains lookout.
9. Hargraves Lookout Shipley
Easy access by car on an unsealed road
Hargraves Lookout is one of the best lookouts in the Blue Mountains and offers sweeping 360° views over the beautiful farmlands of the Megalong Valley.
From the viewpoint, you can see the historic Hydro Majestic Hotel perched on the clifftop at Medlow Bath and the escarpment views are superb at sunset.
There’s a 2.5-kilometre dirt road into Hargraves Lookout, and tour buses don’t come here. Hargraves Lookout is off the beaten path and often quiet but the views are as dramatic and beautiful as any in the Blue Mountains. It was drizzling with rain and there was a rainbow in the sky when I took the picture below.
Hargraves Lookout can be found several kilometres outside Blackheath Village on the western side of the Blackheath railway line past Shipley.
10. Anvil Rock Lookout Blackheath
Access by car on an unsealed road
Also off the beaten path, Anvil Rock offers stunning 360°views over the Grose Valley that can be enjoyed without the crowds of tourists you’ll find at other lookouts in the Blue Mountains.
From the car park, a short walk takes you through the scrub to the viewpoint at the top of Anvil Rock and on a clear day, you can see all the way to Sydney from the lookout.
The last time I was at Anvil Rock was in spring (September / October) and the scrub near the cliff edge was covered in white flannel flowers and absolutely beautiful.
Access to Anvil Rock is via Hat Hill Road in Blackheath and the last 8 kilometres of the road is unsealed. Follow the signs from the Blue Mountains Highway.
11. Perry’s Lookdown Blackheath
Access by car on an unsealed road
Near Anvil Rock, Perry’s Lookdown also has lovely views of the Grose Valley and is less frequently visited. As well as the beautiful view at Perry’s Lookdown, if you stand still and listen, you can hear the birdcalls echoing around the valley from the Bluegum Forest below.
Perry’s Lookdown is a lesser-known viewpoint that you may well enjoy alone. Access is at the end of Hat Hill Road Blackheath on an unsealed road.
From Perry’s Lookdown, there’s a challenging walking trail that leads to Bluegum Forest in the Grose Valley.
12. Pulpit Rock Blackheath
**NOTE Pulpit Rock Lookout and walking track were damaged in the 2019 bushfires and have been closed for maintenance since then.
One of the most incredible lookouts in the Blue Mountains, Pulpit Rock overlooks the stunning Grose Valley. The views stretch for miles and on a clear day, you can see the Sydney CBD.
The Pulpit Rock Lookout includes a hair-raising climb down a ladder out onto the rock that juts out into the valley and it’s one of the best lookouts in the Blue Mountains offering 360-degree views of forested valleys and bare sandstone cliffs.
The escarpment is especially beautiful in the late afternoon before sunset when the rock face glows in the golden light.
Pulpit Rock can be seen at a distance from Govett’s Leap Lookout and getting there via the bush track is one of my favourite bushwalks in the Blue Mountains. The walking track follows the clifftops from Govett’s Leap with stunning escarpment views all the way. The return hike from Govett’s Leap takes around 3 hours.
You can also access Pulpit Rock by car from the end of Hat Hill Road Blackheath on an unsealed road.
13. Lincoln’s Rock Wentworth Falls
Access by car on an unsealed road
Lincoln’s Rock near Wentworth Falls is a large flat rock that offers spectacular views of the Jamison Valley. The rock platform faces west and is a favourite place to enjoy sunset views and a picnic.
But it gets very windy here, so rug up when you go and take care near the cliff edge as there are no barriers.
Lincoln’s Rock is Instagram-famous and it’s a popular photo spot. It can get quite crowded, especially in the late afternoon. It’s unlikely you’ll enjoy this view alone on a weekend.
14. Baltzers Lookout & Hanging Rock Blackheath
Access is on foot via a fire trail
Baltzer’s Lookout, and Hanging Rock, is a spectacular Blue Mountains lookout with an impressive view over the Grose Valley. The Hanging Rock is a unique sandstone rock formation that juts out from the escarpment wall into the valley and was featured in the film “The Edge” in the main rock climbing scene.
There are no barriers here and the cliff height is dizzying. This is one of the best Blue Mountains lookouts for rock climbers and thrill seekers. The view is simply breathtaking!
Getting to Baltzer’s Lookout and the dramatic Hanging Rock involves walking or riding a push bike for several kilometres on a fire trail into the National Park.
15. Mitchel’s Ridge Lookout Mount Victoria
Easy Access by car
From the Mitchell Ridge lookout in Mount Victoria, the views stretch as far as the eye can see over the lovely Megalong and Hartley Valleys. Mitchel’s Ridge Lookout is at the highest point in the mountains and has one of the best Blue Mountains views.
It’s easiest to visit Mitchel’s Ridge Lookout by car. Take a left-hand turn off the Great Western Highway at Victoria Pass just after the road begins a steep and windy descent into the valley.
16. Hassan’s Walls Lithgow
Access by car on an unsealed road
Hassans Walls in Lithgow is one of the best Blue Mountains lookouts at sunset. Although Hassan’s Walls is located in Lithgow on the other side of the mountains, the views are spectacular. I’ve included it here because it’s a gorgeous spot with extensive views across the Hartley Valley to the mountains.
A walkway extends out to the lookout point over the lush farmlands of the valley. The bare sandstone cliffs of Hassan’s Walls are nearby. The lookout point offers extensive views that are especially beautiful in the golden light just before sunset.
Access is by car on an unsealed road through the bush. Hassan’s Walls Lookout is quite remote and there’s a picnic area near the lookout.
17. Mount Blackheath Lookout
Access by car on an unsealed road
Located at the top of Mount Blackheath, this lookout faces west and is the perfect place to watch the sunset over the farmlands in the valley below. Blackheath Lookout is a launching site for hang gliders and paragliders and the area gets very windy. There’s a picnic area and toilet near the car park.
Blackheath Lookout is a more remote Blue Mountains Lookout and it’s easiest to get there by car. It takes around 20 minutes to drive here from Blackheath Village.
Turn left over the railway line at Blackheath shops and head towards Shipley. After a few kilometres, you’ll pass the turn-off to Hargrave’s Lookout. Continue on Mount Blackheath Road. The road is unsealed for several kilometres.
Final Thoughts: The Best Blue Mountains Lookouts
I hope you’ve enjoyed my list of the best lookouts in the Blue Mountains. You can visit these lovely viewpoints on a day trip from Sydney by train, bus tour or car, but I recommend staying for a few days to enjoy the Blue Mountains National Park, go bushwalking, explore the antique shops and enjoy a delicious Devonshire Tea while you’re in the upper mountains.
I’ve been visiting the beautiful Blue Mountains since I was a small child and they always inspire, refresh and delight. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.
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