Govetts Leap to Pulpit Rock

From the Govetts Leap lookout car park, take the track to the left of the lookout, down steps into a small creek and over a bridge. It follows the cliff edge north-east past Laws, Horseshoe Falls, Cripps and Boyd lookouts, each looking down into the Grose Valley, crossing Popes Glen Creek and climbing on steps through heath and hanging swamps. The last stretch runs through eucalypt forest to Pulpit Rock, where the lookouts stand on a pinnacle out from the cliff. Return the same way.

It is 7.6 km there and back with 430 m of ascent; allow about 3 hours. The grade is Moderate: a good but narrow track with many steps up and down across the gullies. The climb is our own count and may be on the high side, as the height data is noisy along cliff edges.

The Pulpit Rock lookouts reopened on 20 September 2026 after six years closed following the Black Summer bushfires; the lowest lookout was not rebuilt. Keep behind the railings. The Govetts Leap descent into the valley is closed after rockfalls and is not part of this walk. The area can close in poor weather or high fire danger.

Govetts Leap is at the end of Govetts Leap Road, about 2.5 km from Blackheath station on the Blue Mountains line.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.