Empress Falls
Empress Falls
Tucked into the lush escarpment at Wentworth Falls, the track to Empress Falls is a short, steep walk that delivers big rewards. On a rainy day, the trail comes alive — waterfalls surge, the forest drips and glistens, and mist threads its way through the canopy. If you're after a walk that’s rich in atmosphere and beauty (especially after rain), this one’s hard to beat.
Quick Details
Length: 1.3km return
Elevation: 100m
Grade: Easy to follow, but those stairs are a moderate climb back up the hill
Best Season: Year Round
Suitable for kids: Yes
Starting the Trail
Empress Falls (in our opinion) is one of the prettiest waterfalls in the Blue Mountains. It’s also one of the most popular, so we’ve been saving it for the right kind of day — when there’d be fewer people around. That day came this week, with foggy and wet weather — a perfect time to hike a busy track.
After parking at the Conservation Hut in Wentworth Falls and throwing on an extra jacket each, we headed down the wide track. Because this area sees a lot of foot traffic, the trails are well maintained and clearly signposted. Normally on a clear day you’d catch glimpses of the valley through the trees. On our visit, though, it was foggy forests all the way — just as we like them.
Our first stop was a detour to Queen Victoria Lookout, with views out to the Jamison Valley. On our visit, we couldn’t see much further than the sandstone cliffs beside us. As great as the view is on clear days, we really love how the fog makes the cliffs look mysterious and a little magical. The Blue Mountains are so quiet and peaceful on days like this.
We headed back to the main track and continued on to Empress Falls Lookout. We couldn’t really see the full waterfall from here as it’s tucked behind the trees, but we could certainly hear it — a promising sign that the falls had plenty of water flowing. We turned back to the trail and began descending the hill on sandstone steps.
The sounds of running water filled the air as we walked — dripping from the tree branches, trickling down the hill beside us, and the distant murmur of falling water at the end of the trail. As the descent got steeper the sandstone steps gave way to metal staircases.
The trail led us under a sandstone overhang as the cliff line curved around to our left — giving us a chance to shake the water from our backpacks and clothes. The rain had eased, but the mist was still clinging to the trees around us.
Isobel Creek
One of the things we love most about Blue Mountains trails is the way they’re often built over (or even through) creeks. We crossed Isobel Creek over blocks of sandstone, with water spilling down the wall beside us — cascading over fern-covered ledges. Higher upstream is Isobel Falls, which you can see from the Nature Track.
On to Empress Falls
We reached the final staircase — this one made of timber. Both of us agreed it was our favourite on the trail (as odd as it may sound to have a favourite staircase). There’s just something about it that suits the setting so well. While I’m sure the metal versions last longer and are more cost-effective, we love coming across older-style features like this on a trail.
At the base of the stairs, we ducked beneath them to get a better view of Isobel Creek spilling down the rock to join Valley of the Waters Creek below. When the flow is lighter, this part can be reduced to a trickle — so it was nice to see it with more water.
From here, you can catch your first glimpse of Empress Falls, tucked away behind the trees. I actually love seeing it from this spot — you get a fantastic view of the top section. The lower tiers are a little more hidden until you descend further. Sandstone steps curve down the hill beside the water to bring you to the pool at the base of the falls.
Empress Falls
Even though Empress Falls was named for Queen Victoria when she also held the title Empress of India — there’s something so perfect about the name. Framed by trees and rock, the top of the falls sit high above, as the water spills from that sandstone crown, tier after tier, fierce and graceful — a strength veiled by elegance. Empress isn’t just a name from history; it suits the waterfall completely.
There are sandstone blocks around the final pool to take in the full view of the falls, as well as plenty of big boulders to sit on if you feel like staying a while — and you likely will. It’s common to see people abseiling down the falls — which you might think would be annoying, but it actually looks pretty amazing to watch.
Empress Canyon
Upstream from the falls is Empress Canyon, a popular location for adventure groups. It’s a beautiful canyon and a great introduction to canyoning. Travelling through the canyon involves three jumps and a 30-metre abseil down Empress Falls at the end. Blue Mountains Climbing School run private tours through the canyon, and their guides are fantastic.
Sylvia Falls
Leaving Empress Falls behind, we continued a short way down the trail to Sylvia Falls — a stunning cascade that could easily be a destination in its own right. Last time we visited, we couldn’t reach Sylvia, so we were excited to find more of the track open this time. The rocks were slick and a bit slippery, but we both managed to stay upright.
The fog had thickened out in the valley, and it was hard to tell whether it was still raining — water was running from every surface around us. We had this stretch of the trail entirely to ourselves, and it was the perfect place to slow down and take it all in.
The trail continues on to the base of Sylvia Falls. It used to continue further, through the Valley of the Waters past a few more waterfalls, all the way to Wentworth Falls. Sadly, the track has been closed for some time due to a landslide. It was a beautiful track and one of our favourites in the Blue Mountains.
The water rushed over the end of the track, and we ventured down a short way to see how far we could go — the answer was: not far. The track is closed off for safety reasons. So, for now, we’ll just have to wander back up the hill and hope the rest of the track reopens one day.
Getting There
We started from the Conservation Hut at the end of Fletcher Street in Wentworth Falls. From the Great Western Highway, turn onto Falls Road, then right onto Fletcher Street. Turn left at the fork. There’s parking at the Conservation Hut, plus an all-day breakfast menu if you’re feeling peckish before or after your hike.
Tips and Tricks
This is a popular trail, so consider going mid-week to avoid the crowds.
Wentworth Falls is close by if you’d like to add another trail to the day.
If you’d like to experience an adventure like no other through Empress Canyon, then Blue Mountains Climbing School can provide you and your group with a safe and incredibly fun day out.