The Porters Pass, Colliers Causeway and Centennial Glen loop is a fantastic Blue Mountains walk which is largely off the radar for most hikers. It’s a really varied trail, taking you along cliff edges, rainforest gullies and even to an incredible waterfall inside a small slot canyon. The path is quite rough for the majority of the way, but it’s not too difficult if you watch your footing.
For such a short walk it really packs a punch and you’ll be richly rewarded for taking on the uneven terrain and quite a few staircases!
Here’s exactly what to expect on one of the best walks in the Blue Mountains.
The Porters Pass Circuit
The stats
Distance: 5.2km
Elevation: 281m
Difficulty: Moderate
The Porters Pass Circuit is not a difficult walk, but it is slower going than the distance and elevation might suggest. This is because the terrain is quite rough in many places. Whilst no individual section of track is tricky, it is the sort of path where you often have to watch your footing.
It took us 2 hours 20 minutes, which was a lot longer than we were expecting and that’s all down to the terrain - having said that there is no scrambling involved.
Where to start the trail
There are a couple of places you can start the trail but we recommend starting at Burton Road and doing the loop in an anti-clockwise direction. Doing it this way will mean you’ll come to the most impressive part of the walk (in our opinion) towards the end which is always our preference.
Depending on when you’re planning to hike, it also means you can finish up towards the end with sunset views which is what we like to do!
The Porters Pass Track
The trail heads straight from the residential street into the bush and after 120m you’ll reach a signposted junction, head straight on to take the Porters Pass Track.
You’ll be heading downhill on a narrow path and after just under 500m you’ll see an un-signposted but obvious trail on your left.
It’s just a very short, couple of minute detour, to reach a rocky pagoda which offers a fantastic view of climbers on the cliff wall ahead of you.
It’s a popular spot and if you’re walking on a weekend you are very likely to see them here.
Into the rainforest gully
Back on the main trail and you’ll continue heading downhill as the track gets a bit rougher. As you descend the scenery completely changes and you’ll find yourself suddenly surrounded by lush rainforest and giant overhangs.
It’s such a rapid change and it’s a beautiful part of the walk. At the 1km mark we decided to explore an un-signposted path to the left which is marked by a small cairn and some fallen logs.
This is Porters Pass Gully and the short, rough side track will take you to a really large overhang. We didn’t explore further this time, but there were markings on some rocks that suggested there might be more to see further along!
Back on the main trail and you continue descending steeply on uneven staircases, but there are handrails so you don’t need to worry about slipping.
You’ll pass a small waterfall, weeping rocks, gorgeous ferns and lots more honeycomb cliffs.
Along the cliff side on Colliers Causeway
The next part of the walk leaves the gullies behind and sees you walking alongside a towering cliff. At points the path is very narrow, but I wouldn’t say that it feels exposed as such because the drop to your right is not sheer, but bushy.
It is rough uneven terrain though, not difficult, but the sort of path that requires you looking at your feet most of the time. When you do stop and look at the views, they are terrific and the cliff walls are also beautiful, with the occasional small waterfall trickling down them.
You’ll also pass a large overhang that has red hand prints but unfortunately these are mock Aboriginal art, which apparently isn’t uncommon in the mountains!
After just over 1km the path does improve and it’s a smoother more relaxing walk after that. It’s a pretty section of track, but our favourite is yet to come.
You’ll arrive at a larger waterfall and rock hop over the creek to enter a magnificent canyon. This is just under 3km into the walk.
Into the incredible canyon
I absolutely love this next section of the track! You’ll walk on uneven staircases hewn into the rock (with handrails) as you make your way up through the canyon. A waterfall runs all the way along the path and the views when you look behind you are just fantastic.
After climbing for just a few minutes you’ll reach a junction. Make sure you turn left following the sign for ‘canyon’. This little innocuous looking side trail (which takes just a few minutes) leads you to an incredible slot canyon, complete with hidden waterfall and plunge pool!
To say we were surprised the first time we saw it would be an understatement, it must be one of the most unique waterfalls in the mountains.
It’s such a fantastic spot and though the slot is small, it’s still one of my favourites in the mountains. To reach the plunge pool and waterfall you do have to walk very briefly along a narrow ledge under the overhang, but the drop to your left is not big and in hiking boots or bare foot it feels perfectly secure.
To enter the pool you need to get down one large rock, but there is a foothold and it’s not hard to get down.
The water in the pool by the waterfall is surprisingly deep, so on a hot day it really is the perfect shady spot to cool off!
Onto Centennial Glen
After the canyon you retrace your steps to the main trail and follow the signs for Centennial Glen. There are two trails marked for Centennial Glen and you want the one which reads ‘Centennial Glen exit, Bundara 1.3km’.
You’ll then reach another junction and you want to follow the path left, signposted for Fort Rock. The track has a small amount of uphill before it flattens for quite a while and the smooth terrain makes for a really relaxed stretch of walking.
After a few hundred metres you’ll see the top half of a stunning waterfall inbetween the foliage. A few hundred metres later you’ll be able to walk right behind the waterfall. It’s a really gorgeous spot.
Beyond the waterfall keep following all signs for Fort Rock, the track starts to head uphill, past yet more picturesque overhangs before you reach the rock 500m later.
We hadn’t heard anything about this spot before and as we climbed up the rock (there are plenty of footholds) we realised it’s makes a magnificent and quiet sunset spot!
The view takes in the Megalong and Kanimbla Valleys which are utterly spectacular, especially during golden hour. It’s so beautiful it quickly got added to our favourite Blue Mountains sunset spots list.
Finishing the loop
From Fort Rock, take the trail marked as Porters Pass via Cliff Top Track. You head briefly downhill on a rocky path before it flattens out.
The views are terrific and the bush is all low enough that you can fully appreciate all the scenery. It’s also a favourite area for Yellow-tailed black cockatoos, we have seen so many here and as the bushes are low they often swoop right over your head!
After just under 1km you sadly head into the bush and lose the views, as you begin making your way steeply uphill. At the 5km mark you reach a T junction and turn right here (onto the trail you started on), before reaching a second junction just 10m later. You continue on straight for Burton Road.
Overall this a fantastic and very quiet trail, which has so much to see in just over 5km. Definitely one for the Blue Mountains bucket list.
Getting to the Porters Pass Circuit
The Porters Pass circuit is located in Blackheath, roughly a 1 hour 45 minute drive from Sydney and just under 15 minutes from Katoomba.
Whilst you can start the circuit at several different points, we recommend starting at Burton Road.
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