McKeowns Valley Lookdown Walk

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Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There Transport options and directions
Start (-33.8203805,150.0209901)
Mode Car (There is free parking available.)
Directions From
Turn on to Jenolan Caves Road, 1 then drive for 46 km

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the opposite side of the Jenolan Caves Road from Caves House, this walk follows the 'Six Foot Track' sign up the concrete steps. The walk then follows the stone footpath up the side of the valley for about 80m to pass the 'Southside Show Caves' information sign then just over 30m later to the 'Grand Arch' information sign (and view of the Arch). The walk continues fairly gently up the path for 100m (as it bends right) to find 'Caves House' information sign. The path soon starts leading much more steeply up as it begins to Zig Zag up past a seat and more views down to caves house for 150m beside the limestone cliffs. At the top of this climb the path leads over a small small rise then gently down to a fenced lookout beside 'Carlotta Arch'.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. After 70 m find the "Jenolan Caves House" (25 m on your right). Jenolan Caves House Jenolan Caves House, built in 1898, is a heritage-listed building which houses dining, a variety of accommodation options, and other services for visitors to the caves. Jenolan has two licensed restaurants: Trails Bistro is open from breakfast onwards and closes early evening. Trails serves a range of light meals including sandwiches, salads and hot food. Chisholm's Restaurant is open each morning for breakfast and each evening for dinner from 6.00pm. Essential items and beautiful souvenirs may be purchased from Things Jenolan, located on the ground floor of Caves House. Don't forget to explore one of the many caves to explore in the area. For more information, call Jenolan Caves on 1300 76 33 11. After another 95 m pass the toilet (20 m on your right). After another 8 m pass the "Tickets and Guide Office" (20 m on your right).
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip to Bottom of Carlotta Arch Steps. To start this optional side trip turn right here. On returning from this side trip turn right when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 235 m continue straight.
	After another 15 m veer left. After another 30 m continue straight.
	After another 55 m turn right. After another 20 m pass the toilet (55 m on your left).
	After another 630 m turn right. Then come to a gate.
	Turn around here and retrace the main route for 1.2 km to get back to the start.

An optional side trip to Bottom of Carlotta Arch Steps.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. After another 10 m head through the tunnel After another 15 m come to the cave. After another 25 m head through/around the gate. About 15 m past the end is "Carlotta Arch". Carlotta Arch Carlotta Arch is a large and spectacular cave remnant overlooking Blue Lake. It is believed that the arch was named in honour of a daughter of a surveyor - General P.F. Adams. Adams is credited with having taken some of the earliest photos at Jenolan. About 130 m past the end is "Blue Lake". Blue Lake Blue Lake, or Lake Jenolan, is a small lake on the eastern side of the Grand Arch. The lake is fed by the River Styx and the Jenolan River. Blue Lake's intense colour comes from the refraction of light through limestone sediments. About 90 m past the end is "De Burghs Bridge". De Burghs Bridge The bridge spanning out from the Grand Arch was designed by Mr Ernest M. De Burgh, and built by the Public Works Department in 1896. The bridge allowed greater access to the caves and was built from locally cut limestone.
	The end. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 60 m to the main route.

Turn map

Directions & comments

Start.

After another 10 m head through the tunnel

After another 15 m come to the cave.

After another 25 m head through/around the gate.

About 15 m past the end is "Carlotta Arch".

Carlotta Arch

Carlotta Arch is a large and spectacular cave remnant overlooking Blue Lake. It is believed that the arch was named in honour of a daughter of a surveyor - General P.F. Adams. Adams is credited with having taken some of the earliest photos at Jenolan.

About 130 m past the end is "Blue Lake".

Blue Lake

Blue Lake, or Lake Jenolan, is a small lake on the eastern side of the Grand Arch. The lake is fed by the River Styx and the Jenolan River. Blue Lake's intense colour comes from the refraction of light through limestone sediments.

About 90 m past the end is "De Burghs Bridge".

De Burghs Bridge

The bridge spanning out from the Grand Arch was designed by Mr Ernest M. De Burgh, and built by the Public Works Department in 1896. The bridge allowed greater access to the caves and was built from locally cut limestone.

The end.

Turn around and retrace your steps back the 60 m to the main route.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

McKeowns Valley Lookdown Walk

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	2.3 km
Time	1 h 15 min to 2 h

Quality of track	Smooth and hardened path (1/6)
Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage	Clearly signposted (1/6)
Infrastructure	Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (1/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Some facilities on route

Toilet: There are 2 on route, on average they are 780 m apart with the largest gap of 1.8 km.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	170 m	[toilet]
Toilet	530 m	[toilet]

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track

Jenolan Caves House
Jenolan Caves House, built in 1898, is a heritage-listed building which houses dining, a variety of accommodation options, and other services for visitors to the caves. Jenolan has two licensed restaurants: Trails Bistro is open from breakfast onwards and closes early evening. Trails serves a range of light meals including sandwiches, salads and hot food. Chisholm's Restaurant is open each morning for breakfast and each evening for dinner from 6.00pm. Essential items and beautiful souvenirs may be purchased from Things Jenolan, located on the ground floor of Caves House. Don't forget to explore one of the many caves to explore in the area. For more information, call Jenolan Caves on 1300 76 33 11.

Carlotta Arch
Carlotta Arch is a large and spectacular cave remnant overlooking Blue Lake. It is believed that the arch was named in honour of a daughter of a surveyor - General P.F. Adams. Adams is credited with having taken some of the earliest photos at Jenolan.

Get more information
Wildwalks

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Jenolan Caves Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
  
  Friday 22 November
  
  27°C
  Mostly sunny.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. Light winds. Daytime maximum temperatures 25 to 31.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 8:40am to 4:50pm, UV Index predicted to reach 11 [Extreme]
  
  Saturday 23 November
  
  13°C → 29°C
  Partly cloudy.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Sunny. Light winds. Overnight temperatures falling to between 10 and 14 with daytime temperatures reaching 28 to 33.
  
  Sunday 24 November
  
  15°C → 31°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. Light winds. Overnight temperatures falling to between 12 and 16 with daytime temperatures reaching 29 to 35.
  
  Monday 25 November
  
  16°C → 31°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. Slight chance of a shower about the Blue Mountains in the morning and afternoon. Near zero chance of rain elsewhere. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then tending northwest to northeasterly during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 14 and 17 with daytime temperatures reaching 30 to 35.
  
  Tuesday 26 November
  
  18°C → 29°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 3mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Wednesday 27 November
  
  15°C → 23°C
  Shower or two.
  70% chance of rain
  0 → 15mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Thursday 28 November
  
  13°C → 20°C
  Shower or two.
  70% chance of rain
  0 → 10mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve alerts
  Other planned events: Notice of ongoing 1080 baiting program
  NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is conducting ongoing ground baiting program from Thursday 2 May 2024 to Monday 5 May 2025 in the following areas:
  
  Abercrombie River National Park
  
  Abercrombie River State Conservation Area
  
  Kanangra-Boyd National Park
  
  Blue Mountains National Park (southern section)
  
  Wollemi National Park (Wolga)
  
  Gardens of Stone National Park
  
  Jenolan Karst Conservation Area
  
  Turon National Park
  
  Marrangaroo National Park
  
  The operation will use 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) poison for the control of wild dogs and foxes.
  The program is designed to minimise predator impacts on wildlife, especially threatened species, and to minimise impact of wild dogs on neighbouring stock.
  Signs will be placed at the entry to the baiting location. Domestic pets are not permitted in NSW National Parks managed lands. Pets and working dogs may be affected (1080 is lethal to cats and dogs). Pets and working dogs must be restrained or muzzled in the vicinity and must not enter the baiting location. In the event of accidental poisoning seek immediate veterinary assistance.
  For more information, contact the NPWS Kanangra area office at Oberon on 02 6336 6200.
  
  Fire bans: Kanangra Reserves
  A park fire ban is in place in this park and remains in effect unless otherwise extended or removed.
  However Wombeyan Caves campground in Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve is exempt.
  During park fire ban periods, all campfire and solid fuel (wood, heat beads, charcoal, briquettes, hexamine) barbecues and stoves are prohibited. Gas and electric barbecues and cookers are permitted as long as:
  
  They're under direct control of an adult
  
  The ground within 2m of the barbecue is cleared of all flammable materials
  
  There's an adequate supply of water (minimum of a bucket)
  
  If a Total Fire Ban is in place, different rules apply. Contact the local park office before bringing a gas or electric barbecue or cooker.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information about fire bans in parks and reserves including your responsibilities, visit the NSW National Parks fire safety page.
  
  Closed parks: Park closed for major road repairs
  Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve is closed until 2026 while Transport for NSW repairs flood-damaged roads and landslips.
  There is no access to Six Foot track via Jenolan Caves.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service

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Start	(-33.8203805,150.0209901)
Mode	Car (There is free parking available.)
Directions	From Turn on to Jenolan Caves Road, 1 then drive for 46 km

Weather Forecast

Alerts