5 Best Shaded Hikes in the Blue Mountains

This blog was posted in the old hikezilla website

Sydney has an awesome selection of hiking trails to choose from, but when it comes to summer and you want to avoid the blazing sun, that’s when it can get a little tricky. It’s then that you want a few of the more shaded hikes up your sleeve, and what better place to head than the luscious Blue Mountains! This really is the place to be if you want to enjoy some shade. So let’s check them out and see which are the 5 best shaded hikes in the Blue Mountains.

1. Sassafras Gully / Victory Track & Magdala Gully

Sassafras Gully, Victory Track and Magdala Gully Track Loop is all about enjoying the beautiful, lush forest whilst spending time amidst an interesting array of wildlife including the curious lyre bird. You’ll follow though the gullies and over creeks, passing Martin and Magdala waterfalls. It is a refreshing 11km loop from Springwood Station, and because it’s located in the lower Blue Mountains area, the track is less trafficked compared to popular hikes up in the Katoomba area.

This trail is completely shaded from the start, and in total about 95% of this track is in the shade. Walking through dense vegetation alongside Sassafras and Magdala creeks, you’ll pass numerous overhangs and even some spots to go for a swim. You may find you need to do a bit of ‘tree-hopping’ as there are often a few lying on the path, but this is all part of the adventure, and the track is otherwise well marked and easy to navigate.

For the more adventurous I would suggest you do the additional detour to Martin’s Lookout once you reach Perch Ponds. This would add an additional 4km and requires a 150m climb to the lookout, but it’s well worth it for the view. Once you’ve finished taking in the beautiful landscape, trace your way back to Perch Pond and finish the loop back to Springwood Station.

2. Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon walk starts at Evan’s Lookout and finishes at the second car park about 1.5km up the road from the lookout, above Neates Glen. It’s a particularly stunning loop walk and, at only 6km, it’s not too big of a commitment when it comes to distance. For large sections of this walk, you will be hiking inside a canyon, which offers excellent shade and really stops the heat of the sun getting down there, even in summer.

We would estimate that about 85% of this walk is in the shade and it’s super-cool, simply because it’s so hard for the sun to warm the area at the bottom of the canyon. This also creates the perfect environment for a stunning array of plant species, in particular ferns, and it also has a diverse range of wildlife including yabbies.

The track is easy to follow and when you reach the blue circled area, there is an optional detour of about 10 minutes where you can follow the stream down into the canyon. It’s lots of fun as you hop along from rock to rock, and you’ll be rewarded with stunning views at the end.

3. Empire Pass

The Empire Pass Track and North Lawson Trail is located amidst dense rainforest and you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to waterfalls, enjoying four as you follow along: Fairy Falls, St Michaels Falls, Dantes Glen and Frederica Falls. They are all located in picturesque surroundings and you’ll feel like you’re in another world as you watch the water cascade down.

This walk is shaded about 80% of the way. Part of the track can get muddy and slippery, especially after wet weather, so make sure you have proper hiking shoes on. You’ll be walking alongside a creek, so they’ll be plenty of opportunity to refill water on a hot summer’s day!

4. Leura Cascades

This stunning walk begins at the Leura Cascades picnic area and walks past a number of beautiful waterfalls, not least Bridal Veil Falls, which towers above. Having walked down to Bridal Falls from the picnic area, you will then merge back onto the Prince Henry Cliff Walk, and follow it for about 500 metres until you reach the turn off for the Federal Pass down to Leura Forest.

Leura Forest is enveloped in shade by towering trees, featuring interesting rock formations and lyre birds. It has an 'enchanted forest vibe' and is a great spot for lunch. About 75% of the walk is protected by shade.

5. Ruined Castle

The Ruined Castle is an out and back track featuring large rock formations with sweeping views across the Jamison Valley. The walk is about 70% shaded and starts just off Katoomba Falls Rd. As you walk down Furber Steps, you’ll enjoy the Witches Leap waterfall and thick canopy shade.

Following the Federal Pass, you’ll pass 'the landslide'—a reminder of nature's force from 1931. Once through, you walk for a few km’s in the soothing shade offered by a dense canopy of trees until you reach the climb to the Ruined Castle itself.