For effort vs reward ratio, the Devils Eye Arch may just be the best lookout in all the Blue Mountains - and we’ve been to a lot of lookouts. It’s not actually one lookout, but three; all of which offer wonderful views. The Devils Eye is more like a mini cave than an arch, but it is still a lovely quiet spot to sit and enjoy the views.
The other two lookouts are a few minutes walk away and offer spectacular sunset views without the crowds. In fact, you can look directly over to Cahills Lookout where you’ll see lots of people admiring the sunset while you relax in total solitude. It’s a special place and feels wild and secluded despite its very close proximity to the road.
Here’s what to expect from the lookouts at Devils Eye Arch.
The walk to Devils Eye Arch and surrounding lookouts
The stats
Distance: 200m each way (including all lookouts)
Elevation gain: 40m
Difficulty: Easy, but not a maintained path
Trailhead: Cliff Drive, Katoomba
The walk to Devils Eye Arch
From the lay-by where you park your car (coordinates -33.722585, 150.288205), you head into the bush straight ahead of you on the worn dirt path. The first 100m are flat or ever so slightly downhill.
You’ll then reach a junction, take the left path and there is a viewpoint a few seconds off the main path on the right (you can skip it now because you’ll pass it again on route to the sunset lookouts).
Continuing on the main path, you’ll come to a rockier track 30m later. This short section down to the arch (another 30m) is a rougher track which heads downhill rather steeply.
The path is a mix of dirt track and rocks and there are plenty of trees on either side of the trail to lend a bit of stability if needed.
It requires a little care with footing, but is not exposed and it takes just a few minutes to reach the arch (160m from the lay-by).
The coordinates for the arch are: -33.7237928, 150.2882542.
Devils Eye Arch
The arch is more like a small cave and once you walk through to the other side you can look back through the hole towards the mountains.
It’s a gorgeous view and was especially lovely in the soft light just before sunset. The sandstone arch is beautifully sculpted and there’s plenty of room to sit and relax in the serenity of the bush.
There’s a wide ledge once you’ve walked through the cave which overlooks a cliff wall surrounded by forest and would make for a lovely picnic spot.
It might be just a couple of hundred metres from Cliff Drive, but it really feels a world away.
Sunset lookout one
From Devils Eye Arch, retrace your steps back uphill to the junction and then take the path that will now be on your left. The worn path will pass that first lookout I mentioned.
This is a lovely view, but there’s not really an area to sit and relax, nor is it as open as the next viewpoints, so we’d recommend taking a quick peek and then continuing on to the better lookouts beyond.
You can walk directly past this view and continue on the slightly overgrown trail. You’ll come to the first sunset lookout within a minute (it’s only 40m from the arch).
This is a large rocky outcrop with plenty of room to sit and take in the sensational views. It’s easy to reach so if you don’t fancy a little scramble to the next viewpoint you could stop here and be very happy.
The view is across to Cahills Lookout and the surrounding forested outcrops. What makes both these lookouts special is that you feel like you are within the mountains themselves looking out, rather than on a cliff top looking in.
The second lookout is also amazing and has a particularly good view in the opposite direction too, so it’s worth continuing on if you don’t mind walking a couple of minutes further along an unmaintained path.
Sunset lookout two
From the first sunset viewpoint you’re just 40m from the second sunset lookout - you’re aiming for these coordinates -33.7238202, 150.2877069
You’ll climb down a large rock and continue a few steps down a dirt path. You can then either follow the slightly overgrown dirt path on the left (requires a bit of crouching due to the encroaching trees) or head right over another large rock.
Either way it’s quite straightforward and just 20m after leaving the first lookout you’ll reach a large pagoda.
This is very easy to climb when dry as the rock is grippy and there are numerous ledges for tiered access to the top.
The views from the top are superb - as they are from all the surrounding rock platforms - which are again, very easily reached.
You can look directly across to the sunset, but also over to the opposite side which offers spectacular views over Boars Head, Narrowneck and even Mount Solitary and the Ruined Castle.
It was incredible to see so many people at Cahills Lookout, yet we were totally alone here. It’s definitely one of my favourite sunset viewpoints in all the Blue Mountains.
Parking for Devils Eye Arch
There is no official car park for the Devils Eye Arch, but room for several cars to pull fully off the road on Cliff Drive at these coordinates: 33.722585, 150.288205
At time of writing this parking area is still free of charge. It’s around 3.5km and a 5 minute drive from Katoomba town centre.
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