I’d seen pictures of Terrace Falls before doing this trail, but hadn’t really heard anything else about the walk and assumed it was the main attraction. What I actually found was an incredible trail full of waterfalls and cascades that truly blew me away.
The narrow path is always lined with lush greenery and sometimes it felt like the giant ferns were trying to reclaim the trail. The overhangs, colourful fungi and knobbly trees all added to the atmosphere and it quickly became one of my favourite waterfalls walks in the Blue Mountains.
It’s a track that truly comes to life after rain so save this one for a rainy day or after a few good downpours. Here’s what to expect on the trail.
The Terrace Falls Walking Track
The stats
Distance: 4.7km total
Elevation: 220m
Difficulty: Moderate
The Terrace Falls walk is relatively easy, but it does have some uneven terrain and several short uphill sections. It took us just under 2 hours, but that was mainly because we took a lot of photos! You could definitely do it in less.
It’s best walked after heavy rain which makes it a little harder as some of the creek crossings will require either using slippery rocks as stepping stones (tiny rocks which move as opposed to stable boulders) or getting wet boots.
Decent boots with grip will stop the track feeling slippery.
There are a couple of ways of walking this track but we think the circuit is best. If you only want to see the two main waterfalls you can cut quite a bit of distance off, but you’ll miss some wonderful scenery!
The track is sporadically signposted and we’ve noted all the turnings you need to make, but it’s best to take a photo of the map for this one because there are a few places you could go wrong.
Starting the trail
You used to be able to drive to a couple of different start points for this walk - which would knock off the only uninspiring part of the track - which is the beginning and end along the fire trail.
However, every time we have seen it the gate has been locked, so we assume you can’t access the closer car parks anymore.
So starting at the locked gate, you’ll head onto the fire trail, and begin heading gradually downhill. You’ll quickly see a side trail off to the left - ignore that and continue down the wide stony fire trail.
There is one very short, probably 50m section, which has lots of small stones which can be slippery. The rest of the fire trail was fine and we were walking in heavy rain.
After 600m the trail flattens and 150m later you’ll reach the official start of the Terrace Falls walk, which is marked by a big signpost.
Into the forest
Head left down the narrow path into the forest. The scenery changes completely and you’re suddenly surrounded by absolutely beautiful trees, ferns and overhangs.
It’s incredibly picturesque and a wonderful start to the proper trail. There are some short downhill sections as well as flat track for the next 250m before you come to a junction.
Take the left path, and after 50m and one fallen tree to climb over, you’ll reach Pyramid Falls. That is assuming you’re walking after rain otherwise there won’t be anything here at all!
It’s a pretty little waterfall and a lovely secluded spot. And from here the walk only gets better.
Onto Bedford Pool
After retracing your steps to the junction, you follow the stairs downhill and deeper into the forest. To your left the scenery is alive with cascade after cascade.
You can’t always get a clear look, but you can always catch a glimpse and the constant noise is a relaxing backdrop to the walk.
The stairs are all rocky and uneven on this part of the trail, but I was surprised to find they weren’t slippery (although you definitely want boots with good grip).
After 500m you’ll see a path branch off to the left. It’s eroded a bit so this bit was a little slippery, but it takes just a few minutes to reach Bedford Pool.
Normally there is a sandy beach if you cross the creek and it would be a great spot for a paddle. After heavy rain most of the sand has disappeared and the stepping stones to cross over to the beach had been fully submerged.
If the water level is lower I’d recommend this spot as a lovely place to stop off for a picnic.
Finding more and more cascades
Back on the main trail and you’ll soon see the first signpost since the beginning of the trail, pointing you on towards Terrace and Victor Falls.
A few hundred metres through gorgeous forest later, you’ll see a side trail off to the left marked for Picnic Point and Willawong Pool. Unfortunately for us, the creek was running pretty high so we didn’t take it, but hopefully one day we’ll be back!
Just 150m beyond this junction you’ll come to another waterfall with a reasonably deep (after rain) pool at the base.
I have tried to find the name of this falls, but it doesn’t seem to appear on the internet or maps! All I can say is that it was fabulous!
Completely unexpected and absolutely wonderful. I’d have gone for a dip if I’d known it was there beforehand!
You’ll have to cross the creek here and the rocks do start to become submerged, but there are still a couple that are big enough to get you over with dry boots.
The forest is so beautiful and you’ll soon come across a picture perfect cascade, complete with mossy boulders and ferns. Joe said it was one of the most picturesque cascades he’d ever seen.
That’s how I think of this trail: a little gem full of wonderful spots that go largely unrecognised and that makes it all the more special.
Onto the Terrace Falls
Just beyond the small cascade you’ll start heading uphill and come to Salote Pool, which has a small waterfall running into it.
It’s another lovely spot but this next creek crossing can be tricky. The rocks will be under water after heavy rain and it’s a case of how high your boots are and how carefully you tread as to whether they’ll flood or not.
I saw Joe’s boots flood and then took it very carefully. I managed to get across using the log for support! You could always remove your boots, so it’s not a biggie, and will really only be relevant after very heavy rain.
The track continues uphill as you make your way to Terrace Falls, 150m later.
Again, to see all of Terrace Falls you need to walk across the pool. There is a log to help you get over a deep bit, but depending on how close you want to get it can be another boots off job (it’s a little slippery too so you have to watch your step).
It’s so worth it though because the waterfall is stunning. You can only see part of it from the side of the pool but when you move across you see several more terraces. It’s spectacular after rain.
Onto Victor Falls
You then continue heading along the trail up the stairs and reach the top of Terrace Falls. It’s not obvious if the water level is high, but you need to cross the top of the falls. If you go very carefully you can get across dry, there are a couple of small wobbly rocks to help!
After 150m along the bush track, you’ll see a turning on your right and hear Victor Falls thundering over the cliff. You climb down a couple of stairs and then you’ll be at the base of the falls.
It is almost like two separate waterfalls and each would be worth visiting in their own right! It’s really pretty and quite unusual, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a waterfall which is so big and has that large a gap in-between the cascades.
You can’t see from here but the waterfall is absolutely huge, as you climb further up the track you’ll get to see just how tall it is.
Completing the circuit
Back on the main trail and you’ll continue climbing first on stairs and then on a sloped path. It’s here that you get to see more and more of Victor Falls. The track does get a bit waterlogged along this section and it was the first time we encountered any big puddles.
After 250m there’s a side trail on the right that leads you to a view over the top of the falls, just go carefully as it is an unfenced cliff edge.
Once you’re back on the main track, you’ll come to an opening on to the creek 100m later. There is no signpost, and it’s not that obvious, but you have to cross the creek here.
The stepping stones were fully submerged again for us so we had to do one big jump across.
From here you need to head immediately uphill, along the rocky path. It doesn’t seem like the right path, as if you look left the trail is flat and well maintained, but the rocky one will get you up to the fire trail again within minutes.
After that it’s just 1.5km back along the fire trail to the locked gate. It’s flat at first but then heads gradually uphill all the way back to your car.
All in all, this is such a wonderful walk that really comes alive after rain. We couldn’t believe we got the whole trail to ourselves too.
Getting to Terrace Falls
Terrace Falls Reserve is in Hazelbrook, just under 90km, and a one and a half hour drive from Sydney. It’s just over 20 minutes drive from Katoomba.
It is marked on Google Maps as “Terrace Falls Walking Trail” (you can find the location by clicking here). There is no official car park for the trail anymore, unless they start unlocking the gate at the start of the fire trail again. You can find pull outs just before you get to the gate on Valley Road.
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