Quick Facts
Accessibility: 10/10 (easy)
Height: 30′ (9 m)
Hike: 0.15 miles (0.25 km) round-trip
The Record
While the grand, sweeping views and larger waterfalls might steal the show in Blue Mountains National Park, some of the area’s most charming spots are found tucked away from the main lookouts. The Katoomba Cascades are a perfect example of this. Located just a short walk from the main Katoomba Falls area, these beautiful cascades offer a more intimate and interactive experience with the landscape, even if they don’t have the dramatic scale of their famous downstream neighbor.
Although you can’t see the cascades from the road or any of the clifftop viewpoints, they are easy to reach via a short, well-maintained path from the nearby bus stop and parking area. The trail descends gently into a cool, shaded glen where the creek tumbles over a series of rock ledges into shallow pools. I remember seeing quite a few people, including families, relaxing on the rocks and playfully splashing in the cool water, enjoying a respite from their hikes. It’s a tranquil and inviting scene.
What makes the Katoomba Cascades particularly appealing is that they offer a much safer place to play in the water. Just a little further on, the same river plunges hundreds of feet over the sheer cliff as Katoomba Falls, a dangerous area to be trifled with. Here at the cascades, however, the gentle flow and shallow pools provide a perfect, worry-free spot to cool off. For those exploring the Katoomba area, it’s a beautiful and highly recommended stop for a closer, hands-on appreciation of the Blue Mountains’ flowing waters.
Directions
- Using the Blue Mountain bus, go to stop 10.
- From there, you will be faced with two options. Take the right path that leads into a wooded area. From there, it’s a very short hike to the falls.
Waterfall Record 
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