This is a reasonably short and pretty walking track that is an easy walk for most age groups and will take you to the base of 4 named small waterfalls with a total distance of only 2.5kms or so. There are steps and wet patches in places, but take your time and you will have no issues with this at all. One of the great features of this track, apart from the falls themselves, is no backtracking required, it can be done as an easy circuit and it takes less than 2 hours, with plenty of time at each of the falls themselves. All the tracks are well defined and signposted, there are a few junctions, but read the signs and you will be able to follow the main circuit easily and without issue. There are opportunities if you wish to have a dip, though none of the pools are exactly very deep.
The best time to visit and do this circuit is after some good rain, often the falls can be just a trickle, but after a good downpour, they can really get pumping which completely changes the look of each of the falls. The "mood" of each fall changes depending on how much water is flowing at the time. Keep in mind also, after rain, the track can become a muddy mess, so you may end up with muddy shoes and some places will be hard to stay out of the mud. When I last did this walk, the falls were flowing nicely and the track was very dry.
This walking circuit is also becoming better known and a popular one for families and kids and dog walkers, on the day I walked it last, there was just 5 cars in the top (North) car park when I started my walk, when I returned, there must have been 40+ cars parked up and down the streets, so if you don't want to share the falls with anyone else, pick your days carefully, mid-week would be best for the ultimate in serenity. Also, if nobody is around, you can wander around the falls trying different angles and not have to worry about other people wanting to take their own images, don't be afraid to bring some old shoes and get in the water and wander around looking for that unique angle and view.
The walking track network was constructed during a period in Blue Mountains history when each town was doing everything they could to attract tourists, walking had become a popular pastime in the mid to late 1800's, Katoomba had it easy, it had the 3 sisters and those views over the valley, the mid mountain towns did not have as much to offer on such a grand scale, that is until they started cutting their own walking tracks in that took tourists and locals to spectacular hidden waterfalls. Work on the southern network of walking tracks started in the 1870s and was finished in around 1900, the walking track was opened with much fanfare and became a popular walking track.
If you are starting from the North Car park and go downstream, this has less uphill to contend with, the first falls you will come to is Adelina Falls (Though sign posted as Adeline Falls), then Junction Falls, Federal Falls and on the way out is Cataract Falls. Once you have come up out of the gully, yes, a few steps, just enough to get the heart pumping, then you can turn left and follow and easy undulating walk back to your car of about 800mtrs or so.
Adelina Falls
These falls were named after Adelaide Mary Wilson, but was known as Adelina, her father Henry Wilson was the licensee of the Blue Mountain Inn at Lawson. Previously the falls were known as Livingstone Falls and are approximately 70 feet high. This is the easiest of all the falls to get to and is less than 10 minutes walk from the north car park, hence making it the most popular with visitors.
Junction Falls
Two creeks join here to feed these falls with their own falls in each feeder creek, lots to see here if you are willing to scramble and have a wander to discover hidden gems and different views, there are quite a few steps to get down to the creek level, but nothing too hard, if you are going south. On the original maps and the old walking guides, there were originally called Stanley Falls, a popular place as you won't feel too crowded with 2 distinct falls, if there are lots of people at one side, go to the other falls etc, there is also a picnic table etc here under an overhang.
Federal Falls
These falls are on a spur track that takes you away from the main track and are on Cataract Creek, it is only a few minutes and you are at the base of the falls and these are some really pretty falls. A shallow pool at the base allows you to sit and cool off if you wish. Visiting mid afternoon would be recommended so the sun is not peeking over the top of the falls. These falls were also, like the previous 2, renamed, in this case, they were renamed from their original name of Hays Cascades, in 1899 they were renamed to Federal Falls in anticipation to commemorate the federation of Australia in 1901.
Cataract Falls
The last set of wonderful falls if you are coming from the North, or the first if you are coming from the south and are named after the creek that they are located on - Cataract Creek. These look better with more water flowing over them but still looked nice when I last visited. To the best of my knowledge, these have always been called Cataract Falls. It is not far past here that you continue your ascent up out of the gullies here and back to the top levels.
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