A series of Nepean River Lookouts along Rileys Mountain Track

Australia, NSW, Penrith/Mulgoa, Western Sydney & Blue Mountains
Blue Mountains National Park
Dharug Land

Summary: Rileys Mountain Track passes multiple lookouts over the Nepean River, as it follows a ridge above the river. It's mostly on a firetrail, with a few sections of bushwalking track.

Trailhead: End of Fairlight Road, Mulgoa
Distance: 12.6km
Duration: 4-6 hours
Grade: Easy
425m total ascent
Route type: Out and back
Best season/s: All year
Topographic map/s: 9030-3N PENRITH (1:25K) Buy / Download
Online map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/rileys-mountain-track-gpx-438124b
No Dogs
Mountain biking permitted

Although the vast majority of the Blue Mountains National Park lies to the west of the Nepean River, Rileys Mountain Track traverses a thin sliver of the national park which is to the east of the river. Rileys Mountain Track is accessed from the end of Fairlight Road, where the start of the trail – which can be used by mountain-bikers and horses as well as bushwalkers – is clearly signposted.

1X3A0938 LR A series of Nepean River Lookouts along Rileys Mountain Track

1X3A0936 LR A series of Nepean River Lookouts along Rileys Mountain Track

Therea are multiple lookouts along the trail, and the first one is less than ten minutes from the carpark.

1X3A0939 LR A series of Nepean River Lookouts along Rileys Mountain Track

1X3A0941 LR A series of Nepean River Lookouts along Rileys Mountain Track

The short side-track takes you to the top of a large rock – hence its name The Rock Lookout – which provides some extensive views over the Nepean River below.

1X3A0947 LR A series of Nepean River Lookouts along Rileys Mountain Track

A trail continues along the the top of the escarpment – this is not the Rileys Mountain Track, but an alternate trail that connects a number of unofficial lookouts. After only a hundred metres another short (unmarked) side track heads down a short distance to the edge of the cliffs, but there isn’t a great view from here.

1X3A0952 LR A series of Nepean River Lookouts along Rileys Mountain Track

1X3A0953 LR A series of Nepean River Lookouts along Rileys Mountain Track

About 300m further there is another informal lookout, this time offering a nice view of the Nepean River with many spots suitable for a picnic. (The Rock Lookout gets pretty busy; another 10-15min to this spot lets you avoid the crowds.)

1X3A0956 LR A series of Nepean River Lookouts along Rileys Mountain Track

A little further along the wide track is the last lookout along this first section of the bushwalk, with multiple vantage points of both the Nepean River and some jagged cliffs above the river.

1X3A0967 LR A series of Nepean River Lookouts along Rileys Mountain Track

From here a bushwalking track crosses a small creek, as it ascends towards Rileys Mountain Track.

1X3A0969 LR A series of Nepean River Lookouts along Rileys Mountain Track

1X3A0972 LR A series of Nepean River Lookouts along Rileys Mountain Track

Going via this unofficial track adds about 1.5km of extra walking compared to the official route… but it’s a lot more scenic! I’m soon on the Rileys Mountain Track, a wide firetrail which ascends pretty constantly for about the next two kilometres.

Although it feels more like a hill than a mountain, Rileys Mountain is the highest point in the area. It was named after James John Riley, who was the elected the first Mayor of Penrith when it was proclaimed a municipality in 1871. The top of the 243m mountain has a trig station (Mulgoa Trig) hidden in the scrub, and a tall communications tower.

1X3A0991 LR A series of Nepean River Lookouts along Rileys Mountain Track

Just before the peak, a signposted trail goes to Rileys Mountain Lookout. A very wide rock ledge provides extensive views up and down the Nepean River. It’s another nice spot for a break – but I started this bushwalk much later than planned, so I don’t linger here too long.

1X3A0975 LR A series of Nepean River Lookouts along Rileys Mountain Track

1X3A0979 LR A series of Nepean River Lookouts along Rileys Mountain Track

1X3A0984 LR A series of Nepean River Lookouts along Rileys Mountain Track

I’m not yet at the half-way mark to the end of the track – but the next few kilometres is mostly downhill. A long section of Rileys Mountain Track now follows a fence line, a reminder of how narrow the National Park is here, wedged between private land and the Nepean River.

1X3A0998 LR A series of Nepean River Lookouts along Rileys Mountain Track

1X3A0999 LR A series of Nepean River Lookouts along Rileys Mountain Track

Although both AllTrails and the topo map show a few different trails and the possibility of a loop, none of these seem to exist anymore. The undergrowth is pretty light and it wouldn’t be hard to head off-track, but it’s getting late in the day so I stay on the firetrail. There is only one (signposted) junction, where the Rileys Mountain Track veers to the right, and the track to Nepean Narrows Lookout heads to the left.

1X3A1024 LR A series of Nepean River Lookouts along Rileys Mountain Track

1X3A1005 LR A series of Nepean River Lookouts along Rileys Mountain Track

It’s one of the nicer sections of the bushwalk – it’s nice to leave the firetrail – with the trail descending to the end of the ridge. Nepean Narrows Lookout is not the most spectacular of the Nepean River lookouts, but it’s my favourite. A few rock platforms offer a nice vantage point over the Nepean River, and its junction with Glenbrook Creek.

1X3A1020 LR A series of Nepean River Lookouts along Rileys Mountain Track

Brieflying enjoying the view and the tranquillity, I soon head back the same way. I could have taken the more direct route back, but I return via the multiple lookouts, making it to The Rock in time for sunset.

1X3A1027 LR A series of Nepean River Lookouts along Rileys Mountain Track

1X3A1040 LR A series of Nepean River Lookouts along Rileys Mountain Track

1X3A1055 LR A series of Nepean River Lookouts along Rileys Mountain Track

Although much of the Rileys Mountain Track is a firetrail, which I find a little dreary, it’s a pleasant bushwalk (or mountain bike ride) that offers a number of interesting lookouts along the way.

Getting to Rileys Mountain Track

The start of the trail is at the end of Fairlight Road, which is a 20km (25min drive) from Penrith, or 17km (20min) from the M4 Penrith motorway exit. The last 3km of the road is unsealed, but suitable for all vehicles. There’s a large parking area, and the track is clearly signposted.