Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

Australia, Mount Wilson, NSW, Western Sydney & Blue Mountains
Blue Mountains National Park
Dharug, Gundungara Land

Summary: Combining the Mount Banks walking track with the Mount Banks One Trail (a bushwalking and cycling route), this loop traverses the Mount Banks summit and goes out to the Banks Wall for some spectacular Blue Mountains views.

Trailhead: End of Mount Banks Road
Distance: 12.8km
Duration: 4-6 hours
Grade: Easy
460m total ascent
Route type: Partial Loop
Best season/s: All year
Topographic map/s: 8930-1N MT WILSON (1:25K). Buy / Download
Online map: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/australia/new-south-wales/mount-banks-one-trail-loop
No Dogs
Mountain bikes partly allowed

I’ve had the Mount Banks Summit Walk on my To Do list for a while – it’s just been a bit too short for a full-day walk, but a little too long to tackle after another bushwalk. The mountain is more of a large hill, named by George Caley, a naturalist and explorer, after his benefactor Sir Joseph Banks. It’s the westernmost point reached by Caley in his attempt to cross the Blue Mountains in November 1804. This makes Caley the first European to climb Mount Banks (originally known as Mount King George), and possibly the first white person to view the upper Grose Valley.

1X3A2595 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

1X3A2596 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

The Mount Banks loop combines the Mount Banks Summit walk (a bushwalking track) with the Mount Banks One Trail (a bushwalking and cycling route which goes out to Banks Wall). For the best views, you’ll want to head to Banks Wall (it’s written “Banks Walls” on the NPWS sign, which is wrong.)

1X3A2594 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

1X3A2597 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

Mount Banks One Trail

We’re heading out to Banks Walls first via the firetrail, which is fairly level as it follows one of the contours on the eastern side of Mount Banks. There’s not much shade, so it’s the perfect bushwalk for a cold winter’s day – and wouldn’t be a lot of fun in the middle of summer. Some people recommend doing the loop in a clockwise direction, which is the direction we’re going. It really makes no difference – I would do whichever direction gets you to Banks Wall closest to sunrise or sunset, as the morning/evening light will give you the best views.

After passing the junction with the track to the summit, there’s bit more shade as the firetrail reaches the end of Mount Banks. Directly ahead is Frank Hurley Head – named after an Australian photographer and adventurer – which rises steeply above the track. (There was once a track to the top, which is now overgrown.)

1X3A2615 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

1X3A2610 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

Just after passing the base of Frank Hurley Head on the right and an old water tank on the left, the views on both sides of the ridge start to open up.

1X3A2619 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

1X3A2621 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

There are sweeping 180-degree views to the west, with Docker Head directly opposite on the other side of the Grose Valley with Point Pilcher to the left, and Rigby Hill and the Birrabang Walls to the right.

IMG 0909 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

You get a good view from here of Fortress Creek Falls dropping into Govett Gorge.

1X3A2633 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

1X3A2631 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

The Mount Banks One Trail continues a little futher along the ridge, through low heath and grassland, before reaching the Banks Walls lookout.

1X3A2629 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

1X3A2635 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

The Banks Wall lookout is perched on top of Banks Wall, which stretches from Banks Gully at the western end to David Crevasse at the eastern end. There are spectacular Grose Valley views from the top of the ridge, and a flat rock platform just below next to the cliff-edge.

1X3A2647 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

It’s initially the same way back along the firetrail, heading towards Frank Hurley Head and Mount Banks.

1X3A2655 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

1X3A2658 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

Mount Banks Track

About halfway along the side of Mount Banks is the signposted Mount Banks Track, which ascends the south-eastern side of the hill.

1X3A2608 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

1X3A2663 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

There’s not much of a view as the trail (which is more of a slightly overgrown firetrail than a walking track) passes through tall forest. There’s lot of thick re-growth from the 2019/20 bushfires.

1X3A2666 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

1X3A2669 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

Towards the top is the remnants of an old sign, and a slightly incongruous picnic table.

1X3A2670 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

1X3A2672 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

The very top of Mount Banks (1,049m in height) is marked by a trig station – TS2730 King George – but there are no longer any views from here, with the summit area no long being kept clear of trees and scrub.

1X3A2679 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

A short scramble down the side of the hill yields some filtered views over the Grose Valley and distant escarpment – but for the best views, Banks Wall is the place to go!

1X3A2682 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

The start of the Mount Banks walking track down the northern side is a bit overgrown and quite steep and slippery in a few spots.

1X3A2691 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

1X3A2694 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

However, the track soon improves and offers some views to the north, towards Bells Line of Road.

The walking track gets much more interesting as it descends, leaving the tall forest behind and entering low grassland. Looking back up the track is the gently rounded top of Mount Banks.

1X3A2701 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

1X3A2702 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

A series of scattered rock platforms next to the track have some weathered ironstone formations, and some spectacular views down the Grose Valley.

1X3A2706 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

A few sets of grinding grooves is evidence of the Aboriginal occupation of this area; further down Explorers Range is an even larger grinding groove site that was though to possibly be an axe-making “factory”.

1X3A2758 LR 1 Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

1X3A2753 LR 1 Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

From this outcrop of rock, the walking track can be clearly seen continuing along Explorers Ridge – as well as the firetrail a bit further to the east.

1X3A2711 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

1X3A2727 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

The trail is now very well marked and easy to follow… but it’s hard to resist some off-track forays. A faint trail leads to some tall overhangs, which would provide a nice shelter on a wet day.

1X3A2737 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

1X3A2736 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

The cliff-edge to the left (west) of the track also offers many great vantage points over the Grose Valley below.

1X3A2743 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

1X3A2745 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

As the track gets nearer to the end, you can see Mount Banks in its entirety, with both the walking track heading directly up the north-eastern side and the Mount Banks One Trail skirting around the base of the hill.

1X3A2751 LR Aboriginal history and scenic views on the Mount Banks loop

The bushwalk has taken a bit longer than I anticipated, mainly due to exploring the many rock platforms on the northern side for Aboriginal axe grinding grooves – of which I no doubt missed a few. You could do the loop in about four hours at a fast pace; we ended taking six hours with some off-track exploration.

Getting to the Mount Banks walking tracks

Both the Mount Banks walking track and the Mount Banks One Trail start at the end of Mount Banks Road, an unsealed road off the Bells Line of Road. There a small carpark, a picnic areas and toilets – and a nice view of Mount Banks as you approach.