Arguably one of the best lookouts in the Blue Mountains, Asgard Head offers extensive views over the Grose Valley: “From the top of this cliff there is a splendid view of the Grose Valley. Also the best view of Victoria Falls” (Lithgow Mercury).
The lookout offers a view right down the rugged Grose Valley.
Asgard Head – like many of the other bluffs in this area – was named by Myles Dunphy after the gods and heroes of Norse mythology.
Asgard is the home of the Norse gods, known as the Æsir. It is one of the Nine Worlds and is connected to Earth (known as Midgard) by a magical bridge called Bifröst—often described as a rainbow.
The definition of Asgard is quite simple: it is the divine realm where the Norse gods rule and live. The gods of Asgard include some of the most well-known figures in mythology, such as Odin, Thor, and Loki. Unlike a typical paradise, Asgard is a fortified city with great halls, golden palaces, and a massive protective wall.
Almost directly below Asgard Head is the Burra Korain Campground, at the confluence of Victoria Creek and the Grose River. The Grose Valley stretches over 12km to the Mount Hay Wall to the south-east, with steep cliffs on both sides.
To the east is the Birrabang Walls, part of the long cliff-line forming the northern boundary of the Grose Valley.
Only just over a kilometre to the south, Victoria Falls and the Silver Cascades above it is clearly visible – but tiny when viewed from here and dwarfed by the tall cliffs that surround it.
Getting to Asgard Head
The 6km return bushwalk to Asgard Head is all on track, initially on the signposted Asgard Swamp Fire Trail which descends from Victoria Falls Road.
After passing Asgard Swamp, there’s a track that goes out to Thor Head (+1.5km return) which is not signposted, and then a signposted track that descends quite steeply to the old Asgard Mine (+0.8km return). After these two junctions, the route to Asgard Head becomes a narrow but well-defined bushwalking track.
Allow a few hours, especially if you’re doing the two short side-trips.
There are a few longer bushwalks you can do that explore the Asgard Plateau – the partly off-track Asgard Head and Valhalla Head loop offers even better views from the top of the bluff above Asgard Head, and also goes out to the less-visited Valhalla Head.
A longer, full-day Asgard Head to Ikara Head bushwalk (which also has a short off-track section) visits Asgard Head, Thor Head and Ikara Head (as well as the historic Asgard Mine).
More information
- Lithgow Mercury – Mount Victoria (8 May 1908)
0 Comments