A rock platform on the edge of a tall cliff, Fortress Rock offers some spectacular valley views. It’s at the end of a spur off Fortress Ridge in the Blue Mountains.
Between two vertiical cliff faces is a view of the Grose Valley and Govett’s Creek.
Fortress Ridge Lookout offers a similar outlook, but requires a much longer walk out to the end of Fortress Ridge.
Getting to Fortress Rock
A wide firetrail goes almost to the end of the ridge, with a narrow bushwalking track descending the last few hunded metres to the edge of the cliff.
It’s an easy 3km (return) walk, which you can extend by visiting Fortress Creek Falls or Dr Darks Cave.
The Fortress Rock trailhead is about 8.7km along Mount Hay Road (from the Great Western Highway at Leura), and about 1.3km before the Lockleys Pylon trailhead. Most of Mount Hay Road is unsealed but it’s usually suitable for any vehicle – if there’s been a big storm the road can get in pretty bad condition and a 4WD/SUV is recommended. There’s a small parking area (but not much signage) at the start of the firetrail, which can get full especially on weekends (in which case park on the shoulder of the road). It’s about a 25min drive from Katoomba and 1:45min from Sydney.
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