There’s no easy or quick way to reach Grose Head Lookout, a large rock platform on the edge of the cliffs below Grose Head South.
There are multiple vantage points from the large rock platform, which all offer a sweeping and unobstructed view over the Lower Grose Valley, Springwood Creek, and the Grose River.
To the west is the Grose River and Faulconbridge Point (which are form part of the Lower Grose area).
To the north-east is Grose Head South, which is about 80m higher in elevation – but is covered in scrub and doesn’t offer as good views.
There are two Aboriginal grinding groove sites visible in the rocks near the edge of the cliff, signs of habitation and use by the Gundungara people. However, studies of multiple Blue Mountains ridges shows a much lower number and density of indigenous rock art and grinding groove sites compared to Linden Ridge and Lawson Ridge.
Getting to Grose Head Lookout
There are a few routes you can use to get to Grose Head Lookout, either on foot or by mountain bike. The most popular starting point is from the end of White Cross Road in Winmalee:
- Blue Gum Swamp Trail – 12.2km return. A shaded firetrail through tall blue gum forest (steep climb near the end to the ridge)
- Shaws Ridge Trail – 13.7km return. Follows Shaws Ridge before dropping down to Blue Gum Creek and climbing steeply up to Springwood Ridge
- Springwood Ridge Trail – 21km return. Long ridge-top firetrail and the least interesting route
- Combining the Shaws Ridge Trail & Blue Gum Swamp Trail (12.9km) or the longer Springwood Ridge Trail & Blue Gum Swamp Trail (16.6km) offers a mix of ridge-top walking and the more picturesque trail though the Blue Gum Swamp.
The shortest but less-travelled route is from the end of Mountain Avenue in Yarramundi, which is a 12.2km return bushwalk or mountain bike up over Grose Head South and down to the lookout. (If coming this way, the 1km descent from Grose Head South to the Grose Head Lookout is very steep and rough in places, and not suitable for riding a mountain bike.)
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