The Portal Trig enjoys a commanding view, located at what is now the Portal Lookout (also called the Mount Portal Lookout) on a rock platform that juts out from the cliff.
From the fenced lookout and the trig point are views over the rugged Glenbrook Gorge, and the Nepean River which opens up to the Cumberland Plains on the western edge of Sydney.
The Portal Lookout is fenced and wheelchair accessible, and was upgraded in 2022.
While the trig is a fairly standard (and slightly weather-worn) concrete post, it has an unusual octagonal aluminium plaque mounted on top of it. which may have been installed by the Central Mapping Authority of NSW.
Starting from North and in a clockwise direction, the points and direction lines are:
North
– Richmond 24km
– Emu Plains 5km
– Newcastle 144km (not visible)
– Penrith 6km
– Palm Beach 67km (not visible)
– Hornsby 43km
– St Marys 13km
East
– Parramatta 34km
– Sydney 54km
– Liverpool 31km
– Campbelltown 35km
– Wollongong 83km (not visible)
West
– Blackheath 38km (not visible)
Getting to Portal Trig / Portal Lookout
The easy way to reach the trig and lookout and trig is via the Mount Portal Trail, which is accessed via the Euroka Trail and The Oaks Trail – these are unsealed roads but suitable for all cars unless the road has been damaged by floods. There’s a large carpark at the end of the road. It’s about a 15min (6km) drive from the Glenbrook entrance of the Blue Mountains National Park. Note that there is a gate on the firetrail which is open:
- First Sunday in October to first Sunday in April 8.30am to 7pm
- Rest of year 8.30am to 6pm
- Cyclists and walkers have 24hr access
The access road also crosses a causeway which may be inaccessible if the river level is high.
It’s also possible to reach the Portal Trig and Mount Portal Lookout via a very steep track up from Glenbrook Creek: the last part of the informal trail involves some vertical scrambling up the cliff face and a steel ladder to reach the top.
More information
- National Parks (NPWS) – Portal lookout
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