Six Foot Track

A historic point-to-point walk across the Blue Mountains and into the Jenolan karst country.

Time to Hike: Most walkers take 3 days for the full 44.3 km, usually with two nights camping at the established sites.

Best Time to Go: Spring and autumn are the usual picks, when days are milder. Summer brings heat and bushfire risk; winter can mean cold nights and rain.

Getting there: Start on the western outskirts of Katoomba at Explorers Tree and finish at Jenolan Caves. Most people walk Katoomba to Jenolan for the classic steep descent early, but it can be done either way.

Costs: Costs are mainly transport and food. Camping is at dedicated campsites along the route; confirm any current fees and booking requirements before you go.

Difficulty: Moderate - the track is well established but includes steep steps early on, a demanding climb after the Coxs River, and long, steady climbs onto Black Range.

The Six Foot Track runs from Explorers Tree on the edge of Katoomba down through the temperate rainforest of Nellies Glen to the Megalong Valley floor, then threads past farmland and historic remnants such as the abandoned shale-mining site at Megalong Village. From there it follows the steep-sided banks of the Coxs River before climbing up and over the ridges towards Jenolan Caves.

It began as a government-marked horse track in 1884 to shorten the long journey to the caves, designed to be six feet wide so two loaded drays could pass. The first recorded journey along it was in 1887 by the NSW Governor, Lord Carrington, and his wife, and it remained popular until motor vehicles and alternate roads took over.

After falling into disuse, the route was reinstated by the New South Wales Department of Lands in 1984. Today it is also the course of the annual Six Foot Track Marathon held in March, which brings a burst of activity to the whole corridor.

• Stage 1: Explorers Tree (Katoomba) to Megalong Valley (via Nellies Glen) - A steep start down stepped rainforest gullies into the valley floor, then easier walking through open country.
• Stage 2: Megalong Valley to Coxs River (via Megalong Village) - Farm tracks and bush sections with a notable historical stop at the abandoned shale-mining site.
• Stage 3: Coxs River crossing (via Bowtells Swing Bridge) - Cross by ford or use the suspension bridge; the river corridor is one of the most memorable parts of the walk.
• Stage 4: Coxs River to Mini-Mini Saddle - The hardest climbing for many walkers, with a demanding ascent away from the river.
• Stage 5: Mini-Mini Saddle to Alum Creek - A descent after the saddle, often used to break up the big climb day.
• Stage 6: Alum Creek to the Pluviometer (Black Range) - Another challenging uphill push to the historic pluviometer site on the ridge.
• Stage 7: Black Range ridgeline to Black Range Campsite - A more gradual ridge walk after the main climbs, typically where walkers camp before the final day.
• Stage 8: Black Range Campsite to Jenolan Caves - The track crosses and then runs close to Jenolan Road before the final descent into the limestone caves.

The track is best walked in spring or autumn, when daytime temperatures are more comfortable for the long climbs and exposed sections.

Summer can be very hot with bushfire hazards, while winter brings cold nights and the possibility of rain. If you are walking around March, note the Six Foot Track Marathon can increase traffic on the trail.

The track starts near Katoomba in the Blue Mountains and finishes at Jenolan Caves in regional New South Wales. For international visitors, Sydney is the main gateway city; from there, travellers typically reach Katoomba by rail or road, then begin at Explorers Tree on the town’s western outskirts.

At the finish, you will need onward transport from Jenolan Caves (services can be limited, so plan ahead). The walk can be done in either direction, but Katoomba to Jenolan is the common choice as it puts the steep descent at Nellies Glen early and ends at the caves.

Check current New South Wales land-management guidance for any permit requirements; the track is commonly walked as a public trail, but campsite rules and booking requirements can change.

However, there are dedicated campsites along the route - check current New South Wales land management guidance before your trip for any campsite booking rules, closures (including fire restrictions), and conditions after storms or high fire danger.

Most walkers treat this as a 3-day hike using the dedicated campsites, including a campsite near the Coxs River used by many people before the climb to Mini-Mini Saddle, and the Black Range Campsite farther along.

Because the route is popular and conditions can change, confirm whether campsites require booking and carry an appropriate shelter and warm layers for cold nights, especially outside spring and autumn.