Conservation Hut to Empress Lookout

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Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There Transport options and directions

Start	(-33.7202926,150.3628765)
Mode	Bus Car (There is free parking available.)
Directions	From Great Western Highway, A32 Turn on to Valley Road then drive for 1 km Turn right onto Fitzgerald Street and drive for another 90 m Turn right onto Fletcher Street and drive for another 60 m Continue onto Fletcher Street and drive for another 55 m

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From Conservation Hut, this walk follows the 'Valley of the Waters' sign down some timber and dirt steps passing a couple of picnic shelters. The track soon leads to the signposted intersection with the 'Short Cut Track' (still in view of the Conservation Hut).
From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Valley of the Waters' sign down the steps, passing an information sign. After the handrail and more signs, the track passes a couple of faint tracks (on the left, leading to an old picnic area). Further down the steps, the walk comes the end of another handrail and a three-way intersection (signposted 'Overcliff Track' and 'National Pass').
From the intersection, this walk follows the 'National Pass - Valley of the Waters' sign down the timber steps. The track passes a few faint tracks (on the left, that lead to an unfenced view point). The walk continues down the steps, soon coming to an unsignposted intersection with the Lyrebird Cliff track (on a small sandstone rock platform).
From the intersection, this walk heads down the wooden steps to almost immediately come to the signposted intersection with 'Queen Victoria Lookout' track.....

An optional side trip to Queen Victoria Lookout.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start.
	After another 20 m continue straight. Then pass the toilet (40 m on your left). Then pass the car park (35 m on your left). After another 10 m pass the picnic table (25 m on your left).
	Continue straight. Then pass the picnic table (8 m on your left).
	After another 9 m continue straight.
	After another 155 m veer left.
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip to Queen Victoria Lookout. To start this optional side trip continue straight here. On returning from this side trip turn left when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 130 m turn sharp right.
	After another 70 m veer left.
	(Empress Lookout) Turn around here and retrace the main route for 400 m to get back to the start. "Empress Lookout".
	Start.
	After another 25 m continue straight. After another 10 m come to "Queen Victoria Lookout". Queen Victoria Lookout The Queen Victoria Lookout is perched above the Valley of the Waters, south-west of Conservation Hut. The fenced lookout has views into the narrow section of the valley. The views are made more dramatic by the roar of the waterfalls below and the mists which frequent the area. Empress Falls are only just visible - the main views extend down Jamison Valley. Kings Tableland (left) and Sublime Point(right) dominate the views and the eastern edge of Mount Solitary and beyond is also visible. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 35 m to the main route.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Conservation Hut to Empress Lookout

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	800 m
Time	30 min to 40 min

Quality of track	Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage	Clearly signposted (1/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (1/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Some facilities on route

Toilet: There is one 20 m from the start.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	20 m	[toilet]

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track

Conservation Hut
Conservation Hut is a small cafe perched above the Valley of the Waters, Blue Mountains National Park. The hut was opened in 1963 as a meeting place for the local conservation movement. Rebuilt, Conservation Hut opened as a cafe in 1993, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week. Around the Conservation Hut is a small parking area, public toilets, picnic shelters, town water and B&B's. For further information or bookings call (02) 4757 3827.

Queen Victoria Lookout
The Queen Victoria Lookout is perched above the Valley of the Waters, south-west of Conservation Hut. The fenced lookout has views into the narrow section of the valley. The views are made more dramatic by the roar of the waterfalls below and the mists which frequent the area. Empress Falls are only just visible - the main views extend down Jamison Valley. Kings Tableland (left) and Sublime Point(right) dominate the views and the eastern edge of Mount Solitary and beyond is also visible.

Empress Lookout
Empress Lookout is a fenced and signposted lookout, perched on a sandstone overhang above the Valley of the Waters Creek. There is a view down to part of the Empress Falls and into the canyon. The views are filtered through the surrounding trees. It makes for a good spot to catch your breath when walking into, or out of, the Valley of the Waters.

Get more information
Wildwalks

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Katoomba Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
  
  Saturday 27 July
  
  13°C
  Showers.
  80% chance of rain
  
  Cloudy. High chance of showers, becoming less likely in the late afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm in the north. Winds northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h turning westerly 15 to 25 km/h in the early afternoon. Daytime maximum temperatures between 12 and 17.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 10:50am to 1:20pm, UV Index predicted to reach 3 [Moderate]
  
  Sunday 28 July
  
  3°C → 7°C
  Wind easing. Mostly sunny.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers in the south, slight chance elsewhere. Snow possible above 700 metres. Winds westerly 25 to 35 km/h turning southwesterly during the morning and early afternoon. Overnight temperatures falling to between zero and 5 with daytime temperatures reaching between 5 and 11.
  
  Monday 29 July
  
  0°C → 9°C
  Morning frost. Sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Sunny. Areas of morning frost. Winds south to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between minus 3 and 2 above zero with daytime temperatures reaching between 7 and 13.
  
  Tuesday 30 July
  
  0°C → 9°C
  Morning frost. Partly cloudy.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Areas of morning frost. Winds south to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h increasing to 25 km/h before tending south to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day. Overnight temperatures falling to between minus 3 and 2 above zero with daytime temperatures reaching between 8 and 14.
  
  Wednesday 31 July
  
  0°C → 9°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Thursday 1 August
  
  1°C → 10°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Friday 2 August
  
  3°C → 11°C
  Cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Cloudy.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Blue Mountains National Park alerts
  Closed areas: Parts of Blue Mountains National Park closed
  Many roads, fire trails and walking tracks within Blue Mountains National Park are closed due to infrastructure upgrades or damage caused by wet weather including subsidence, rockfalls, landslides and fallen trees.
  The following areas are closed:
  Katoomba and Leura
  
  Honeymoon Bridge is closed due to rockfall risk.
  
  Fern Bower track between Prince Henry Cliff walk (Grand Cliff Top walk) and Amphitheatre track is closed due to multiple landslides.
  
  Federal pass between the Cooks Crossing (Kedumba River) and Dardanelles Pass (near the Giant Staircase) is closed due to a landslide. There is no access along Federal Pass from the bottom Giant Stairs to Scenic World. Visitors can access Scenic World bottom stations via Furber Steps only. Fares apply.
  
  Ruined Castle, Golden Stairs, Solitary Loop and Federal Pass west of Scenic World are closed due to multiple landslides.
  
  Lone Lyrebird track is closed between Gordon Road and the War Memorial, due to subsidence. Detour is in place.
  
  Prince Henry Cliff walk (part of Grand Cliff Top walk) is closed between Gordon Falls picnic area and Elysian Rock lookout, due to a landslide. Visit the Blue Mountains City Council website for information.
  
  Part of Lindeman Pass is closed due to a major landslide below Gladstone lookout. Roberts Pass is closed due to rockfall and landslide hazards.
  
  Six Foot track is affected by closures at Jenolan Caves.
  
  Wentworth Falls and Woodford
  
  Valley of Waters track is closed below Sylvia Falls. There is no access to Roberts Pass, Vera Falls, Hippocrene Falls or Wentworth Falls from Valley of the Waters.
  
  Charles Darwin walk (part of the Grand Cliff Top walk) is closed between Fletcher Street and Weeping Rock. Detours are in place to provide directions to Wentworth Falls picnic area. Visit the Blue Mountains City Council website for information.
  
  Part of National Pass (west of Wentworth Falls middle crossing) is closed due to a major landslide and ongoing risks.
  
  Wentworth Pass and Slack Stairs are closed due to multiple landslides.
  
  Bedford Creek and Andersons Fire trail will be closed Monday to Friday until Friday 30th August 2024 due to road repairs. There will be no access from Anderson fire trail or Murphys Road to Ingar campground. There is also no exit to Woodford from Andersons fire trail. Trials and campgrounds will be open on Saturday and Sunday. Ingar campground is open on Saturday night only.
  
  Blackheath, Mount Victoria and Bells Line of Road
  
  Perrys Lookdown Road will be closed to vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists from Monday 5 August to Friday 16 August 2024 for roadworks. The road will be open weekends. Alternative access to Acacia flat is available via Horse track (via Grand Canyon track) or Lockley Pylon.
  
  Williams track (Govetts descent) and Rodriguez Pass are closed due to rockfalls and landslides.
  
  Pulpit Rock Reserve, lookouts and walking track are closed. Visit the Blue Mountains City Council website for information. Pulpit Rock walking track from Popes Glen is open as far as the NPWS boundary (as shown on Google maps).
  
  Adventure recreation, canyons, abseiling and rock climbing
  Some adventure recreation areas and routes are specifically closed where the access or exit road/track is mentioned above.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact the local office.
  
  Closed areas: Woodford-Oaks trail closure
  Woodford-Oaks trail is closed on weekdays to all cyclists and pedestrians due to heavy machinery in operation.
  The Oaks and Single tracks will be open to cyclists on weekends, and will fully reopen as soon as works are complete.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local park office on 02 4720 6200.
  
  Safety alerts: Remote walking track conditions
  Remote routes within the Kanangra Wilderness Area including Kanangra to Katoomba (K2K) trail have been impacted by heavy fire regrowth and flood damage.
  In some places, tracks are no longer visible and are not easy to navigate, taking longer to traverse than expected. Limited to zero water sources are currently available along routes.
  If you plan to walk in the area, please ensure you have an appropriate level of experience, navigation skills and equipment including Personal Locator Beacon (PLB).
  Mobile reception is limited so alternative communication methods are strongly recommended.
  For more information, contact the NPWS Blue Mountains Heritage Centre on 02 4787 8877.
  
  Closed areas: Glenbrook precinct closure
  The Glenbrook precinct will be closed on weekdays for major roadworks, from Monday 29 April to Tuesday 15 October 2024.
  Heavy machinery and vehicles will be in operation from Mondays to Fridays during this period. Access beyond the entry gate will be closed to all vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.
  The closed areas (Mondays to Fridays) include:
  
  Woodford - The Oaks trail
  
  The Single track
  
  Euroka campground
  
  Red Hands Cave
  
  Red Hands Cave walking track
  
  Jack Evans track
  
  Nepean lookout
  
  Nepean River walking track
  
  Pisgah Rock
  
  Mount Portal lookout
  
  Tunnel View lookout
  
  Jellybean Pool
  
  Blue Pool
  
  Glenbrook Gorge walking track
  
  The precinct will open on weekends, with most areas accessible.
  The following areas will be open on weekends:
  
  Euroka picnic area
  
  Woodford - The Oaks trail
  
  The Single track
  
  Mt Portal and Tunnel View lookouts
  
  Jellybean Pool
  
  Blue Pool
  
  Glenbrook Gorge walking track
  
  Other sections, including Red Hands Cave and Euroka campground, will remain closed over the weekend. The precinct will fully reopen as soon as works are complete.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local park office 02 4720 6200.
  
  Other planned events: Notice of ongoing 1080 baiting program
  NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is conducting ongoing ground baiting program from Thursday 2 May 2024 to Friday 1 November 2024 in the following areas:
  
  Abercrombie River National Park
  
  Abercrombie River State Conservation Area
  
  Kanangra-Boyd National Park
  
  Blue Mountains National Park (southern section)
  
  Wollemi National Park (Wolga
  
  Gardens of Stone National Park
  
  Jenolan Karst Conservation Area
  
  Turon National Park
  
  Marrangaroo National Park
  
  The operation will use 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) poison for the control of wild dogs and foxes.
  The program is designed to minimise predator impacts on wildlife, especially threatened species, and to minimise impact of wild dogs on neighbouring stock.
  Signs will be placed at the entry to the baiting location. Domestic pets are not permitted in NSW National Parks managed lands. Pets and working dogs may be affected (1080 is lethal to cats and dogs). Pets and working dogs must be restrained or muzzled in the vicinity and must not enter the baiting location. In the event of accidental poisoning seek immediate veterinary assistance.
  For more information, contact the NPWS Kanangra area office at Oberon on 02 6336 6200.
  
  Closed areas: Waratah Native Gardens picnic area closed
  Waratah Native Gardens picnic area is closed until further notice. This includes Gorge walking track. No access to the area is permitted.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact the NPWS Hawkesbury-Nattai area office on 02 4720 6200.
  
  Closed areas: Six Foot track - Bowtells Bridge closure
  Bowtells swing bridge on Six Foot track is closed to protect public safety. An upgrade is being planned and the bridge is expected to reopen in Mid August 2024. Signs and barriers are in place to prevent access onto the bridge.
  Crown Lands, which manages the bridge, is advising track users not to attempt to cross Coxs River. Any attempts to cross the river are at your own risk and are discouraged due to the potential for slips or falls, rainfall and risk of flash flooding.
  For further information visit the Six Foot track website.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service

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