The Blue Mountains is no stranger to spectacular walking trails. From the Grand Canyon Track, often ranked among Australia’s most scenic hikes, to the Prince Henry Cliff Walk, a 7km clifftop route linking Echo Point with Gordon Falls in Leura, the region is packed with routes that showcase its dramatic escarpments and lookouts in all their glory. A relatively new addition is the Grand Cliff Top Walk, a sweeping track that winds past emerald waterfalls and cosy villages. And if you haven’t experienced it yet, there’s a cool new way to do it. Launching this April, the Grand Cliff Top Race will take runners and walkers across a spectacular stretch of Blue Mountains National Park, and it’s suitable for a broad mix of abilities — so everyone is welcome. Here’s everything you need to know.
Grand Cliff Top Race
The race will follow a 17.5km stretch of the Grand Cliff Top Walk, tracing the escarpment between Wentworth Falls and Katoomba. If that sounds like a daunting distance, fear not — the format is designed to be approachable, allowing both runners and walkers to experience the route at their own pace.
Participants will walk or run along a dramatic stretch of the clifftop track overlooking the Jamison Valley, passing sandstone cliffs, lush bushland trails and a variety of lookouts that showcase some of the Blue Mountains’ most striking scenery. The course begins near Charles Darwin Walk in Wentworth Falls before finishing at Scenic World in Katoomba, effectively linking two of the region’s most visited hubs along one continuous trail experience.
The race itself has been structured to keep things manageable, with staggered wave starts, a 6-hour cut-off, and an aid station at Gordon Falls providing drinks and snacks along the way, making the race doable for a wide range of participants, whether you’re aiming to run the full course or take in the scenery at a slower pace.
Key features
- What: Grand Cliff Top Race — a 17.5km trail event along the Grand Cliff Top Walk
- When: Sunday, April 12, 2026
- Where: Blue Mountains National Park, from Wentworth Falls to Katoomba
- Who can take part: Open to both runners and walkers
- Start: Charles Darwin Walk, Wentworth Falls
- Finish: Scenic World, Katoomba
- Course format: Staggered wave starts to reduce track congestion
- Time limit: Six hours to complete the course
- For participants: All finishers receive a commemorative race memento and a Blue Mountains Explorer Bus pass
- Race prizes: Podium awards plus more than 40 additional prizes donated by local businesses
- Registration: Participant numbers capped, with early registration recommended
Organised by Blue Mountains Tourism, the race has been developed as a not-for-profit initiative that celebrates the region while supporting its long-term sustainability. Visitors are also being encouraged to turn the trip into a weekend stay, exploring local cafes, accommodation and shops across the Blue Mountains. Participant numbers will be capped to help protect the surrounding environment, so early registration is recommended for those keen to take part.
Head to the official Grand Cliff Top Race website for more information, and to register.
Getting there
One of the highlights of the event is how easy it is to get to. Because the route starts in Wentworth Falls and ends in Katoomba, participants can make the trip entirely by public transport instead of dealing with a car shuffle at either end. Both towns are well connected by regular train services from Sydney via the Blue Mountains Line. Plan your travels on Transport for NSW.
