Valley of the Waters Track

Valley of the Waters Track from Conservation Hut to Empress Falls is a 1.1 km (0.68 mi) out-and-back, usually about 45 minutes. It drops quickly from the hut into a shaded gorge, then climbs back by the same path. The distance is short, but the steep return makes this a harder walk than the number suggests. Do it for Empress Falls without committing to a longer valley route.

The formed track has rocky, rough sections and timber-and-dirt steps. It is very steep in places, both down to the falls and on the way back. This is a Grade 4 walk: a good fit if you're comfortable with uneven footing and stairs, not a gentle stroll. Stay on the formed path around the gorge, where cliff edges can be hard to see. Heavy rain can make local track sections impassable.

The route ends at a tiered waterfall spilling over dark rock shelves, then spreading into smaller cascades below. Forest and ferns close around the gorge. For a photo, keep the broad ledges beneath the main drop in frame; they show the stepped shape of the falls. Morning mist can soften the scene, though it depends on the day.

The 1.1 km figure covers the walk from Conservation Hut to Empress Falls and back. The broader Valley of the Waters route continues to other falls and toward Wentworth Pass; those extensions have a different distance and access, and are not part of this short return.

Start and park at Conservation Hut, at the Fletcher Street end. Parking is available, but spaces can be limited on weekends and public holidays. The café is beside the trailhead for a snack or coffee before or after the walk. Pets aren't allowed in Blue Mountains National Park, except certified assistance animals.