The Blue Mountains are a waterfall lovers paradise, from giant falls that cascade down the dramatic cliff sides to those you can swim under, and smaller more intimate waterfalls that you won’t have to share with anyone else. There is even one tucked away in a slot canyon, and others that hide a magical night time secret.
In short, no matter what kind of waterfall you’re looking for, you will find it here. We spent almost a year visiting dozens and dozens of spots to bring you this list of the very best waterfalls in the mountains.
The most important thing to consider when visiting waterfalls in the Blue Mountains
The most important factor when visiting any of the waterfalls on this list is rain. Rain plays a major part in how beautiful the falls will look.
Ideally you want to visit after a good downpour, or at least not during a long dry spell. Whilst the majority of these falls are permanent, many will reduce to a trickle during dry periods. This is especially true of those in the lower mountains - some disappear entirely.
If you’re lucky enough to be able to choose your timing, head there after or during rain, if not, head for the bigger falls in the upper mountains, which retain more water year round.
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1. Centennial Glen - Blackheath
2. Minnehaha - Katoomba
3. Wentworth Falls - Wentworth Falls
4. Horseshoe Falls - Hazelbrook
5. Victoria Falls - Mount Victoria
6. Katoomba Falls - Katoomba
7. Grey Hat Falls - Glenbrook
8. Junction Falls - Lawson
9. Empress Falls - Wentworth Falls
10. Bridal Veil Falls - Leura
11. Sylvia Falls - Wentworth Falls
12. Cataract Falls - Lawson
13. Katoomba Cascades - Katoomba
14. Numantia Falls - Springwood
15. Leura Cascades - Leura
16. Govetts Leap Falls - Blackheath
17. Leura Falls - Leura
18. Pool of Siloam - Leura
19. Dantes Glen Falls - Lawson
20. Terrace Falls - Hazelbrook
The most beautiful Blue Mountains Waterfalls
1. The Grotto - the one hidden in a slot canyon
Area: Blackheath
The Grotto at Centennial Glen is one of the most unusual waterfalls on our list. Although it’s only a short walk from the car park, you feel like you’ve entered another world.
The water tumbles into the narrow canyon and into a deep pool at the base, which then spills out into a shallower pool.
Limited light shines through the canyon opening and the fallen logs and moss on the canyon walls give the whole place a mysterious air.
You can paddle in the first pool or go for a full plunge pool experience in the deeper pool at the base.
To find the waterfall, park on Centennial Glen Road and begin the Centennial Glen walking track. After around 400m you’ll come to a junction. The path to the right is marked as ‘canyon’. One minute later and you’ll be able to see it.
Getting to the pool requires a short walk along a narrow ledge by the overhang, it doesn’t have a large drop, but it does require care.
You can also visit the The Grotto as part of the 5km Porters Pass circuit, which is a wonderful walk that also visits another great waterfall.
2. Minnehaha Falls - the one with the emerald swimming pool
Area: Katoomba
Minnehaha Falls is one of my favourites on this list, and easily one of the Blue Mountains best swimming spots. The waterfall is stunning and the emerald green swimming hole is fantastic on a hot day. It’s surrounded by gorgeous bushland and sandstone cliffs.
From the base you can’t see the whole waterfall, but it’s actually really tall and you get a lovely view of the whole thing along the walking track.
The walk to get there is just 2.5km return and it’s an easy track. There are a couple of very steep staircases but there are handrails so you don’t need to worry about slipping.
You can read more about the trail and Minnehaha Falls in our detailed guide.
3. Wentworth Falls - the most famous falls of them all
Area: Wentworth Falls
Wentworth Falls is a Blue Mountains icon and there are so many different viewpoints from which to take it in. The easiest one to access is Wentworth Falls Lookout which is a couple of minutes flat walk along a paved tail from the car park.
You can only see the very top of the falls from here though. If you really want to see Wentworth Falls in all its glory you need to walk a little further along the start of the Wentworth Pass trail (which is a waterfall lovers paradise) to either Fletchers or Rocket Point Lookout.
Fletchers Lookout is 1.5km return and offers a much closer up view of the upper falls. Rocket Point is 2.4km return and offers a more head on view of the falls and is probably my favourite of the two.
Both involve climbing a few staircases on the way back but it’s worth it!
You can also walk to the bottom of the upper and lower falls along the Wentworth Pass track, our detailed guide is linked above.
4. Horseshoe Falls - the one you can walk behind
Area: Hazelbrook
Everyone loves a waterfall you can walk behind, and Horseshoe Falls is a really beautiful one. There’s something about the shape of the falls as they drop over the fern covered overhang, it’s such a pretty spot.
As it’s in the mid mountains, it tends to be visited more by locals than tourists and you’ll often be able to get it to yourself.
It’s just 700m each way to reach the falls and the path is mainly downhill on the way. You’ll pass another smaller waterfall before you reach Horseshoe Falls.
Once there you can walk right the way behind the falls - just watch for any slick patches of mud which can be slippery.
We detail the pathway to the falls, plus four other waterfalls you can see if you continue along the same walking track, as well as a night time surprise in this post.
5. Victoria Falls - the one with two sublime swimming spots
Area: Mount Victoria
Victoria Falls requires a bit more effort to reach than most on this list. Although the walk itself is fairly short at just 2km each way, you are descending quite steeply, which means you have a pretty big climb on the way back out.
Your effort will be rewarded with not one but two fab wild swimming holes. The first is at the base of the cascades and the second is at the base of Victoria Falls itself.
The climb puts off most people so it doesn’t get very busy, and we got both spots to ourselves for the entire time despite visiting in the middle of the day.
Even if you’re not interested in taking a dip, you’ll enjoy the peace and serenity of both these beautiful waterfalls.
Victoria Falls
The Cascades
You can read our full guide to Victoria Falls here.
6. Katoomba Falls - the one you can see from a cable car!
Area: Katoomba
Pretty much everyone who visits the mountains will check out Katoomba Falls, whether it’s from one of the many fantastic viewpoints, or even from the cable car at Scenic World. It’s one of Katoomba’s must do activities.
Viewing it from the cable car is definitely the most unique way of seeing it and you do get a great birds eye view.
If you’d prefer to stay on terra firma there are multiple viewpoints which all offer a slightly different perspective.
I’d recommend taking the 2km Katoomba Round Walk, which takes in numerous lookouts, if you don’t want to walk the whole thing, you can start out on the trail and then head back once you’ve seen enough.
If you don’t mind a couple of extra staircases it’s worth diverting off the Katoomba Round Walk to the Underfalls Walk so you can see the upper falls from below. It’s also a closer up view than you can get from the lookouts on the cliff tops.
7. Grey Hat Falls - the one that’s a bit of a secret
Area: Glenbrook
Grey Hat Falls is probably the most off the beaten track waterfall on this list. You won’t find any signposts for this one so you really feel like you’re visiting a true secret spot.
It’s located a long way down a dirt road before you follow a narrow unmaintained path for just under 1.1km - with one scramble to navigate.
Your reward is one of the most sublime swimming spots in all the mountains, if not all of NSW. Grey Hat Falls cascades into a deep jade swimming hole which is perfect for a proper swim.
The waterfall might be fairly small, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in sheer beauty. It just has that very special feeling about it.
There are no facilities nearby, as with all spots on this list and elsewhere, please pack out all of your rubbish and keep this paradise spot pristine.
Directions to the falls can be found in this post.
8. Junction Falls - great for a waterfall shower
Area: Lawson
Junction Falls is absolutely gorgeous, but it does require a lot of recent rain to really be appreciated at its best. We visited on a rainy day and it was just incredible.
It’s located along the South Lawson Waterfall Circuit, which has five waterfalls on a trail that’s less than 3km long!
Junction Falls is the very best of the bunch as it roars over the terraced rock and it’s an incredibly atmospheric sight.
I hadn’t been expecting such a stunning waterfall the first time I saw it and it really did wow me! If the weather’s warm enough you can even go for a waterfall shower!
Getting up onto the middle rock platform is easy and not slippery, but walking along the platform is, so just be really careful.
Junction Falls is located roughly halfway around the circuit, so you may as well do the whole walk and see all five falls!
9. Empress Falls - great for watching the canyoners!
Area: Wentworth Falls
Empress Falls is a gorgeous waterfall, but what makes it unique, and one of my favourite things about it, is that you can watch all the canyoners abseil down it.
It’s the one that beginner groups are taken to, so if visiting on a weekend you’ll almost always see people slowly lowering themselves down before jumping into the pool below.
Even if there aren’t any canyoners when you’re there it’s still very much worth the walk to see. The track is only 1.8km return, but it does have quite a few staircases to climb on the way back! If you head to the falls when it’s quiet you can even enjoy a dip in the cool emerald water.
It starts and finishes at the Conservation Hut, which is the perfect place to go for a cool drink at the end of the climb!
If you’re planning on walking the Wentworth Pass mentioned at the beginning of this post you will pass Empress Falls on the way back up.
10. Bridal Veil Falls - the one that’s like a mini Wentworth Falls
Area: Leura
Bridal Veil Falls in Leura (Govetts Leap Falls is sometimes referred to as Bridal Veil Falls too) is a really pretty waterfall, in a fantastic setting.
It sort of reminds me of a smaller Wentworth Falls in the way it cascades in narrow rivulets over the cliff.
You can view it from several different spots, but my favourite view is the one at Bridal Veil View East, just off the Prince Henry Cliff Track.
Normally your quickest access is from the path that leads to Tarpeian Rock Lookout but as that’s currently closed, you have to walk from Olympian Lookout (this will change as the track work is well underway).
From Olympian Lookout the walk is 900m each way and undulates as you make your way through the bush and along the cliffs.
It’s a pretty track with some great views, and it’s easy to combine it with a visit to Leura Cascades which are only 300m further along the trail.
11. Sylvia Falls - the one that feels like a fairytale
Area: Wentworth Falls
I love Sylvia Falls, there’s an almost ethereal beauty to it and no matter how many times I’ve seen it I just have to stop and stare. It’s something about the way the water flows over the rock, I can’t describe it, you just have to see it for yourself! It’s one of our favourite waterfalls in all of NSW.
The rainforest environment is lush and beautiful and it’s very close to a series of other breathtaking falls.
The quickest way to reach Sylvia Falls is from the Conservation Hut, and you’ll continue on for just a few hundred metres past Empress Falls.
The walk length is 2km return, or you continue on along the Wentworth Pass and see lots more waterfalls (if you’re planning this though, I’d recommend walking the circuit in the opposite direction, so you finish with Empress). It’s a bit of a kinder incline!
12. Cataract Falls - the one that’s magical at night
Area: Lawson
Cataract Falls is a lovely waterfall by day (provided there has been good rain) but it’s by night that it becomes really magical.
You’d have no idea when sitting on the sandy beach and enjoying the falls by day, that at night it’s a truly spectacular glow worm dell. In fact, it’s one of the best glow worm dells in the Blue Mountains!
There’s nothing like standing underneath all those twinkling blue lights, which look like the most magnificent night sky.
Happily it’s also very easy to access, at just 450m each way, so walking in the dark is a breeze. There are a few staircases to navigate but nothing overly steep.
13. Katoomba Cascades - one that’s great for kids to play in
Area: Katoomba
Katoomba Cascades are a very picturesque and popular spot with lots of places you can sit and enjoy the scene. If you’re visiting on a sunny day you’ll no doubt find them full of kids jumping around and taking a waterfall shower, and maybe a few adults too!
On quieter days it’s a really serene waterfall and easily combined with a trip to check out Katoomba Falls, with several great lookouts less than 500m away.
The quickest way to reach the cascades is from Katoomba Falls Park and it’s less than a five minute easy stroll to the cascades. For a longer walk you can head there from Scenic World, which takes in Katoomba Falls and Witches Leap (which requires very heavy rain to be more than a trickle).
14. Numantia Falls - the one you can swim behind
Area: Springwood
Numantia Falls is hidden down an unmarked track and rewards those who venture just a little off the beaten path. It's not just a gorgeous waterfall, but one you can also swim behind, which is quite the novel experience! The pool is full of yabbies which just goes to show how clean the water is.
The walk to get there is 6km return and you'll pass another very pretty waterfall along the way. There's a bit of a climb on the way back, but considering some of the walk is off track, it's still relatively easy.
You can read exactly what to expect from the track and how to find the falls in this post.
15. Leura Cascades - a favourite with picnickers
Area: Leura
Leura Cascades are a family favourite with a short walk taking you from the popular picnic area down through the forest, alongside a series of cascades. It’s a really tranquil environment with lush ferns and high cliffs keeping it nicely shaded.
Our favourite spot for photographing the cascades is the little lookout point at the overhang. Although there is some flood debris in front of the cascades nowadays, it still looks absolutely beautiful.
You can also walk to a great lookout which is actually on the top of Bridal Veil Falls (but you can’t see the waterfall) which has great mountains views, from the overhang it only takes about two minutes to get there.
As well as from the picnic area you can also access Leura Cascades along the Prince Henry Cliff Walk.
You can read more details about Leura Cascades and two more waterfalls just beyond it in this guide.
16. Govetts Leap Falls - the one in the most dramatic setting
Area: Blackheath
Govetts Leap is one of the Blue Mountains most beloved viewpoints and if you’re lucky Govetts Leap Falls will be flowing in the distance.
It’s a narrow veil of water, but it’s also one of the tallest falls at 180m high. It’s a spectacular scene and just a few steps from the car park, making it the most easily accessible of all the waterfalls.
Normally, you can get down to the base of the falls but most of the Grose Valley is still closed after the bushfires of 2020.
We’ll update this post once the track opens again. It’s a big walk though so it’s only worth it if you also love hiking, because you’ll have a steep climb back up to the cliff top again.
17. Leura Falls - the one most people haven't heard of
Area: Leura
Leura Falls is magnificent, yet it's a waterfall that few people have heard of. Whilst Leura Cascades is hugely popular, the very bottom of the falls - which is arguably the most amazing part - remains hidden. In fairness, it's not signposted and does require more effort to reach, but it's oh so worth it.
Whichever route you choose to get there will pass several more waterfalls, and if you do our recommended circuit, you'll pass four.
The quickest route to Leura Falls would be just under 3.5km return, but if you add on a little more distance, you can make one incredible circuit. All the details, including where to head off the maintained track, are in this post. Note that the final 300m to the falls are off track and not advisable after heavy rain.
18. Pool of Siloam - great for a shallow dip
Area: Leura
The Pool of Siloam is a very pretty little waterfall which cascades into a shallow pool at the base. It’s surrounded by tall sandstone cliffs that are covered in ferns and it stays shady and cool even on a hot day.
The pool has shallow water and a sandy bottom so it’s perfect for kids who want to have a splash around, adults will be able to sit in the water but no part of it is deep enough to swim.
The Pool of Siloam is located along the walking track from the Gordon Falls picnic area and you’ll descend on a well made path. It is only 550m before you reach the pool, but it is a fairly steep track down, so you have to be willing to climb back up!
There is another smaller waterfall nearby (700m further along the circuit track), Lyrebird Dell, but unless there has been heavy rain it’s only a trickle. It’s a pretty spot but not exactly a waterfall for most of the year.
19. Dantes Glen Falls - the one that feels off the beaten track
Area: Lawson
Dantes Glen is located along the North Lawson Waterfall Circuit and you can visit three pretty falls in under 2km. Dantes Glen Falls is our favourite of the three and is just 650m along the track.
You descend from dry bushland into a gorgeous rainforest environment and you’ll find the waterfall in a secluded little rainforest gully.
There’s a log which lies across part of the pool area providing the perfect place to sit and relax in this gorgeous shady spot.
The huge amount of ferns and foliage covering the cliffs surrounding the waterfall give it a nice wild feel.
The walk to get here is easy, there are a few staircases to climb on the way back but it’s a short walk. You can read more about the whole circuit and other waterfalls in this post.
20. Terrace Falls - the one on a gorgeous dog friendly walking track
Area: Hazelbrook
Terrace Falls is a beautiful multi-tiered waterfall in a picturesque bush setting. It's mesmerising to watch as it flows over the rocks and down into the creek. To see the full waterfall, you do need to move into the middle of the rock platform at the base, the water can be over boot level after heavy rain.
You can always remove your boots if you want to keep them dry, and just be careful making your way across as it can be slippery.
You reach the waterfall via the 4.7km loop track, which takes you through spectacular forest, alive with so many small cascades and several more waterfalls.
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