The walk to Hanging Rock is not going to blow you away, but the view at the end will! It’s one of the least exciting walks that still makes it on to our best walks in the Blue Mountains list and that’s purely because the view at the end is truly hard to beat.
Whether you’re a daredevil willing to brave the nail biting walk out onto the rock itself, or simply want to sit and enjoy it from a safe vantage point - it has the wow factor. We’ve done this trail many times and yet the view at the end still takes us aback.
Here’s everything you need to know about the walk to Hanging Rock (Baltzer Lookout).
The walk to Hanging Rock
The stats
Distance: 11km return
Elevation gain: 215m
Difficulty: Easy
The walk to Hanging Rock is almost entirely on fire trail and took us an hour and ten minutes each way. You can also cycle it if you don’t mind a couple of small hills and some sections of uneven terrain.
The final few hundred metres to the view of Hanging Rock itself are on an unmaintained track, which is rocky and steep in parts.
Starting the walk: the Burramoko Fire Trail
You might have seen conflicting reports on the exact distance of the trail. That’s because the official walk to Hanging Rock begins further down the trail than you can actually park.
The distance we have in the stats section is the distance from the nearest car park.
The first 1.5km are almost entirely flat; you’ll pass a junction with Hat Hill Creek 450m in, when you need to keep straight, but it’s all signposted and very easy.
The trail is wide and the trees offer some good shade from the heat of the sun. You’ll then arrive at the locked gate and see the signpost for the Hanging Rock Trail.
Finishing the fire trail
From the gate you have another 3.5km along fire trail until you reach the bush track. This part of the trail undulates but it never gets steep.
There is slightly more downhill which you only really notice on the way back when you are gradually heading uphill.
It’s still easy though and the terrain means you can make quick work of this section. The best time to walk this trail is in spring when it is a wonderful track for waratah spotting.
Sadly we’ve walked it in every season but spring, so have never experienced it ourselves, but we’ve heard it’s magnificent and it would certainly spice up an otherwise unremarkable part of the walk.
Whilst you are often in the bush you do start to get some open views out to distant mountains about 1.5km along. The views get more dramatic just before you reach the turning circle at the 5km mark (the point you need to leave your bikes behind if you’ve cycled in).
From here the views are fantastic, if a little obscured, but the huge open views are now just minutes away.
The bush track to Baltzer Lookout
The next part of the walk sees you leave the fire trail behind and you’ll begin walking gently uphill on a narrow rocky track (no exposure).
You’ll start to get some sensational views almost immediately and quickly see why this walk is worth the long section of fire trail.
After 200m you’ll reach a open viewing area which offers simply staggering views of the mountains. If it’s been wet you’ll also see the top of a waterfall cascading from a sheer cliff wall.
This alone is one of the best views in the mountains, and you haven’t even seen Hanging Rock yet (well not from a recognisable vantage point anyway)!
From Baltzer Lookout you need to continue for another 250m along an unmaintained section of track to get your first proper look at Hanging Rock.
To the best view of Hanging Rock
From the Baltzer Lookout turn back and you’ll see a bush track leading downhill (there’s a second trail just before you reach the lookout too, but it’s well worth stopping at the lookout first).
You’ll start heading down a sandy and rocky gully.
It’s steep in points but enough people do this track that there are almost footholds in the dirt, which makes it quite easy to descend. It can be slippery in parts though and maybe even more so if wet, so it’s best to go slowly.
There isn’t really any exposure but the dirt can be a bit crumbly in parts.
After 250m you’ll see Hanging Rock from a clear vantage point which is a great spot for photos. It’s from here that you can really see how narrow that slither of rock is as you’re looking down on it from above.
There is a nice rock shelf to sit and admire it from. If you continue down the rocky track there are several further views of Hanging Rock which are closer up.
Roughly 100m beyond the first clear viewpoint you’ll reach the part of the trail that allows you to walk over onto Hanging Rock itself.
Just before this is the iconic shot which allows you to get both Hanging Rock and the vertical cliff wall on the other side in one shot. It’s a dramatic viewpoint and worth walking down for even if you have no intention of heading out onto Hanging Rock.
Walking out onto Hanging Rock
To get onto the trail that leads out to the rock itself requires stepping from one cliff face to another. Though this step can be done with one leg stretch (although it’s often referred to as a jump) there is nothing between you and the valley floor hundreds of metres below.
I am pretty good with heights, but looking down into that abyss gives me jelly legs every time.
The trail over on the next cliff also heads immediately uphill and the rock you step onto is slightly slanted. Were there no drop here I wouldn’t give it a second thought and would step out onto it with no bother. However. the exposed nature of it gets me every time. I literally look at this spot each time we visit and each time I wonder if I will feel differently. I haven’t yet!
I think if someone were on the other side and offered me a hand I would feel very confident, but without that it’s just not for me! Many people say it’s easy but you can only judge that when you get there!
Assuming you are fine with it, from there you only have a few metres to walk uphill on a dirt path and then you’ll be at the main hump of the rock. This is extremely exposed, and I know were I to cross I would only ever stand near the thicker section.
The thin slither of rock is, quite frankly, terrifying. It’s not one of those ones like the Devils Bridge in Sedona that looks thin but is actually quite wide and not in the least scary. This one is the real deal and one wrong move here, or a gust of heavy wind could be fatal.
Don’t attempt it unless you feel 100% confident with heights and exposure. And on that note, this can be a really windy spot so definitely check the forecast before heading out.
If you get there and it’s not for you, know that the views you have already seen are out of this world and there’s no need to walk out to the rock to have made the walk worthwhile.
The best time to visit Hanging Rock
The most beautiful time of day to arrive at Hanging Rock is sunrise. We have considered it many times but as we aren’t really morning people we always end of going for sunset instead. Although sunrise provides the best light for photography, sunset is also great. The sun casts golden light over the rock and it begins to glow. So much so that whenever I film it, I have to turn the colours down because it looks fake.
The benefit of going at sunrise or sunset is you are almost guaranteed to get it to yourself. We walked this trail most recently when almost every walk in the mountains was closed. I thought it would be the one time we had to share the view, but nope, it was still just us! We passed seven cars worth of people heading back along the trail as we headed out but no one remained at the viewpoint.
It honestly is a magical spot, especially when it’s just you and the big open views. All you can hear is the sound of the insects and the odd rustle of wind in the trees. It’s breathtaking.
The walk back is easy, even in the dark and if you’re lucky you’ll be treated to an incredible night sky.
Getting to Hanging Rock - Burramoko Fire Trail
The trail begins just outside Blackheath, 900m down a dirt road (Ridgewell Road). This road can become heavily potholed after rain. It doesn’t require any kind of special clearance but it’s far from a smooth ride.
As long as you don’t mind the inevitability of having to go over some of the holes it won’t be a problem. If you visit in good conditions when the road has been recently graded it’s smooth and easy.
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