If you’re looking for sensational views on a relatively easy trail, then look no further than the Butterbox Point Track. This was a trail that really surprised us, we weren’t expecting some of the best views we’ve seen in all the Blue Mountains along this pretty quiet and off the beaten track walk. They truly are jaw-dropping at any time of day, but catching a sunset here is very special.

The best views on the trail are along the fairly flat Butterbox Point circuit and you can then choose whether to add on the summit of Mount Hay as well, which is a fun addition to the walk, but not a must do.

So here’s why we love this trail and what to expect at Butterbox Point and Mount Hay, one of our favourite walks in the Blue Mountains.

The views from Butterbox Point — The viewpoint at Butterbox Point

Butterbox Point & Mount Hay Trail

The Stats

Distance: 6km (3km Butterbox, 3km Mount Hay)
Elevation: 94m for Butterbox Point, or 291m if you add on Mount Hay
Difficulty: Easy for Butterbox Point, moderate if you add on Mount Hay
Trailhead: End of the Mt Hay Road, Leura

Summary: The Butterbox Point and Mount Hay trail can be split into two sections. The trail to Butterbox Point is a 3km loop that is almost entirely flat. Most people will find this trail easy going, so long as you don’t suffer from vertigo (there’s one section where the trail becomes very narrow and close to the edge of a big drop). You can do the Butterbox Point circuit in under an hour.

The trail to the summit of Mount Hay is a little harder and steeper. It’s 3km long in total, and isn’t too steep at first, but then gets more so towards the end. It isn’t hard, but it is rough in sections, and certainly gets your heart rate up! We recommend allowing another hour for this trail.

Starting the Butterbox Point Trail

The trail starts from the car park, heading downhill before you reach a sign post 200m along the track. Take the left path towards Butterbox Point.

The track flattens and immediately offers spectacular mountain views and you’ll also see Butterbox Swamp.

It’s not long until you reach another sign marking a turn to Butterbox Canyon (575m in) but ignore it as this is for canyoners only. Another 25m further on you’ll see the right turn to Mount Hay, we headed to Butterbox Point first and did Mount Hay on the way back.

To do the same, keep going straight. Roughly 75m after the junction with Mount Hay you’ll need to climb down a little rocky slab, but it’s perfectly grippy when dry. Just beyond this, at the 790m mark, you will see a rocky knoll with a little cave.

At this point you have a decision to make: the right path has a stunning viewpoint that is well worth visiting, but it has a narrow section of path which gets very close to the cliff edge. We don’t recommend going this way on a very windy day, but otherwise definitely go in this direction.

The alternative is to take the left path to Butterbox Point, which doesn’t go near any big drops before reaching the main viewpoint.

The first viewpoint

Taking the trail to the right of the cave, you’ll soon see a left turn to the top of the rocky outcrop. The views from here are jaw-dropping and it’s the first of two great lookouts. It’s another great sunset spot, though our personal favourite is a little further along the trail.

From here you can see across the Grose Valley, with Lockleys Pylon on the left, and Perry’s Lookdown and Mount Banks in the distance. These are the kind of viewpoints we love, no fencing or manicuring, just wild and expansive in all directions.

From the lookout, retrace your steps back down to the main path, but turn left when you rejoin the trail. This is where the path gets a bit narrow, so be careful.

The path skirts around the mountainside, very close to the edge of the cliff for the next 60m. The view is incredible and it adds a touch of adventure to the walk. We love it, but wouldn’t recommend it if you suffer from vertigo!

Reaching Butterbox Point

The path gently descends and has a small rubbly section but it’s not long before it flattens. You’ll reach a rock platform 130m after the path first flattened. Roughly 80m later you need to bear right, at the fork. You’re now 200m from the incredible ledge overlooking Butterbox Canyon and the Grose Valley.

It’s an amazing photography spot and this is where we recommend coming for sunset if you don’t mind walking back in the twilight.

The path to the spot in our photo requires carefully climbing down a couple of rocks (basically two steps down a bit of rock wall with a great natural ledge that makes it quite easy) before making your way to the cliff edge.

Butterbox Point — The little cliff you climb down, the photo makes it look bigger than it is though!

There are quite a few spiky plants down there, so watch out for them, wearing trousers to protect your legs could be a good idea too!

The walk to get to the edge is a little exposed, although it is never particularly narrow, but if you take your time it’s no problem.

If you don’t want to go down you still get sensational views from the area before the little rock wall down climb.

Back to the circuit

Heading back the way you came, climb up the rock wall and take a right turn away from the cliff edge and around the main rocky outcrop.

The vegetation has recovered nicely since the first time we walked this track, shortly after the 2020 bushfires.

There’s a cool cave you can check out on your left, before the trail heads back towards the car park. If you want to make a loop, take the next left turn. The trail has some amazing views of Mount Hay and a bit more of the valley.

At the 2.8km mark you’ll get to a path where you can turn left to go up Mount Hay, or right to head back to the car park.

Hiking to the Mount Hay summit

The trail to Mount Hay is a lot wilder and more overgrown. We were lucky that after the bushfires, the path was very clear and visible.

However, once the vegetation comes back, the path will return to being overgrown and not so easy to follow.

The trail heads up the first hump, and offers some more incredible views of the Grose Valley (seriously, this walk just keeps on giving, with stunning view after stunning view).

In fact, this is where you’ll find the best views on the whole Mount Hay trail, so you don’t have to keep going to the top unless you want to complete the trail - something we’re always guilty of!

From here it winds uphill away from the edge and then becomes a little harder to follow.

After 1km, you’ll abruptly reach a rock. Whilst it may not be too obvious, the trail continues by scrambling up it! It’s not hard, but you’ll be forgiven for thinking the track has mysteriously disappeared.

To the summit

From this point, the trail is obvious again for a while, but once you head into the bush it abruptly vanishes again.

Keep an eye out for a rocky pile, as this is where the official summit is. There’s no clear path, so just keep heading towards the top, climbing over the small rocks, and you’ll find the cairn which marks the top.

The views from the top of Mount Hay aren’t the best. As it’s in the middle of the bush, you can’t see the valley below or anywhere for that matter, even after the bushfires!

Heading back can be a little tricky, as finding the path isn’t obvious. Keep trying to retrace your steps and head south-west, and you’ll eventually find the trail again. It’s about 1.6km back to the car park.

It’s possible to go a few different ways as it’s not a very well defined trail. We saw people climbing up hundreds of metres from where we were, so it’s one of those tracks where you can choose the path that feels easiest to you.

Essential information about Butterbox Point and Mount Hay

Getting to the trailhead

The trailhead for this walk is at the very end of Mount Hay Road and is marked on Google Maps. The car park is only small, but we’ve never had trouble getting a spot. The views from the car park probably make it the most picturesque in the Blue Mountains!

The last 12.5km of the road are unsealed, but when dry are generally suitable for any vehicle. The last few times we’ve driven it, it’s been in excellent condition, but it can deteriorate after heavy rain events. If you’re in a small car and in any doubt, it’s best to give the National Parks Service a call to check the current condition of the road.

The trailhead for Butterbox Point and Mount Hay is a 40 minute drive from Katoomba and about two hours from the centre of Sydney (with no traffic). Unfortunately you can’t get to this trail by public transport.

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