Ruined Castle hike
I recently had the good fortune to do one of the best bushwalks in the Blue Mountains National Park- the Ruined Castle hike. This challenging hike is rated as hard, and although it can be accomplished by most with a reasonable amount of fitness, it is a really tough walk. The trail is not well marked in places, so would recommend to those with some experience of bushwalking in the area.
What’s the hike like? Where do you start and end? What do I need to know? After researching scenic hikes in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, I came across the Ruined Castle bushwalk, but even still, a lot of the information online is a bit confusing. I’ve put together this guide to help others who want to check out this hike.
Spoiler alert: Is there a Blue Mountains castle? Not exactly—no castles were harmed in the making of this hike. The Ruined Castle name actually refers to a group of natural rock formations. From a distance, they appear to resemble a ruined castle. I am not sure I actually saw it, but whether or not they look like a castle, they are seriously spectacular and seem to appear out of nowhere once you reach the end of the hike.
Note: The 2020 bushfires had a devastating impact on the environment, including the Blue Mountains. Always check with the National Parks Service before planning a walk to make sure the trail is open and safe to visit.
Distance
The distance of the Ruined Castle Hike, from the Golden Stairs to Ruined Castle, return, is 6.6 km, according to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. They recommend 4-5 hours, which I think is accurate.
Difficulty level
Is the Ruined Castle Hike difficult? This hike is rated as hard. It is certainly challenging, but it is manageable. It is very steep in points, especially the Golden Stairs.
However, if you have a reasonable level of fitness and take your time, you should be fine.
If you’re hiking in the Blue Mountains in the rain (which is common), keep in mind that this hike can be seriously slippery. Shoes with a decent tread will definitely help, but also take your time on uneven ground and when walking down or uphill.
How to get to the Ruined Castle Hike starting point – the Golden Stairs
I started and ended my walk from the Golden Stairs. From Katoomba, it’s about a 10-minute drive to access the parking area from which the walk begins. Head towards Scenic World to Glenraphael Drive until you reach the small parking area, where you’ll see a trail map and a sign for the Golden Stairs. I drove right past it the first time, but if you miss it, there’s room to turn around a few hundred meters past.
An important note is that Glenraphael is not a paved road, it is a dirt track. However, it was pretty compact and I just took it slow in my little old sports car, not made for off-roading, and it was fine. However, many rental car company contracts do not allow for their cars to go off paved roads, so be really careful if you’re driving out in a hire car.
Considering the popularity of this area with tourists and many bush walks and activities, it would be fantastic to see this road paved in the future.
If you love bushwalking, the Southern Highlands is another great destination for walks, easily accessible from Sydney.
Scenic World to Ruined Castle
Although you could get a cab from Katoomba, this starting point is best reached with your own car. If you want to do this walk but are dependent on public transport, such as the Katoomba sightseeing bus, you can also start from Scenic World. However, this will add additional distance to the walk (but it does avoid the thigh-burning from the Golden Stairs). Keep in mind if you take the funicular back up, there is a cost to pay.
What is the Ruined Castle bushwalk like?
In a nutshell: the walk starts down an extremely steep set of steps, then flattens out for a few kilometers, until you reach another steep section which takes you up to the rocks. You may choose to keep going to Mount Solitaire, but otherwise, you’ll turn around and come back at the rocks and return via the Golden Stairs.
This means, after you’re worn out from a few hours of hiking, you need to trek back up the Golden Stairs when you’re fatigued. This was the hardest part for me, and I had to stop and rest a few times coming back up. Make sure you have enough water left to see yourself through this part of the walk.
The Golden Stairs
The Golden Stairs are intense. Going up or coming down, expect at least 45 minutes to an hour to traverse 800km. It’s a range of steel ladders, natural rock trail, and uneven steps. There are a few lookout points which provide amazing views of the Jamison Valley below.
The day I went, it was really foggy, and had also been raining the past few days, so there was a lot of mud on the trail and it was really slippery. Be really cautious on this section and take your time with your footing.
Once you reach flat ground, breathe a sigh of relief- you’re now connected to the Federal Pass trail, within the Jamison Valley.
Federal Pass and Jamison Valley
This part of the walk is flat and pretty easy. It meanders through beautiful temperate rainforest, blankets of rich green ferns, and dense forest. Due to the fog, it created some beautifully eerie vistas and was even a bit spooky at times. I silently started singing in my head.
“If you go down in the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise”…
I know this is supposed to be a happy nursery rhyme, but I always found it a bit disturbing- what if the big surprise isn’t Teddy Bears, but something terrible? Anyway, I digress. This is what happens to the mind when one hikes alone.
Continue along the path for a few kilometers, and give your legs a break from the hills. I saw quite a few lyrebirds here, which are really beautiful. It was also silent, except for the calls of a range of birds, which I wish I could identify more of.
(Even if you’ve never seen a lyrebird, you’ve probably heard one. They are capable of mimicking almost any sound, including trains, cars, and human sounds. The lyrebird has a gorgeous feather plume and is often found along the forest floor.)
There’s plenty more to explore across the state of NSW!
Are there bathrooms on the Ruined Castle hike?
This outhouse is a point of interest on this blog post, for two reasons.
One, it’s the only outhouse you’ll come across along the whole walk, so worth a stop. Second, shortly after the bathroom, you’ll reach a fork in the trail (which is clearly marked). Turn left and you’ll reach the camping ground, turn right and you’ll head up the hill towards Ruined Castle.
Uphill to the Ruined Castle
Yep, another big hill. However, you’re less than 1km from the end once you start ascending, so the end, and perhaps a lunch break, are in sight.
Heading up the steep path, you’ll finally reach a plateau, which is the highest point you’ll come to on this part of the walk. The trail is a bit dicey and can be confusing here, so take your time to work out where to go, and don’t be afraid to ask other hikers if you’re unsure- they are generally a friendly bunch.
You’ll reach one very large boulder in the middle of the trail. At this point, you’re very close. Keep going until you see a whole bunch of huge boulders.
This is it! Congratulations, you’ve made it. But wait, you might say, I can’t see anything but rocks, where are the views?
Ruined Castle- how to get the perfect shot
Yes, to get the epic views and shots of the rocks, you need to physically climb up onto the boulders, through a small crevice (although I am sure there are a few ways to get up there.) If I hadn’t seen some people do this before me, there’s no way I would’ve figured it out, so I have included a few photos below. I literally wedged myself between two big rocks and pulled myself up- I just made it through with my small backpack, so best to leave anything large on the ground before heading up.
Once you make it onto the rocks, it’s like the entire world seemingly opens up before you. Climb around and scale the rocks, taking in the view from all angles. I did see people climb all the way to the highest rock, which personally I didn’t do, but the views here are literally the best I’ve ever seen in the Blue Mountains. Plus, it’s so remote, I almost felt like I’d stepped back in time.
Safety at Ruined Castle
Although the rocks are gigantic and secure, don’t forget what they are: giant boulders on the side of a cliff. Be insanely cautious and please don’t try anything out of your comfort zone. Many people are seriously injured, or worse, within the Blue Mountains National Park each year, so know your limits, be careful, and don’t be afraid to turn back if something isn’t for you. Safety is always the most important thing, especially in such a remote area.
That being said, definitely spend some time here enjoying Ruined Castle and its views. I stopped for lunch here was completely blown away by everything about this hike: the views, the challenge of getting here, the unusual and colossal boulders that appear out of nowhere, and the lovely and refreshing solitude.
(Although I mention the remoteness and solitude, I think I had phone service for almost the whole walk. In case of emergency, always good to know.)
There you go, time to go hiking! Australia has some of the best hikes in the world, there’s so much out there to explore and experience.
Where to stay in Katoomba if you’re bushwalking
There are many accommodation options in Katoomba, depending on your preference and budget. I recently stayed at the Blue Mountains YHA, and can definitely recommend as a great base for exploring. If you’re looking to try some adventure activities in town, like abseiling or canyoning, High and Wild is a fantastic company to go with, and they are actually based in the YHA, which is really convenient. I went on an abseiling trip with them, and it’s an incredible adrenaline rush.
Curious what it’s like to go abseiling in the Blue Mountains?
Safety considerations
- Always tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to be back, even for short day hikes. Manly local hostels or guesthouses, including the YHA, have a bushwalking safety system where you sign out and then back in. You can also register your walk with the local police, who have a system in place for this.
- Don’t underestimate fatigue and dehydration. I did this trek in winter and still went through a lot of water, as well as lunch and some snacks. Stop to rest as often as needed, and make sure you have a day pack large enough to hold what you’ll need.
- For me, this was:
- Sunscreen
- Two water bottles (there is nowhere to refill en route)
- A sandwich, some fruit, and some trail mix
- Camera
- Phone
- Wallet, keys, portable charger, etc
- Hat, glasses, sunglasses
- The trail can be very slippery and muddy, so have shoes with a solid grip and prepare to get dirty.
- For me, this was:
- The weather can change quickly in the mountains, and rain and/or heavy fog can be disorienting, and, well, miserable, so check a detailed forecast, such as BOM, before setting off.
- Check out our post here on more Blue Mountains safety tips.
- As mentioned, the trail is rated as hard. Don’t be put off by this, if you are in good shape and confident in your abilities, just be prepared for a long, steep walk, and have all of the supplies you need.
Have you done the Ruined Castle hike? Would love to hear your thoughts!