Pulpit Rock
A wet day was forecast, and it was the day for a daywalk with Bob. We headed up the mountains and on the way discussed options. Something involving tracks and waterfalls sounded suitable. There had been a lot of rain in the upper mountains – and we decided on a walk from Govetts Leap carpark to Pulpit Rock and back. Along the way, we could sit out bad weather in caves or extend the walk in various ways if the weather was reasonable.
Govetts Leap
On a recent walk from Evans Lookout, we had been stopped due to helicopter operations near the top of Horseshoe Falls, and had to change our plans, so the would give us an opportunity to complete that section.
Also – the day before, a Koala had been seen in a tree near Govetts Leap, so that would give us something else to look for.
It was a bit wet and gloomy when we set off from Govetts Leap carpark.
We followed the track down to the end of Popes Glen, but before we crossed the creek, we went a short way upstream and visited the small Taylor Falls.
Taylor Falls
We then crossed the creek. The best views of Horseshoe Falls are a short way up the hill, on this west side. You need to leave the track and venture out onto a rocky platform – and then be very careful peering out over the huge drop.
Horseshoe Falls are very impressive, and made more impressive with a good flow. The flow was quite good but not as good as I have seen it. Govetts Leap looked less impressive – perhaps its catchment is slightly smaller? Or perhaps its waterfall was being buffeted more by wind? Both of these waterfalls are about the same height – and must be the highest single drops in the Greater Blue Mountains.
We continued along the track to Pulpit Rock. Along the way, there are more good lookouts and viewing opportunities. At one place we followed an unmarked side track out to an old lookout at the end of a peninsula.
Further along, the track passes through a sandstone overhang that is covered in graffiti. But not just any graffiti. These must have been done in a golden age of graffiti – when the “artists” carried chisels and sledge hammers in their packs, and then spent hours on their craft in their quest for immortality.
Closer to Pulpit Rock, the track has to pass around some large recesses – and it takes longer than you expect to reach the lookout.
Pulpit Rock Lookout, must be one of the most spectacular in the Blue Mountains. The “pulpit” is the detached pinnacle below the lookout, which apparently is not too hard to climb.
After visiting the lookout, we decided to return a different route. We walked up to Hat Hill Road, then headed back in the Blackheath direction before turning off down the Twin Falls Fire Road. We followed this straight towards the cliffs, then had a short track to take us back to the clifftop track between Govetts Leap and Pulpit Rock, and not far from Popes Glen.
Here we met some Koala spotters. They had seen the Koala the day before and pointe out to us the tree it had been seen in. We looked at her trees but could not see any Koalas. But one of the spotters had seen some very fresh Koala scats below a tree and on the track.
Bob and myself, then continued up the Popes Glen track. In damp and misty conditions it was a pleasant walk. Just before the track ends, we turned off to the left and walked down to the creek, past a pollution trap and then up a street to Govetts Leap Road. We walked one block towards Blackheath and then turned left and down to the Braeside Track.
We stopped for lunch at the old dam at the start of the Braeside Track. The down the Braeside Track to Govetts Leap, and then back up the hill to the carpark.
Despite the bad weather, we had enjoyed a nice day out in the bush.
